Latest news with #JordanCollins
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Maryland man fatally stabbed teen in self-defense during gang assault, prosecutor says
A Maryland man who fatally stabbed a 14-year-old acted in self-defense while being attacked by a group of people linked to a local gang, according to the county state's attorney's office. The deadly stabbing occurred as the man, identified as Ty, was being assaulted by a group of nine people who Elkton Police said are part of a local gang. A drug debt that Ty was meant to pay back led to the attack, according to officials. The stabbing on July 18 killed 14-year-old Jordan Collins of Hollingsworth Manor. Elkton police said they were called to investigate the stabbing after Collins was dropped off at Union Hospital in the bed of a pickup truck by four people who immediately left the area. After being identified by police, the four individuals told officers they did not know how Collins was stabbed. However, one of the individuals provided police with a possible location of the crime scene in the Hollingsworth Manor neighborhood. Police said they canvassed the area and found blood on the roadway along with a piece of a wooden two-by-four that also had blood on it. The individuals then told police the person who stabbed Collins was a man named Ty. Officers learned that Ty was physically disabled with an amputated left arm. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the neighborhood, which showed that a group of nine people followed Ty and engaged in a confrontation. Collins was seen initiating the confrontation by assaulting Ty, police said. Collins and the other individuals then pursued and attacked Ty, using objects like a shovel and a two-by-four to assault him, according to officers. The video showed that Collins took the two-by-four and ran toward Ty after another person used a shovel to hit Ty several times. Witnesses notified police that there was another assault at a Wawa on Pulaski Highway, and video from the store showed that Ty was accosted by three women who refused to let him leave. When Ty left the store, the women followed him. Shortly after, an SUV pulled up and two men got out and accosted Ty, police said. "At no point in the footage did Ty stab or assault any of the females or males. The three females were deemed the aggressors," Elkton Police Detective Christian Mlodzianowski said. Police were able to identify the three women, who were also seen in the Hollingsworth Manor video. One of the women engaged in the assault on Ty, while the other two watched and did not attempt to stop it, Mlodzianowski said. According to officials, Collins was the only juvenile among the group during the attack. "Jordan's death is the direct result of reckless choices and disregard for the law by several adults in the events leading up to that night," said Elkton Police Chief Carolyn Rogers. The stabbing of Collins was deemed self-defense under Maryland law, as Ty attempted to leave the area, de-escalate the situation and did not initiate the conflict, according to Cecil County State's Attorney James Dellmyer. "He properly used self-defense by arming himself with a pocket knife. One stab caused the death of Jordan Collins," Dellmyer said. "It occurred while Ty attempted to get out of the situation." "Therefore, my office has declined prosecution against Ty for any of his conduct as he acted in perfect self-defense," Dellmyer added. According to Dellmyer, Ty said he did not want to press charges against the individuals who attacked him. However, days after the assault, Dellmyer said there were retaliatory attempts toward Ty, Dellmyer said. As a result, three people were indicted — Xavier Santana, Bobbie Perkins and Timothy Dickerson — for manufacturing a destructive device, a Molotov cocktail.
Irish Times
22-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘I have no rights to him': mothers of children through surrogacy wait in legal limbo
When Sarah Griffin's baby boy Caelan was born last July, he came into the world just two days after President Michael D Higgins signed a first-of-its-kind surrogacy Bill into law. This was important to Griffin, a 35-year-old cervical cancer survivor, whose childhood friend Marie Delahunty had offered to act as a surrogate for Griffin and her partner Jordan Collins. 'It was an embryo we created before my cancer treatment,' Griffin says. 'Genetically, Caelan is mine and Jordan's baby.' But Delahunty's name is still on Caelan's birth certificate, under 'mother'. Almost one year on, that same landmark law still has not come into effect, meaning Griffin and her son Caelan still have no legal relationship with each other. It's understood the legislation may not come into effect until early 2026, due to amendments required to the law. READ MORE 'We were so excited about that new law, but nothing has actually changed,' Griffin said. 'I'm a legal stranger to Caelan, I have no rights to him.' Being a mother of a child born through surrogacy means Griffin does not have the right to leave the State with Caelan on her own. Neither does she have the right to give medical consent for him. She has even lost out on maternity leave and maternity pay. The family, who live in Walkinstown, Dublin, have money set aside for the moment they can finally go to the High Court for an order recognising Griffin as Caelan's mother. But that cannot happen until the law is commenced. Proponents of the law argue that regulating international surrogacy arrangements would be one of the most effective ways of ensuring such arrangements are ethical It has been delayed for two reasons. The first is because the law needs to be amended to make sure that retrospective surrogacy arrangements such as Griffin's can be properly recognised in law. The second reason is that the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) needs to be set up. The AHRRA will regulate surrogacy and all assisted human reproduction practices such as domestic IVF. The AHRRA is currently in the process of appointing members to its board, and is working to appoint a chief executive. [ Groundbreaking legislation to regulate surrogacy and fertility clinics passed almost 20 years after first mooted Opens in new window ] There had been some reports that the law was being delayed because of concerns from the Department of Justice that it would leave Ireland in breach of a European Union directive on human trafficking. In a statement, the department said it 'does not have concerns about the commencement of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 from an anti-human trafficking perspective'. The statement said it had worked with the Department of Health to ensure the law 'has sufficient safeguards to protect the rights of surrogate mothers, including from the threat of human trafficking'. Some concerns had been raised on human rights grounds about human trafficking linked to international surrogacy. Last year, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) wrote to then minister for health Stephen Donnelly warning that international surrogacy was an area 'marred with increasing human trafficking'. It is understood that some officials in the Department of Health saw the IHREC's intervention as 'unhelpful', believing that the IHREC had not recognised some of the nuances in what the Irish law was trying to do. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the issue raised by IHREC has been 'acknowledged and considered', but the European Commission has never raised a concern about the law. Proponents of the law argue that regulating international surrogacy arrangements so that they would only be recognised for a prescribed 'green list' of countries would be one of the most effective ways of ensuring such arrangements are ethical. Currently, these arrangements are not regulated. Ireland is set to be the first country in the world to attempt to control them. For Irish Families Through Surrogacy, an advocacy and support group, the implied link between international surrogacy and human trafficking has 'been deeply disturbing and distressing for many in our community'. 'The use of such language in the context of ethical surrogacy – where children are brought into the world with love, intent, and utmost respect and care for the surrogate – is both misleading and hurtful,' Sara Byrne, a spokeswoman for the group, said. [ Bill does not address the known dangers and exploitative practices of commercial surrogacy arrangements Opens in new window ] 'It paints an inaccurate and harmful picture that risks alienating our children and families. We are also concerned about the risk of our families being politicised and turned into yet another divisive issue in public discourse.' Mary Seery Kearney, a former Fine Gael senator and a former member of the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy – the committee which led to the current law – points out that further delays with it will have a 'very human' consequence. Ms Seery Kearney suffered five miscarriages and endured 13 rounds of IVF before her daughter Scarlett was born via surrogacy in 2015. Scarlett is now 10 years old. 'By the time I get into the High Court, she's easily going to be 11,' Ms Seery Kearney said. 'I'm her mother for life, no matter what, but I would like, some time, to be recognised by the State as her mother before she turns 18.' Former Fine Gael senator Mary Seery Kearney suffered five miscarriages and endured 13 rounds of IVF before her daughter Scarlett was born via surrogacy in 2015. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins The Department of Health said that while 'significant' progress has been made on the law, 'it is not possible to give a definitive timeline for the commencement of the AHR legislation'.
CBS News
21-06-2025
- CBS News
Mother of missing Twin Cities teen offering $10,000 reward for his return
It's been 45 days since Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr. disappeared. The 16-year-old boy was last seen at his father's apartment in Columbia Heights. Ashley Berry, Collins' mother, isn't waiting to see what law enforcement finds. She's searching on her own and is hoping a $10,000 reward will help bring her son home. Ashley Berry/Minnesota BCA Berry spends her days spreading the word about her son. "I put them on people's mailboxes on the cars, or I just pass them out to people," she said. "I'm like running out of options. I'm lost. I'm stuck. I guess I can keep passing out flyers every day, doing my own searches, but I don't know. I thought the reward was the next step." Investigators say they continue to search for clues about Collins' disappearance. They are following tips from the public and interviewing people. Federal and local law enforcement officials are searching a landfill in Elk River in connection with Collins' disappearance. Law enforcement is searching a landfill in Elk River for Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr., who was last seen on May 8. WCCO "I know they said something led them there, but I don't know what. Yeah, but they've been out there for days," Berry said. "It's horrifying, like I had to turn the news off when I seen it. Nothing good comes to my mind when I see that." Investigators say they have a person of interest, but have not named them. Berry believes someone out there knows where her son is. "I think someone knows something. I know for sure someone, the main person, knows something, but I think there are other people who know as well," she said. For now, she is doing what she can so she can hug her only child again. "This is the longest I've gone in 16 years without talking to you, and I want you to know how much I love you, and I'm sure you know you got a lot of people that is waiting for you and that cares about you, and I love you and I hope you are okay," Berry said. Investigators told Berry they continue to interview people with information about Collins' whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 1-877-996-6222 or by email.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Mother of missing Twin Cities teen, believed to be taken "against his will," pleads for his safe return
A worried Minnesota mother says she hasn't heard from her teenage son in weeks. Jordan "Manny" Collins Jr., 16, vanished while visiting his father in Columbia Heights on May 8. Investigators think someone took him "against his will." "This is out of the norm for him," Collins' mother, Ashley Berry, said. Berry says she can't sleep or eat, and is worried about her only child. "My mind is racing all over the place. I want to believe that my son is still here in the state and physically here, but it's hard as the days go by to think that," Berry said. She says Collins has plans and rarely misses a day speaking to her, his grandmother or his girlfriend. "He has a job interview for plant fitness. He would have checked on his grandma, me and his girlfriend. He's a lady's man and he loves his Mom," Berry said. According to Berry, her son has taken on the role as head of the household. "He feels like he must be the man and protect the rest of his family. You're 16 and I want you to be a kid as long as possible. That's not your job. But that's him. That's his personality," she said. Berry says Collins did not like to worry her, so he always made sure to be positive about everything. "Wednesday before he went missing, he said he was taking a walk to clear his head, and I'm trying to check on him, and I asked, 'Is there anything you want to talk about?' And he said, 'No, do you want to talk about anything? " Berry said. Her concern is that Collins hasn't used a phone or social media since he disappeared. For now, she is holding on to hope because so many people are searching for him. "Even his old friends he hasn't seen in months, they've called me, like, 'What do you need me to do?" Berry said. She is asking for the public's help. "If you see something, say something, " Berry said. And praying for the safe return of her son. "Just come home, just come home," she said. Police say they do have a person of interest in this case, and they've collected forensic evidence. Investigators are asking neighbors to check their yards or cameras for anything suspicious.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Family of missing Columbia Heights teen to join officials in sharing new details
New charges in Feeding Our Future fraud, and more headlines New charges in Feeding Our Future fraud, and more headlines New charges in Feeding Our Future fraud, and more headlines The family of a missing 16-year-old Columbia Heights, Minnesota, boy will be joined by law enforcement Wednesday afternoon to share new details and call on the public for more information. Earlier this month, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued an endangered missing person alert for Jordan Dupree Collins, Jr. He was last seen May 8 on the 4800 block of University Avenue Northeast. The Columbia Heights Police Department and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office are investigating. Both agencies will be holding a news conference at 2 p.m. with the family to "share investigation updates with the community, as well as request any related information the public may have." The news conference will be streamed on the sheriff's office Facebook page. "Collins has no vehicle and is not with any known family members," the BCA alert said. "He has no similar history or known medical issues." Collins is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. No clothing description was provided. Jordan Dupree Collins, Jr. was last seen on May 8. Minnesota BCA Officials say Collins is commonly known by his nickname, Manny. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the BCA's tip line at 1-877-996-6222 or send an email. This story will be updated.
