JORDAN "MANNY" COLLINS: Minnesota vs. Jordan Collins Sr. for decapitation murder of 16-year-old son *TRIAL IN PROGRESS*

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.

www.cbsnews.com

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 weeks ago 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.

He didn't identify the person of interest, 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. His mother, Ashley Berry, says her son also hasn't claimed his allowance through CashApp.

Berry held hands with other family members at the press conference before making a painful plea to find her child.

"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."

Collins — who is commonly known by the nickname, Manny — was last seen on May 8 near the 4900 block of University Avenue Northeast.


"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.

Wise says his office and police are being assisted in this case 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.


Media - JORDAN "MANNY" COLLINS: Missing from Twin Cities, MN - 8 May 2025 - Age 16

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr. honors him 1 year after his death by giving back

It has been a year of ups and downs for Ashley Berry, the mother of Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr., as she attempts to deal with the loss of her only child. One year after his death, she's focused on the good her son brought to the world.

www.cbsnews.com

Mother of Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr. honors him 1 year after his death by giving back​

The search for a missing 16-year-old ended at a landfill in Elk River, Minnesota, one year ago.

Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr. had gone missing from his dad's house in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Manny Collins' dad, Jordan Collins Sr. is accused of killing him.

Now, Manny's mom is focused on the good her son brought to this world.

"Oh yeah it's hard. It's hard," said Ashley Berry, Manny Collins' mom.

It has been a year of ups and downs for Berry as she attempts to deal with the loss of her only child.

"Manny had many birthdays here. This is one of his favorite spots," said Berry while at Macarron Park in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The park is a place Berry comes for comfort. It's where she began holding events in honor of Manny Collins, in support of the Manny's Way Foundation.

"It's about keeping Manny's name alive and giving me a purpose as well to keep going while Manny was here. He liked helping people. We talked about passing out food and he liked to give out his old clothing, so I'd like to keep it going," said Berry.

With the help of family, friends and community members who want to honor Manny Collins' memory, Berry has passed out gently used clothes and food to those in need in her Frogtown neighborhood in St. Paul.

"I found a lot of ways to cope, and all the support makes it easier, but it's still hard, especially dealing with the trial," said Berry.

Berry is preparing herself mentally for the trial, where Jordan Collins Sr. will represent himself.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Murder trial begins for father of 16-year-old Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr.

The father of Jordan "Manny" Collins, who is accused killing his 16-year-old son, will go on trial Thursday in Anoka County.

www.cbsnews.com

Murder trial begins for father of 16-year-old Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr.​

A father is set to go on trial in the death of his 16-year-old son, Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr., on Thursday in Anoka County .

Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. is charged with one count of second-degree murder. His son was missing for more than two months before his remains were found in a landfill in Elk River, Minnesota, in June 2025.

According to the criminal complaint, an autopsy of Collins Jr. found "evidence of decapitation by knife."

Murder trial begins for man accused of dumping decapitated son in Elk River landfill

An Anoka County father accused of killing his 16-year-old son last summer and dumping his body in an Elk River landfill will be in court today as jury selection is set to begin on Thursday morning.

kstp.com

Murder trial begins for man accused of dumping decapitated son in Elk River landfill​

An Anoka County father accused of killing his 16-year-old son last summer and dumping his body in an Elk River landfill will be in court today as jury selection is set to begin on Thursday morning.

Jordan Collins Sr., 39, faces up to 40 years in prison for the murder of his son, Jordan “Manny” Collins Jr. According to investigators, an autopsy showed the teen was decapitated with a knife before his body was thrown in the trash.

 

[noZme]

Decapitated, landfill 2 months - second degree murder?

 

[testerv]

Decapitated, landfill 2 months - second degree murder?

Isn’t that awful? Similar situation in the death of Dylan Redwine. His “dad” got 48 years in prison.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/crime/more-than-90-witnesses-trial-manny-collins/89-2339b660-5b76-4284-9d8f-86069c333109

More than 90 witnesses expected in trial against man accused of murdering 16-year-old son Manny Collins​

Jury selection is now underway in the trial of a Columbia Heights man accused of killing his own son. Prosecutors are preparing to call 91 witnesses to the witness stand, according to court records.

The trial is expected to start sometime this week. The long list of witnesses includes representatives from Waste Management, which operates the landfill in Elk River. The list also includes 36 police officers, deputies and agents who worked on the case, as well as representatives from several large tech companies, including Google, Snapchat, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, T-Mobile and Standup Wireless.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Anoka County father represents himself in son’s murder trial

Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of an Anoka County father accused of killing his teenage son and dumping his body in a landfill.

kstp.com

Anoka County father represents himself in son’s murder trial​

Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of an Anoka County father accused of killing his teenage son and dumping his body in a landfill.

Jury selection continues Wednesday for Jordan Collins Sr., who is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of his 16-year-old son, Manny Collins. Collins faces up to 40 years in prison.

In court, Collins represented himself, took extensive notes and asked questions of the judge and potential jurors. He also asked one potential juror for their interpretation of a scripture verse.


Opening statements could start Friday. The judge said the trial is scheduled to last about three weeks, and as many as 90 witnesses could be called to testify.

 

[testerv]

Anoka County father represents himself in son’s murder trial

Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of an Anoka County father accused of killing his teenage son and dumping his body in a landfill.

kstp.com

Anoka County father represents himself in son’s murder trial​

Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of an Anoka County father accused of killing his teenage son and dumping his body in a landfill.

Jury selection continues Wednesday for Jordan Collins Sr., who is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of his 16-year-old son, Manny Collins. Collins faces up to 40 years in prison.

In court, Collins represented himself, took extensive notes and asked questions of the judge and potential jurors. He also asked one potential juror for their interpretation of a scripture verse.


Opening statements could start Friday. The judge said the trial is scheduled to last about three weeks, and as many as 90 witnesses could be called to testify.

Another fool for a client.

I don’t think an interpretation of the Bible is gonna help this guy. I hope not anyway.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Another fool for a client.

I don’t think an interpretation of the Bible is gonna help this guy. I hope not anyway.

Wondering what it was. Possibly a verse about children obeying their parents, or parents disciplining their children.
Not that it matters. His mind is warped regardless.

 

[testerv]

Wondering what it was. Possibly a verse about children obeying their parents, or parents disciplining their children.
Not that it matters. His mind is warped regardless.

Some people have been known to twist biblical scripture for their own gain so much that it’s not recognizable. And you’re right, it doesn’t matter because he’s warped in the brain.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Manny Collins' mother takes the stand in her son's favorite sweater at his father's murder trial

Ashley Berry told jurors her son had been staying with his father in Columbia Heights because he was struggling at school. Jordan Dupree Collins Sr., who is representing himself, asked her nothing.

www.cbsnews.com

Manny Collins' mother takes the stand in her son's favorite sweater at his father's murder trial​

Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr.'s mother took the witness stand Friday wearing what she said was her son's favorite sweater. The man accused of killing the 16-year-old — his father, who is representing himself — never asked her a question.

Jordan Dupree Collins Sr. is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of his son, whose dismembered remains were found in a garbage bag at a landfill in Elk River, Minnesota, in the summer of 2025. Investigators say Collins Sr. killed the teen with a knife and tried to get rid of the evidence. Opening statements in the Anoka County trial came Friday, more than a year after the boy disappeared.

Prosecutors told jurors that Collins Sr. treated his son like trash, and warned them the evidence they will see is graphic.

Collins Sr. had little to say. He is deferring his opening statement until after the state rests its case, and he cross-examined only one witness Friday — an investigator he questioned about a phone call between the two of them early in the case. Court filings this week show the judge admonished him for missing several deadlines over the summer.

Jurors spent part of the day watching body camera footage from the first officers to interview Manny's parents, including video of an anxious Ashley Berry trying to track down her son.

Berry testified that Manny had been living with his father in Columbia Heights because he was struggling at school and she believed his father could help him with his math homework. Then days went by without his mother, his girlfriend or anyone else hearing from him.

Collins Sr. first told relatives and police that Manny had gone to see his great-grandmother. An investigator testified Friday that he believed there was tension between father and son.



More than 90 witnesses are expected to testify, including Ashley Berry, workers from the landfill and Collins Jr.'s great-grandmother, Mary Berry.

"He murdered his son, and he needs to pay for it," Mary Berry said ahead of the trial. "And on top of all this, I forgive him."