Police: Father is primary suspect in missing boy's case
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — A body found in the Mississippi River on Saturday is that of a 10-year-old Minnesota boy who has been missing for nearly four weeks, the medical examiner said Sunday.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office identified the body as that of Barway Collins of Crystal, Minn. The medical examiner said the cause and manner of his death remains under investigation.
At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering said Barway's father, Pierre Collins, remains a primary suspect in the case.
"Barway was found in the Mississippi approximately 10 feet from the river's edge near 53rd and Lyndale. This location is consistent with our knowledge of Pierre Collins' activities on March 18," said Revering. Police say they have electronic evidence that Pierre was in the immediate vicinity of where Barway's body was found.
Revering said the missing persons investigation has now become a homicide investigation based on the autopsy and information from the medical examiner. She did not elaborate. Police have acquired Collins' passport to ensure that he does not travel outside of the United States.
Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said the body was found around 1 p.m. Saturday at North Mississippi Regional Park, which has been the focus of searches for the fourth-grader. The body was recovered about 25 feet from shore.
A red backpack matching the description of the one Barway was carrying was found by volunteer searchers April 2 near the river.
Barway disappeared shortly after school March 18. The following day, Crystal police announced they believed he left with someone he knew.
Barway was last seen jumping out of his school's van outside the apartment building where he lived. Video surveillance from his apartment complex shows he was about to go inside, but then turned around as if he was called over to the parking lot by someone he knew, and he walked away.
Crystal police named Barway's father a suspect on March 24. Two days later, police said Barway's father was allegedly seen near the Mississippi River and Interstate 694 before Barway disappeared.
Collins has told reporters he had nothing to do with his son's disappearance. Since the body was recovered, police have been stationed at the apartment building where Barway lived.
Revering said earlier in the investigation that a lie detector test showed Collins was being untruthful with authorities.
Contributing: The Associated Press