Murder Of Jacob Wetterling
Child Abduction and Murder
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
St. Joseph, Minnesota
TIME PERIOD
October 22, 1989
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
On October 22, 1989, Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota, was kidnapped while biking home from a convenience store and subsequently murdered. After nearly 27 years of investigation, his remains were discovered on September 1, 2016, near Paynesville, Minnesota, and Danny Heinrich confessed to the crime shortly thereafter. The case is now considered solved following Heinrich's confession and the identification of Wetterling's remains.
Theories surrounding the murder of Jacob Wetterling primarily focus on the involvement of Danny Heinrich, who was a long-time person of interest in the case. Speculation arose regarding Heinrich's connection to the abduction of another boy, Jared Scheierl, which may suggest a pattern of predatory behavior. The community has analyzed Heinrich's confession, linking it to the broader context of child abductions in the area, raising questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement during the initial investigation.
Murder of Jacob Wetterling
Overview
The tragic case of Jacob Erwin Wetterling is one that gripped the nation and sparked significant changes in child safety laws in the United States. Jacob, born on February 17, 1978, in Long Prairie, Minnesota, was an 11-year-old boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota, who was kidnapped and murdered on October 22, 1989. His abduction and the mystery surrounding it remained unsolved for nearly 27 years, capturing the attention of the public and law enforcement alike.
Quick Facts
- Born: February 17, 1978, Long Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.
- Died: October 22, 1989 (aged 11), Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
- Cause of Death: Gunshot wound
- Body Discovered: September 1, 2016, Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
- Burial Place: St. John's Abbey Cemetery, Minnesota
On September 1, 2016, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) made a groundbreaking discovery: human bones were found in a pasture near Paynesville, approximately 30 miles from where Jacob was abducted. Two days later, the Wetterling family confirmed that these bones belonged to Jacob, a conclusion verified by dental records. This shocking revelation was made possible due to information provided by Danny Heinrich, a long-time suspect in the abduction of another boy, 12-year-old Jared Scheierl, from Cold Spring, Minnesota.
The Kidnapping
The fateful night of October 22, 1989, started innocently enough. Jacob, his younger brother Trevor (10), and their friend Aaron Larson (11) were biking home from a local convenience store in St. Joseph, where they had rented a video. Just after 9:00 p.m. CDT, their lives would change forever when they encountered Danny Heinrich. Clad in a stocking cap mask and wielding an unloaded revolver, Heinrich emerged from a driveway, ordering the boys to throw their bikes into a ditch and lie face-down on the ground.
Heinrich then demanded to know their ages. After instructing Trevor to run toward a wooded area with a chilling warning not to look back or he'd be shot, Heinrich turned his attention to Aaron and Jacob. He chose Jacob, allowing Aaron to flee, but not before threatening him as he had done with Trevor. This was the last time Jacob was seen alive by anyone other than his captor.
Investigation
The investigation into Jacob's disappearance was fraught with challenges and heartache. Just nine months prior to Jacob's abduction, in January 1989, a similar crime occurred in Cold Spring, where 12-year-old Jared Scheierl was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and threatened by an unknown man. The modus operandi of the assailant bore striking similarities to what happened to Jacob, making this earlier case a critical piece of evidence in the long-running investigation.
Person of Interest
Fast forward to May 2014, and investigators reopened several unsolved cases involving attempted child molestations in the Paynesville area that had occurred in the two years leading up to Jacob's abduction. Between summer 1986 and spring 1987, five teenage boys had been attacked, but no arrests were made. Authorities, prompted by a local blogger, revisited the cases, uncovering connections that suggested these attacks were far from random and might have links to Jacob's kidnapping.
Danny James Heinrich
In October 2015, the investigation took a pivotal turn when Danny James Heinrich was named a person of interest in Jacob's disappearance. Heinrich had been questioned by the FBI back in December 1989, and even provided a DNA sample, but at that time, he was released without charges. Fast forward to 2015, and DNA evidence linked him to the earlier abduction of Jared Scheierl, raising red flags across the investigation.
Though the statute of limitations had expired for the Cold Spring kidnapping, Heinrich was arrested on October 28, 2015, when authorities discovered child sexual abuse material in his home.
Plea and Discovery
What happened next would send shockwaves through the community. Heinrich chose to cooperate with authorities as part of a plea bargain. On September 1, 2016, he led investigators to a burial site in that pasture near Paynesville—the same area where Jacob's remains were ultimately discovered. His clothing and human remains were excavated, and by September 3, 2016, the identity was confirmed through dental records. Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, expressed her heartbreak to the media, stating, “All I can confirm is that Jacob has been found, and our hearts are broken.”
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Heinrich pled guilty to one count of federal child pornography charges. He also confessed to kidnapping and murdering Jacob, describing in chilling detail how he had restrained Jacob, driven him to a gravel pit, molested him, and ultimately taken his life. Heinrich recounted how he evaded police by monitoring a police scanner. He admitted to returning to the site a year later to move Jacob's body after noticing that his jacket was visible.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges for Jacob’s murder. Heinrich received a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for the child pornography charge, but the plea deal also allowed for state authorities to seek his civil commitment as a sexual predator after his federal term ended, potentially keeping him imprisoned indefinitely.
During sentencing, Judge John Tunheim remarked poignantly on the impact of Heinrich's actions, stating, “We won't pretend that this crime and sentence is about child pornography. It is also about changing the lives of so many children and parents who prayed for Jacob's return.”
Legacy
In the wake of Jacob's abduction, his parents, Jerry and Patty Wetterling, established the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, a vital advocacy group focused on children's safety. Their efforts bore fruit in 1994 when the federal Jacob Wetterling Act was enacted—this landmark legislation was the first to create a state sex-offender registry. The law has since undergone several amendments, notably through Megan's Law in 1996 and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in 2006.
By 2008, the foundation evolved into the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, continuing its mission to educate the public on child safety and protection.
In 2016, the Bridge of Hope, spanning the Mississippi River near St. Cloud, was dedicated in Jacob's honor, a lasting tribute to the boy whose story led to significant legislative changes aimed at protecting children.
Connection Between Heinrich and Duane Hart
Following Heinrich's arrest, reports emerged revealing a complex history. Heinrich and his brother were reportedly sexually abused by Duane Hart, a man who was dating their mother at the time. Hart himself had previously implicated Heinrich in the Wetterling case as early as 1991, stating that Heinrich had asked him how to dispose of a body and had displayed suspicious items at his residence. Disturbingly, this lead was never adequately investigated at the time.
See Also
- Disappearance of Joshua Guimond
- In the Dark, an American Public Media podcast that explored the Wetterling case and the failures of the Stearns County Sheriff's Office in the investigation.
- List of solved missing person cases
Sources
- Ross, Jenna; Brooks, Jennifer (September 4, 2016). "Paynesville reeling with news about Jacob". Star Tribune.
- "Authorities confirm: Jacob found". SCTimes, Saint Cloud, Minnesota. September 4, 2016.
- Minneapolis, Associated Press in (September 6, 2016). "Minnesota man describes killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling in chilling detail". The Guardian.
- Williams, Brandt. "Heinrich confesses to kidnapping, killing Jacob Wetterling". Minnesota Public Radio, September 6, 2016.
- Davidson, Beth. "Jacob Wetterling Resource Center History - Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center". gundersenhealth.org.
- Plummer, William; Nelson, Margaret (November 20, 1989). "A Town Prays for a Missing Son". People.
- "Hidden Traces". CourtTV, November 21, 2002.
- "Investigators probe possible Wetterling link". KMSP-TV, May 15, 2014.
- Theisen, Scott (September 6, 2016). "Timeline of Events in Jacob Wetterling's Abduction".
- Furst, Randy (October 29, 2015). " 'Person of interest' named in 1989 Jacob Wetterling disappearance". Star Tribune.
- "Assault victim hopes break in his case ends Jacob Wetterling mystery". CBS News, November 3, 2015.
- "Heinrich confesses to taking, killing Jacob Wetterling". MPR News, September 6, 2016.
- "Jacob Wetterling's Remains Have Been Found". KTSP, September 3, 2016.
- "Jacob Wetterling: remains of boy missing for 27 years are found in Minnesota". The Guardian, Associated Press.
- Divine, Mary; Horner, Sarah (September 6, 2016). "In chilling confession, Jacob Wetterling's fate is finally revealed". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
- "Danny Heinrich confesses to abducting and killing Jacob Wetterling". Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
- "Jacob Wetterling's killer: 'I am truly sorry for my evil acts'". CBS News, November 21, 2016.
- Divine, Mary, "Jacob Wetterling's killer reaches final prison destination". St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 24, 2017.
- Meryhew, Richard (October 17, 1999). "Jacob's legacy". Minnesota Star Tribune.
- Wootson, Cleve R. "A Minnesota boy was kidnapped at gunpoint in 1989. Police have finally found his body". Washington Post, September 4, 2016.
- Ramirez, Jessica (January 29, 2007). "The Abductions That Changed America". Newsweek.
- Terry, Karen J. and Ackerman, Elissa R. "A Brief History of Major Sex Offender Laws". Springer Publishing Co (2014).
- "Who we are: History". Jacob Wetterling Resource Center.
- "Jacob Wetterling Resource Center History". Winona State University.
- "Session weekly – A non-partisan publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives". Minnesota House of Representatives.
- "Heinrich's Strange Connection To Another Wetterling Case Suspect". CBS News.
- "MONSTER & MENTOR: Victims of Duane Hart share their stories". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
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Jacob Wetterling Born
Jacob Erwin Wetterling is born in Long Prairie, Minnesota.
Jacob Kidnapped
Jacob Wetterling is kidnapped at gunpoint while biking home with friends.
Wetterling Act Passed
The federal Jacob Wetterling Act is passed, establishing a state sex-offender registry.
Heinrich Named Person of Interest
Danny Heinrich is publicly named as a person of interest in Jacob Wetterling's disappearance.
Heinrich Arrested
Danny Heinrich is arrested after child sexual abuse material is found in his home.
Jacob's Remains Found
Human bones identified as Jacob Wetterling's are discovered in a pasture near Paynesville.
Heinrich Confesses
Danny Heinrich confesses to kidnapping and murdering Jacob Wetterling.
Heinrich Sentenced
Danny Heinrich is sentenced to 20 years for child pornography charges as part of a plea deal.
Heinrich Transferred
Danny Heinrich is transferred to a federal prison to serve his sentence.
On October 22, 1989, Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota, was kidnapped while biking home from a convenience store and subsequently murdered. After nearly 27 years of investigation, his remains were discovered on September 1, 2016, near Paynesville, Minnesota, and Danny Heinrich confessed to the crime shortly thereafter. The case is now considered solved following Heinrich's confession and the identification of Wetterling's remains.
Theories surrounding the murder of Jacob Wetterling primarily focus on the involvement of Danny Heinrich, who was a long-time person of interest in the case. Speculation arose regarding Heinrich's connection to the abduction of another boy, Jared Scheierl, which may suggest a pattern of predatory behavior. The community has analyzed Heinrich's confession, linking it to the broader context of child abductions in the area, raising questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement during the initial investigation.
Murder of Jacob Wetterling
Overview
The tragic case of Jacob Erwin Wetterling is one that gripped the nation and sparked significant changes in child safety laws in the United States. Jacob, born on February 17, 1978, in Long Prairie, Minnesota, was an 11-year-old boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota, who was kidnapped and murdered on October 22, 1989. His abduction and the mystery surrounding it remained unsolved for nearly 27 years, capturing the attention of the public and law enforcement alike.
Quick Facts
- Born: February 17, 1978, Long Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.
- Died: October 22, 1989 (aged 11), Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
- Cause of Death: Gunshot wound
- Body Discovered: September 1, 2016, Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
- Burial Place: St. John's Abbey Cemetery, Minnesota
On September 1, 2016, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) made a groundbreaking discovery: human bones were found in a pasture near Paynesville, approximately 30 miles from where Jacob was abducted. Two days later, the Wetterling family confirmed that these bones belonged to Jacob, a conclusion verified by dental records. This shocking revelation was made possible due to information provided by Danny Heinrich, a long-time suspect in the abduction of another boy, 12-year-old Jared Scheierl, from Cold Spring, Minnesota.
The Kidnapping
The fateful night of October 22, 1989, started innocently enough. Jacob, his younger brother Trevor (10), and their friend Aaron Larson (11) were biking home from a local convenience store in St. Joseph, where they had rented a video. Just after 9:00 p.m. CDT, their lives would change forever when they encountered Danny Heinrich. Clad in a stocking cap mask and wielding an unloaded revolver, Heinrich emerged from a driveway, ordering the boys to throw their bikes into a ditch and lie face-down on the ground.
Heinrich then demanded to know their ages. After instructing Trevor to run toward a wooded area with a chilling warning not to look back or he'd be shot, Heinrich turned his attention to Aaron and Jacob. He chose Jacob, allowing Aaron to flee, but not before threatening him as he had done with Trevor. This was the last time Jacob was seen alive by anyone other than his captor.
Investigation
The investigation into Jacob's disappearance was fraught with challenges and heartache. Just nine months prior to Jacob's abduction, in January 1989, a similar crime occurred in Cold Spring, where 12-year-old Jared Scheierl was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and threatened by an unknown man. The modus operandi of the assailant bore striking similarities to what happened to Jacob, making this earlier case a critical piece of evidence in the long-running investigation.
Person of Interest
Fast forward to May 2014, and investigators reopened several unsolved cases involving attempted child molestations in the Paynesville area that had occurred in the two years leading up to Jacob's abduction. Between summer 1986 and spring 1987, five teenage boys had been attacked, but no arrests were made. Authorities, prompted by a local blogger, revisited the cases, uncovering connections that suggested these attacks were far from random and might have links to Jacob's kidnapping.
Danny James Heinrich
In October 2015, the investigation took a pivotal turn when Danny James Heinrich was named a person of interest in Jacob's disappearance. Heinrich had been questioned by the FBI back in December 1989, and even provided a DNA sample, but at that time, he was released without charges. Fast forward to 2015, and DNA evidence linked him to the earlier abduction of Jared Scheierl, raising red flags across the investigation.
Though the statute of limitations had expired for the Cold Spring kidnapping, Heinrich was arrested on October 28, 2015, when authorities discovered child sexual abuse material in his home.
Plea and Discovery
What happened next would send shockwaves through the community. Heinrich chose to cooperate with authorities as part of a plea bargain. On September 1, 2016, he led investigators to a burial site in that pasture near Paynesville—the same area where Jacob's remains were ultimately discovered. His clothing and human remains were excavated, and by September 3, 2016, the identity was confirmed through dental records. Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, expressed her heartbreak to the media, stating, “All I can confirm is that Jacob has been found, and our hearts are broken.”
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Heinrich pled guilty to one count of federal child pornography charges. He also confessed to kidnapping and murdering Jacob, describing in chilling detail how he had restrained Jacob, driven him to a gravel pit, molested him, and ultimately taken his life. Heinrich recounted how he evaded police by monitoring a police scanner. He admitted to returning to the site a year later to move Jacob's body after noticing that his jacket was visible.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges for Jacob’s murder. Heinrich received a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for the child pornography charge, but the plea deal also allowed for state authorities to seek his civil commitment as a sexual predator after his federal term ended, potentially keeping him imprisoned indefinitely.
During sentencing, Judge John Tunheim remarked poignantly on the impact of Heinrich's actions, stating, “We won't pretend that this crime and sentence is about child pornography. It is also about changing the lives of so many children and parents who prayed for Jacob's return.”
Legacy
In the wake of Jacob's abduction, his parents, Jerry and Patty Wetterling, established the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, a vital advocacy group focused on children's safety. Their efforts bore fruit in 1994 when the federal Jacob Wetterling Act was enacted—this landmark legislation was the first to create a state sex-offender registry. The law has since undergone several amendments, notably through Megan's Law in 1996 and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in 2006.
By 2008, the foundation evolved into the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, continuing its mission to educate the public on child safety and protection.
In 2016, the Bridge of Hope, spanning the Mississippi River near St. Cloud, was dedicated in Jacob's honor, a lasting tribute to the boy whose story led to significant legislative changes aimed at protecting children.
Connection Between Heinrich and Duane Hart
Following Heinrich's arrest, reports emerged revealing a complex history. Heinrich and his brother were reportedly sexually abused by Duane Hart, a man who was dating their mother at the time. Hart himself had previously implicated Heinrich in the Wetterling case as early as 1991, stating that Heinrich had asked him how to dispose of a body and had displayed suspicious items at his residence. Disturbingly, this lead was never adequately investigated at the time.
See Also
- Disappearance of Joshua Guimond
- In the Dark, an American Public Media podcast that explored the Wetterling case and the failures of the Stearns County Sheriff's Office in the investigation.
- List of solved missing person cases
Sources
- Ross, Jenna; Brooks, Jennifer (September 4, 2016). "Paynesville reeling with news about Jacob". Star Tribune.
- "Authorities confirm: Jacob found". SCTimes, Saint Cloud, Minnesota. September 4, 2016.
- Minneapolis, Associated Press in (September 6, 2016). "Minnesota man describes killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling in chilling detail". The Guardian.
- Williams, Brandt. "Heinrich confesses to kidnapping, killing Jacob Wetterling". Minnesota Public Radio, September 6, 2016.
- Davidson, Beth. "Jacob Wetterling Resource Center History - Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center". gundersenhealth.org.
- Plummer, William; Nelson, Margaret (November 20, 1989). "A Town Prays for a Missing Son". People.
- "Hidden Traces". CourtTV, November 21, 2002.
- "Investigators probe possible Wetterling link". KMSP-TV, May 15, 2014.
- Theisen, Scott (September 6, 2016). "Timeline of Events in Jacob Wetterling's Abduction".
- Furst, Randy (October 29, 2015). " 'Person of interest' named in 1989 Jacob Wetterling disappearance". Star Tribune.
- "Assault victim hopes break in his case ends Jacob Wetterling mystery". CBS News, November 3, 2015.
- "Heinrich confesses to taking, killing Jacob Wetterling". MPR News, September 6, 2016.
- "Jacob Wetterling's Remains Have Been Found". KTSP, September 3, 2016.
- "Jacob Wetterling: remains of boy missing for 27 years are found in Minnesota". The Guardian, Associated Press.
- Divine, Mary; Horner, Sarah (September 6, 2016). "In chilling confession, Jacob Wetterling's fate is finally revealed". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
- "Danny Heinrich confesses to abducting and killing Jacob Wetterling". Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
- "Jacob Wetterling's killer: 'I am truly sorry for my evil acts'". CBS News, November 21, 2016.
- Divine, Mary, "Jacob Wetterling's killer reaches final prison destination". St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 24, 2017.
- Meryhew, Richard (October 17, 1999). "Jacob's legacy". Minnesota Star Tribune.
- Wootson, Cleve R. "A Minnesota boy was kidnapped at gunpoint in 1989. Police have finally found his body". Washington Post, September 4, 2016.
- Ramirez, Jessica (January 29, 2007). "The Abductions That Changed America". Newsweek.
- Terry, Karen J. and Ackerman, Elissa R. "A Brief History of Major Sex Offender Laws". Springer Publishing Co (2014).
- "Who we are: History". Jacob Wetterling Resource Center.
- "Jacob Wetterling Resource Center History". Winona State University.
- "Session weekly – A non-partisan publication of the Minnesota House of Representatives". Minnesota House of Representatives.
- "Heinrich's Strange Connection To Another Wetterling Case Suspect". CBS News.
- "MONSTER & MENTOR: Victims of Duane Hart share their stories". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Jacob Wetterling Born
Jacob Erwin Wetterling is born in Long Prairie, Minnesota.
Jacob Kidnapped
Jacob Wetterling is kidnapped at gunpoint while biking home with friends.
Wetterling Act Passed
The federal Jacob Wetterling Act is passed, establishing a state sex-offender registry.
Heinrich Named Person of Interest
Danny Heinrich is publicly named as a person of interest in Jacob Wetterling's disappearance.
Heinrich Arrested
Danny Heinrich is arrested after child sexual abuse material is found in his home.
Jacob's Remains Found
Human bones identified as Jacob Wetterling's are discovered in a pasture near Paynesville.
Heinrich Confesses
Danny Heinrich confesses to kidnapping and murdering Jacob Wetterling.
Heinrich Sentenced
Danny Heinrich is sentenced to 20 years for child pornography charges as part of a plea deal.
Heinrich Transferred
Danny Heinrich is transferred to a federal prison to serve his sentence.