Minnesota Father Found Guilty of Murdering 16-Year-Old Son Whose Remains Were Found in Landfill

A Minnesota father has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his 16-year-old son, Jordan “Manny” Collins Jr., whose remains were discovered in a landfill after an extensive search in 2025.

Jordan Dupree Collins Sr., of Columbia Heights, was convicted by an Anoka County jury on October 7, 2026. His sentencing is scheduled for December 2, according to court records and local news reports.

Manny was last seen on May 8, 2025, and was reported missing several days later. His disappearance prompted a search involving local law enforcement and members of the community, while his family appealed for information about his whereabouts.

The investigation eventually led authorities to a landfill in Elk River, Minnesota. Investigators used surveillance footage and information from a waste-management company to trace garbage collected near the apartment where Manny had been staying. After weeks of searching, his remains were discovered in late June 2025 and identified through DNA testing.

During the investigation, authorities collected evidence from his father’s apartment, including knives and items bearing blood that forensic testing matched to Manny. Prosecutors presented this evidence during the trial, along with testimony about the investigation and the handling of the teenager’s remains.

Collins Sr. represented himself in court. During the proceedings, he challenged aspects of the investigation and argued that authorities had not established all the facts surrounding his son’s death.

After hearing the evidence, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. The verdict brought a major development in a case that had deeply affected Manny’s family and the surrounding community.

Following the decision, Anoka County officials expressed hope that the verdict would provide some measure of justice for Manny and his loved ones.

Manny’s mother, Ashley Berry, has previously described her son as kind-hearted and someone who enjoyed helping others. He loved basketball and skateboarding and had worked at a local gym.

His disappearance and death left his family facing months of uncertainty before the investigation uncovered what had happened. Even with the guilty verdict, his mother has said that questions about why her son died may never be fully answered.

Collins Sr. is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2. Prosecutors could seek a lengthy prison term, with reports indicating that the maximum penalty may be life imprisonment.

For Manny’s family, the verdict marks an important milestone in a painful journey that began when a teenager failed to return home. His loved ones continue to remember him for the person he was beyond the circumstances of his death.

Source: True Crime News, MPR News, CBS Minnesota