The community in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is rallying behind the family of Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, a 15-year-old student who has vanished without a trace since June 5, 2026. Faced with the baffling disappearance of their son, the family is enduring an agonizing and desperate ordeal.

Last Seen in Ghost Town

According to reports from the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD), the last known location where Ja’Derrius was spotted is the Ghost Town area. Key identification details include a height of approximately five feet and a weight of just under 100 pounds. Notably, the jacket worn in the widely circulated photograph is the exact garment he was wearing on the day he went missing.

In a desperate bid for answers, the family has made a public appeal for assistance. His father, Branderius Brooks, expressed his raw anguish: “I just want my baby at home. If anybody knows anything or has seen anything, please reach out. I want my baby home bad.”

A Family’s Heartbreaking Plea

The impasse in the search has left the family in a state of collapse. His grandmother, Jawanna Brooks, spoke of the profound pain the family is suffering: “I just want my grandson home, returned home safe. Somebody out there knows something. It’s been since Thursday since Ja’Derrius has been missing.”

Ms. Brooks also described the immense psychological toll they are facing: “I’m stressed out to the max. His mama is going crazy. They’re going crazy. Please, please let the Baton Rouge Police Department know something.”

Ja’Derrius is an active student at Istrouma High School, preparing to enter his sophomore year this fall. Outside of school, he is known for his passion for dirt bikes and his hard work at local rodeos. The absence of such a high-spirited teenager has left his loved ones deeply distressed.

In a final, tearful plea to her grandson, Ms. Brooks reached out: “I talk to you every day, boy. Please call me. Lord, somebody out there knows something about my grandbaby. Please tell us. Let us know.”

Baton Rouge police continue to actively coordinate the search. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ja’Derrius Minnieweather is urged to contact Crime Stoppers immediately at 225-344-7867 or call 911.