Body Found in Landfill Confirmed to Be Missing Teen Manny Collins: Investigation Continues

The search for missing Columbia Heights teen Manny Collins came to a tragic end this weekend, as officials confirmed this morning that a body discovered in a landfill in Elk River has been positively identified as the 16-year-old.

Manny was last seen on May 8 and reported missing on May 12. A collaborative investigation involving local, state, and federal authorities eventually led law enforcement to the Waste Management landfill in Elk River, where they began searching on June 4.

“This past weekend, a human body was located,” said Columbia Heights Police Chief Chief Markham. “Further DNA testing has confirmed the remains belong to Manny Collins.”

The cause of death has not yet been determined, pending further forensic testing. An autopsy has been completed, and results are expected in the coming days. Authorities, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the FBI, continue to search the landfill and pursue leads.

“Manny's death is a gigantic loss to our community,” Chief Markham said, offering condolences to Manny’s mother, Ashley, and to the teen’s family and friends. “We are committed to ensuring that justice is served.”

Manny's mother described him as a kind-hearted, thoughtful, and goal-driven teen.

Anoka County Sheriff Brad Weiss emphasized the intensity of the investigation and the search effort that led to the discovery. “We combed through almost 180,000 cubic feet of refuse, literally one rake at a time,” Sheriff Weiss said. “It’s a sobering experience to work in a landfill like that, only to discover someone else’s child.”

Sheriff Weiss praised the coordination between more than 30 agencies and partners, including the FBI, state forensic experts, local police and fire departments, and forensic science students from Hamline University. According to investigators, a key piece of surveillance video showed evidence that Manny’s body may have been placed in a dumpster, which led them to trace the path of a garbage truck that deposited its contents into a specific area of the landfill.

Thanks to detailed tracking by Waste Management, search teams were able to narrow down their efforts to a specific 200-by-200-foot “cell” of compacted trash — roughly the size of a football field, but four feet deep. It took thousands of man-hours to methodically search the area by hand.

Investigators have not named any suspects but confirmed there is a person of interest. “We're still talking to Jordan Collins Sr.,” Sheriff Weiss said, referring to Manny’s father. “It’s all part of the ongoing investigation.”

The dumpster in question was located in Columbia Heights, and authorities were able to backtrack the garbage truck’s activity to May 13 — just days after Manny was last seen.

Law enforcement stressed that although the body has been found, the investigation is far from over. Officials are awaiting the results of further forensic testing and are in regular communication with the Anoka County Attorney’s Office as they determine the next steps.

Sheriff Weiss encouraged the public to come forward with any information, no matter how small. Tips can be submitted through the BCA hotline at 877-996-6222 or via email at bca.tips@state.mn.us.

“We are not standing still,” Sheriff Weiss said. “We will find justice for Manny.”

There is a GoFundMe set up for the community to support Manny's mother, Ashley, during this difficult time.

Ashley Berry and her son, Manny Collins. The last time Manny used his phone or social media was in the early hours of May 8. His last known contact with family was at 4:02 a.m. that morning, when he responded to his mother’s allowance message with: “Thank you, Mom. I appreciate you. I love you. I’ll see you soon.”