‘Deep grief’: Jacob Wetterling’s remains found

Dear God. Well, at least these poor parents now have some closure.

So sad. I hope the monster who did this to him rots in hell.

They haven't identified the remains yet.

Never heard of this case.

What was playing on his Sony Walkman when he died?

They were led to the remains by someone in jail for child porn charges.

Before I read the article, I assumed they had just found remains and identified him through DNA ....... but that hasn't been done yet.

And I thought ....... 'Wouldn't it be bizarre if they identified it was him, but the remains were of him as a 20+ year old ? (i.e., there was a long gap between date of disappearance and date of death). That would've been super creepy and even more awful for the family.

Like, OMG, totally super creepy, dude R6!

"Never heard of this case."

I don't know why. It was well publicized. On October 22, 1989, just after 9:00 p.m., Jacob Wetterling (11), his younger brother Trevor (10), and a friend Aaron (11), were cycling home from a convenience store where they had gone to rent a video, when a masked gunman came out of a driveway and ordered the boys to throw their bikes into a ditch and lie face down on the ground. He then asked each boy his age. Jacob's brother was told to run toward a nearby wooded area and not look back or else he would be shot. Subsequently, the gunman asked to view the faces of the two remaining boys. He picked Jacob, and told his friend to run away and not look back otherwise he would shoot. This was the last time Jacob was seen alive.

Kidnapped by a masked gunman...can you imagine what must have happened to that kid? I think he was chosen because he was a handsome boy; whoever took him no doubt wanted him for sex. Was he killed immediately or was he kept for weeks or months as a sex toy to some monster? It's too terrible to even think about.

Was there a TV movie of it? I think I remember seeing a scene like that - maybe it was on an SVU episode though. They always pull from real stories.

[quote]Kidnapped by a masked gunman...can you imagine what must have happened to that kid? I think he was chosen because he was a handsome boy; whoever took him no doubt wanted him for sex. Was he killed immediately or was he kept for weeks or months as a sex toy to some monster? [bold]It's too terrible to even think about.[/bold]

Riiight.

[quote]I don't know why. It was well publicized.

I'd never heard of it either. This happened in the pre-Internet world, before everyone knew everything instantly. This kind of story could easily slip by you.

This sort of story and the upthread poster's wish that Heinrich rot in hell demonstrates why people choose to believe in God even though there obviously isn't one. The idea that this guy had the past 27 years to live in freedom, go on vacation and to the movies, get a pizza -- all things he denied this little boy when he ended his life in terror and pain -- really does make you wish there was some sort of divine power to pay him back for what he did. But there isn't. Sure he's going to jail but many don't even get caught. Evil thrives -- there are often no consequences whatsoever.

OMG, I grew up in MN in the 80s, leaving for college in 1991. I remember what sensation this case was.

I wonder what the kid who was 'old enough' but not 'cute enough' thought of himself all these years.

sketch was pretty close

Side note: There was a big bust on pedophiles recently in Pa. Side note 2: this made me think of Johnny Gosch. ..sad.

"This kind of story could easily slip by you."

Not if you read newspapers or watched the news on tv. That's how I heard about it. I remember some news story on tv about this case; it featured video of Jacob Wetterling. He seemed like a sweet, shy boy.

This is really sad.

I remember this case vividly. I was a few years younger than Jacob when he was kidnapped back in 1989 and remember the numerous late night news stories that covered him in the days and weeks after he was taken. I also grew up in a small town, so this case hit home hard with parents and kids in my neighborhood.

For the next 27 years as I grew into adulthood, his name and face became a fixture on the screen whenever any piece on missing children was aired.

I guess after all this time, it would've been foolish to think he was still alive and being held captive as a 38 year old man.

Still, I admire his parents for never giving up hope and keeping his story out there. As devastating an end this is, hopefully his parents can take away some closure.

Makes me think of Kevin Collins, missing from SF, 10 y/o, last seen at a bus stop in 1984.

His friend was interviewed as an adult.

The story will be featured tonight on CNN at 7:00 PM on John Walsh's "The Hunt".

This story has been apart of my life for my whole life. Whenever their was a story abour missing children, Jacob Wetterling was featured. I'm glad they found him. Living or not - they found him. Now they have closure.

They can turn off that porch light and grieve, finally.

Oh, yeah R22. That made me choke up. What a great post.

I wasn't trying to r21/23

It's just how it hit me. I can understand them not losing hope. I hope they can handle losing that hope now. I guess I identify with them not giving up.

Now that goal is lost forever.

No, you're right R24. They finally have closure. I forgot that they kept their porch light on for him. It was nicely put and what you said was touching.

Grief porn for the simple-minded. There are hundreds of thousands of kids who go missing every year but the ones that get media attention are somehow more special?

And the porch light thing? *massive eyeroll*

FF R26.

Hey R26, let's pretend for a moment that you had a child. And that child was abducted. What would you do? Would you do everything in your power to find them? Might this include generating public awareness? And if your child's case was then something that some in the public gave a damn about, are they just pretending to care? Is it all just an act, when in fact they get some sick need met for having thoughts and feelings about the case? And finally, you are right, there are THOUSANDS of missing children -- are people demonstrating a lack of caring or sympathy toward those cases simply because they weren't receiving the media coverage akin to this case? Also, help us understand why the family's ritual of leaving on a porch light as a symbol of hope disgusts you so? Tell us what has made you so bitter. Some of truly want to understand what can make someone have literally NO capacity for empathy. Do you know what empathy is? Can you tell us some recent examples when you displayed empathy toward another person or group of people?

You can either respond. Or by not responding, you have revealed that you are simply nothing more than a bored, lonely troll.

This is the kind of story that makes you think that if there was a god, he's a real jerk to allow things like this to happen to kids, and to their parents.

R29, God doesn't act in evil ways (if you believe in God). And if by chance you do believe God, He gave man free-will. Man commits evil, when he can choose not to....

It sounds terrible for the parents, but if it comes out that he was killed shortly after his abduction, IMO it's still better than being held captive and tortured for twentysomething years.

R30, I think when some people think of God they think of a man or an entity that would never allow harm to come to his children (us).

I remember this case; the younger brother was probably fucked up for life. Why not me? Why my brother?

I wonder if they were close. My older brother can't stand me. Classic displacement from day one, exacerbated by our father's untimely death.

I don't wish him dead, of course, but if he had never been in my life I'd be happier.

The brother lives in Colorado and works in real estate. He's successful.

R32, I agree with you that that is the general perception among the average Joe, but if one studies theology or the writings of Christian apoligists, it is a fundamental misunderstanding that drives many away from a belief in any form of God. It is one of the oldest questions since the Age of Enlightment; "How could a loving God allow evil in this world?" But I totally get your point and agree.

R27 and R28? The tourist bus left DL an hour ago, and I think you forgot to get on it.

That you ascribe more significance to the death of one child over another speaks volumes about you and your personality. I have empathy for missing kids, abused women, unwanted pets, and soldiers sent to fight in useless wars. I don't have empathy for those hangers-on who show up in mourning rags to wallow in ashes in an attempt to make themselves part of the story. You need serious psychological help if this story has affected you this much.

And there is no such thing as "evil." What another massive eyeroll.

R26 = Damien Thorne

R26 CCC* of the Week. Doesn't deserve to take another breath.

Damieeeeeeeeen!!!!!!

The "person of interest," Danny Heinrich, confessed today in court to the sexual assault and murder of Jacob Wetterling.

So sad to hear what that poor boy's last moments were like. May he RIP.

At least his family has some closure, if not justice.

He needs to be Mussolinied. Drag him through the street,beat him half to death, and then execute him. And even that is too good for him.

It's just sickening to think this man will never have to answer for Jacob's murder. And without this plea deal, this scum would've gladly taken his knowledge of where Jacob was buried to his own grave, leaving his parents with no answers or closure as to what happened to their son.

Jacob's mother, Patty, spoke to the press after Heinrich's court hearing. Her composure is pretty amazing I must say.

At least she can take some comfort in the fact that her son didn't die in vain; that through this tragedy, she's gone on to enact some real change to hopefully prevent this from happening to another child and family.

RIP Jacob!

Oh my God. Not knowing where your child is for 27 years is a special kind of hell. When I think of all the time that has passed between 1989 and now, it's all just too much. There really are no words for this act. Jesus Christ.

R26 you're a fucking asshole. There aren't "hundreds of thousands of kids that go missing every year". Go crawl back under your rock.

hopefully Johnny Gosch, Eitan Patz, and Aeryn GIllern are found next...

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE SHIT IN MY MOUTH???!!!!

They may have found Kristin Smart who has been missing for 20 years.

[quote] According to the FBI, in 2015 there were 460,699 NCIC entries for missing children. Similarly, in 2014, the total number of missing children entries into NCIC was 466,949.

they really need to slowly torture this guy to where he's begging and pleading and then ease up and then the next day go back to more slowly killing and then ease up and do this till he begs to die

and then be merciful and give him what he wants

That's cool R47. I know that story too.

R48 Those are stats that include children who get lost and are quickly found (but reported to police), family abductions, where they know where the child is (or at least who they're with) and the child is never harmed and eventually returned to the guardian. The Jacob Wettterling type of abduction is exceedingly rare (considering the population) and it happens about 100 times in a given year.

I don't remember this story specifically, but I recognize that picture of him.

What a horror. The universe is a cold, cold place that something like this could happen.

R44 According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, roughly 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States -- that's roughly 2,000 per day. Of those, there are 115 child "stranger abduction" cases each year, which means the child was taken by an unknown person.

We don't expect you to apologize to R26, after all, this is DL.

Execute the fat bastard. Or feed him to some lions. The torment he kept that family in for all those years, wondering if their son could possibly be alive. Heartbreaking.

R53 AGAIN of those 800,000 "children gone missing" only about 100 (a statistically insignificant number compared to the population) are cases that have any resemblance to the Wetterling case whatsoever. Nearly all of that 800000 number are found in short order.

R54 I'm against capital punishment, but I wouldn't be against Mr. Wetterling being allowed to go into that animal's cell with a gun and just rid humanity of him for good.

Or Mrs. Wetterling.

There's no pain in having him go before a firing squad. Quick and it's over.

R44, most statistics back up the statement that hundreds of thousands of children go missing around the world each year. Try a google search. And r41, what the fuck do you mean 'at least he didn't die in vain?' What great cause did Jacob sacrifice himself for? Did he give his life so that one day his murderer might be caught? R26 is right - some of you freaks just love to wallow in the the grief of others.

I never heard of him before either.

It's sad, but I wouldn't get all hysterically outraged about it, devising all kinds of torture for the perp, or crying for a sky fairy to smite him.

Get a hold of yourselves, fraus.

R59 and R60 are child molesters..

And r61 was the child noone wanted to molest.

R62...well, you are the child molester, so you would know how to choose them.

Oh, he was white, so I can care about this.

Oh, touché, r63. What scathing wit!

The torment he kept that family in for all those years, wondering if their son could possibly be alive.... not to mention the electric bill from keeping that porch light on.

This is such an incredibly sad story. Poor Jacob asked that monster whom abducted him, "What did I do wrong?" Good god, if that doesn't bother you then you have no heart.

r45, Aeryn Gillern was a grown man who disappeared after doing a boatload of drugs and running naked out of a gay sauna near a river in the middle of the night. Sure it would be interesting to find out what happened to him, but he's a completely different case from this discussion of kids and young women being abducted .

[quote]I don't know why. It was well publicized.

I don't know....maybe the poster was 15 years-old like I was when this happened. What an unnecessarily shitty response.

This case, Johnny Gosch and the Dee Scofield cases have always been the most haunting. I'm appalled that this motherfucker got a plea deal out of it - I hope the other inmates nail this chomo in prison.

I am in Minnesota and the local news has been replaying a lot of clips from when he was first abducted. It struck me how young the parents looked at the time. They had to live with this close to half of their lives.

Just came across this and was horrified. What brave parents he had

“Heinrich said he took Jacob, handcuffed him in his car and drove near a gravel pit, where he assaulted him in a grove of trees.

The boy, who had been forced to strip, said he was cold, and asked if he could go home.

At one point, Heinrich said, Jacob asked him: "What did I do wrong”

This just breaks my heart. People who get busted for child pornography need to be jailed for life.

It seems highly likely this man also assaulted and possibly killed other boys. Why not investigate this more? Four bags of boys clothes as well as duct tape and handcuffs were found in his home when he was arrested.. 26 years after the only murder he confessed to.

That rotten bastard only got 20 years in prison? Infamia!

R73. That poor kid. I just can’t imagine what he thought was happening, it beaks my heart too.