A police investigation into the disappearance of missing Crystal boy Barway Collins intensified Saturday. A press conference led by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office revealed the body was found at 1 p.m. A police source later confirmed to 12 News the body is believed to be Barway Collins. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will make the official identification.
A volunteer search party, which included members of the Liberian community, is believed to have found the child's body. Medical examiners were seen at the search area near North Mississippi Regional Park at 53rd Avenue North and Lyndale Avenue North - near the Brooklyn Center/Minneapolis border. Twelve News has had reporters on the scene all afternoon providing and awaiting updates.
Barway Collins disappeared March 18. He was last seen getting off a school bus outside his apartment building. Police consider the father, Pierre Collins, a suspect in the case. Crystal police have said they have "strong evidence" that Pierre Collins was near the river at the time of the child's disappearance. Pierre Collins also failed a lie detector test, police said.
Pastor addresses allegations surrounding father
At a press conference April 6, the pastor held a press conference to offer support to the family of Barway Collins and address allegations swirling around the boy's father.
Pastor Smith addressed allegations about a previous child abuse case in Wisconsin involving Pierre's ex-wife, Jennifer Collins, who claimed Pierre Collins abused their children. Collins has denied abuse and the pastor called the situation "character assassination."
Barway Collins is not a child of the ex-wife, but was born in Liberia. The boy was brought to the United States three years ago to be raised by his biological father, Pierre Collins, and stepmother, Yameh Collins.
Father had life insurance policies for all his children
The pastor also addressed an allegation that Pierre Collins took out a $30,000 insurance policy just before his son's disappearance.
"There was no insurance policy that was taken out a month ago on Barway Collins," said the pastor. "The insurance policies were taken [out] over three years ago and these were taken on all four of his children."
When asked whether the child may be with his biological mother in Liberia, the pastor said the mother called yesterday and "all indications are no."
Pastor: why Barway said "dad" cannot be explained
Pastor Smith said police have been to Pierre Collins' home numerous times during the course of the investigation and the father maintains his innocence. The pastor says Pierre told him he went to get food at Cub Foods in Brooklyn Center and to an ATM at the time of Barway's disappearance.
During the time Barway was last seen, bus surveillance video shows the boy pointing out the window and saying "there's my dad" and "there's uncle," who police have said may be the boy's biological uncle or a family friend. Two men also were seen walking by the bus. The pastor says the father was not there and the father does not know who the "uncle" is.
"That cannot be explained," says the pastor, referring to why the boy said "dad."
The pastor says Pierre Collins refused to speak at the press conference because he has been "labeled a suspect."
"Please let the justice system work," said the pastor. "This man has been found charged and has been guilty already in the minds of most people."
Authorities have previously searched the Mississippi River in an area from I-694 south to Camden Ave. in Minneapolis.
Corey Bork, Delane Cleveland, Sonya Goins & 12 News Staff
sgoins@twelve.tv
dcleveland@twelve.tv
cbork@twelve.tv
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Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
10 апр 2015
