Community members, family, and volunteer rescue teams have joined forces in the ongoing search for Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, a 15-year-old boy who has now been missing for over a week from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The teenager was last seen in an area locally known as “Ghost Town,” and despite extensive search efforts, his whereabouts remain unknown.
Volunteers Take to the Streets and the River
A major search operation lasting more than three hours was launched recently, opening with a prayer before teams fanned out across the area.
The United Cajun Navy, a well-known volunteer rescue organization, played a central role in coordinating the effort.
Incident Commander Josh Gill stressed the importance of keeping the site undisturbed, reminding volunteers not to touch anything suspicious they might come across, as the matter remains an open investigation.
Search teams covered properties along Scenic Highway and later traveled across the river to comb through the levee and riverbank areas. Gill reported that by the end of the day, two large areas had been successfully eliminated from the search zone.
His team plans to review maps and identify new potential locations before returning the following morning.
“We won’t stop until he’s found one way or the other,” Gill said, adding that they will continue pushing information out through social media and staying in close contact with Ja’Derrius’s parents and the wider community.
The search has clearly been an emotional experience for those closest to the boy. His cousin Bobby Minnieweather spoke with raw determination during the effort, saying the team had been all over the area and would not rest until Ja’Derrius came home.
Another cousin, Bobby Minnieweather Jr., pleaded directly for the teen’s return, while cousin Veronica Minnieweather added her own heartfelt message before the group wrapped up for the day.
A Separate Arrest Made During the Investigation
As police continued looking into Ja’Derrius’s disappearance, a separate but potentially significant development emerged. During the course of their investigation, officers came into contact with a 16-year-old girl and examined her phone.
Messages found on the device allegedly showed communication between the girl and 50-year-old Maurice Parms. Parms was subsequently arrested on charges of indecent behavior and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Parms has any direct connection to Ja’Derrius’s disappearance, but the arrest has added another layer to an already complex investigation being handled by the Baton Rouge Police Department.
Ja’Derrius is described as 4 feet 7 inches tall, weighing approximately 98 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair styled in dreadlocks. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Baton Rouge Police Department at 225-389-2000 or call 911 immediately.
The community’s response has been overwhelming, with hundreds of people online offering prayers and encouragement for the family as they wait anxiously for news. The family, volunteers, and law enforcement remain committed to bringing Ja’Derrius home.
