Background & Disappearance

Last seen on May 8, 2025 near the 4900 block of University Avenue Northeast in Columbia Heights, MN, wearing a white ribbed tank top and red‑black plaid pants pressnewsagency.org+10startribune.com+10bringmethenews.com+10.
He was visiting his father at the time, with plans to return by June 4, and had previously maintained regular contact with his mother and girlfriend startribune.com.

🚨 “Against His Will” & Investigation

Law enforcement strongly believes Manny was taken against his will, not a case of runaway, due to the abrupt cessation of all his digital and financial activity cbsnews.com+2startribune.com+2pressnewsagency.org+2.
His phone briefly pinged for three minutes on May 11, then went silent again startribune.com+3fox9.com+3kstp.com+3.
Authorities interviewed multiple individuals, processed forensic evidence, and conducted various canvas searches in parks and the neighborhood cbsnews.com+3bringmethenews.com+3cbsnews.com+3.

A person of interest has been identified, though no charges have been filed and this individual has thus far been uncooperative cbsnews.com+2startribune.com+2bringmethenews.com+2.
Investigators have even searched the apartment where Manny was staying with his father—now treated as a crime scene cbsnews.com.

Since June 6, authorities including Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia Heights Police, Minnesota BCA, and the FBI, have focused efforts at the Waste Management landfill near Elk River fox9.com+10startribune.com+10bringmethenews.com+10.
While no conclusive evidence has been released publicly, the scale of the search signals serious ongoing concerns .

Ashley Berry, Manny’s mother, has been vocal and emotional, describing her son as responsible, protective, and caring—making his sudden disappearance all the more alarming cbsnews.com+1fox9.com+1.
She has repeatedly appealed publicly—through news conferences and interviews—for anyone with surveillance footage from May 8–12, or who may have seen or heard anything unusual, to come forward