Officials believe Twin Cities boy's disappearance to be "against his will," person of interest established
Law enforcement officials say they believe 16-year-old Jordan Dupree Collins Jr., who went missing earlier this month in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, was taken "against his will," and a person of interest has been established.
In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon held with Collins' family, Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise says he doesn't think this is a case of a teenager running away.
"We believe his disappearance is against his will. We fear worse," Wise said.
Collins — who is commonly known by the nickname, Manny — was last seen on May 8 near the 4900 block of University Avenue Northeast. An apartment building near the intersection is now under investigation. Ashley Berry, Collins' mother, says her son has lived at the building with his father since mid-April, with plans to return to her in June.
A neighbor said Collins' father had not been at the apartment in weeks.
Investigators have spoken with Collins' father multiple times. Wise didn't identify the person of interest on Wednesday, but noted no one is in custody and no criminal charges have been filed.
Wise says since Collins' disappearance, his cellphone has only been turned on once for three minutes. He hasn't talked to any family members or his girlfriend, and he hasn't logged onto social media.
Berry says her son typically texts or calls her daily, but it's been weeks since she's heard from him. She says he even hasn't claimed his allowance through CashApp.
Berry held hands with other family members at Wednesday's press conference before making a painful plea to find her child.
"Manny, if you're looking at this, if you're somewhere that you're capable of listening to this or you see me, just know that I love you, and you know how much I'm worried," Berry said. "And you are loved. You got a lot of people looking for you."
Collins stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white, ribbed tank top with red and black plaid pants.
"Multiple individuals have been interviewed, and forensic evidence has been collected and is being processed," Wise said in a statement released after the press conference. "Coordinated searches have been conducted at parks and in the neighborhood."
Business owners and residents with surveillance cameras in the area are asked to review footage captured between May 8 and May 12, and submit photos and videos if they spot Collins or anything suspicious.
"If you have a soul, if you have a heart, just say something, please," Berry said. "I just know he's not lost. Wherever he is, he's somewhere that he doesn't want to be."
Wise says his office and police are being assisted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Northstar Search and Rescue — adding the agencies are "using all available resources to locate Manny."
"The family and law enforcement believe that somebody knows something," Wise said.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the bureau's tip line at 1-877-996-6222, or send an email to [email protected].
If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.
