Ongoing FR Analysis: Jack Wheeler Murder

cnn.com ^ | January 9, 2011 | Susan Candiotti and Ross Levitt

[WestCoastGal]

Yes, it’s beyond sad and maddening at the same time.

[WestCoastGal]

IMO still had to be a hit based on the body being dumped in the bin and sent to landfill where it was hoped he wouldn’t be seen again.

Sometimes I think of the stroke angle, but the dumpster pretty much rules that out for me.

Imagine, if they hadn’t spotted him - the search for him would have been far and wide and I bet they would have released more information and video tapes. Why are the holding the second tape back where he’s shown in the navy hooded sweatshirt on the 30th?

There’s the drugged for information angle, the theft of the briefcase which happened apparently sometime after the cabbie dropped him off on the morning of the 29th ? (if his so called log-book was accurate.) Why didn’t anyone else see him that morning? How did he get back to his neighborhood pharmacy later in the day 6pm? Did he go home in between? Is that where they caught up with him? The boot marks on floor.

Maybe they thought they got what they wanted from him, maybe he was smart enough to act senile, so they took the briefcase and left.........read information in briefcase - high security clearance......bosses say you need more out of Jack, so they hunt him down?

Of course there’s the neighbors......

All I have are questions, and the beginning of a great novel. Sadly :(

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Been there, done that...many times. :-)

[smoothsailing]

The main work undertaken by Jack Wheeler since 2005:

Precision Strike and Video Links for Groundfighters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiB3vrhPDNs

Establishing Cyber Warfighting Capability: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t849CYRd2Ak

Joint Warfighting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lxJSZQ93gI&feature=related

Citation for Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award, 2008:

CITATION
Mr. John P. Wheeler distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, from 3 November 2005 to 20 June 2008. During this period, Mr. Wheeler’s unwavering integrity, devotion to duty and steadfast leadership led to a number of successful initiatives across the Air Force.

Grasping the growing vulnerability of our weapon systems to Cyber intrusions, he worked tirelessly to drive the activation of Air Force Cyber Command. His visionary efforts were instrumental in the creation of the Cyber Research Center at the Air Force Institute of Technology; the first two graduates of the United States Air Force Academy to enter the Air Force Institute of Technology Cyber Master’s Program; the stand-up of the Air Force Cyber School; and an increased emphasis on Air Force recruitment efforts for officers and enlisted for Cyber careers.

His seasoned experience and knowledge proved invaluable as he helped formulate advice on initiatives such as Joint Basing, Recapitalization, ROVER precision strike data for Army and Marine troops, Acquisition, and a myriad of legislative initiatives facing the Air Force.

His day-to-day interactions with the Office of the Secretary of Defense enhanced relations and ensured streamlined timely responses.

The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Mr. Wheeler in the dedication of service to his Country reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

END OF CITATION

Source:
Biography of John Wheeler
http://www.sldinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/John-Wheeler-Bio.pdf

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

One possibility: He was home the night of the smoke bombs. Saw something, went out to investigate with cell phone in hand. He confronted the perps who knocked him over and phone out of his hand. Hit his head. No visible injury, the onset of symptoms were gradual which would explain the mental “here on minute, wandering the next” affect.

He went home (or somewhere). It was reported the cops picked up two kids wandering that night, questioned them & let him go. They could have said. “We saw some old guy hanging around.” Why else would they be so bold in the beginning as to say they had evidence linking him with the fire.

Later: “Dude, he might know who we are.”

Of course, this is just pure speculation (fiction) on my part and leaves many holes which may not be easily explained. It will be interesting to know what speculation is closet to the truth, if and when they ever release the details of this case.

[cricket]

In the midst of the ‘bad news’ re Egypt; heard a ‘blurb’ on this story from Greta (VanSustern/Fox News) but missed it’s substance. Perhaps someone heard. Well, she’s on the ‘loop’; did not sound ‘case breaking’ by any means; but the fact that it was mentioned was surprising.

[hoosiermama]

If I were writing a novel.... Only those who work with him know how late he worked. Earlier looked at the train schedule. They become very scarce late at night. He possibly worked very late. Missed the earlier trains. Went home after arriving on the 29th to clean up or take a nap.

Was headed to Philly on 29th (called cab asked them to meet him at a destination that was not his house.) We have no idea why he wanted to get to Philly...Meeting? Family? But after something happened decided to take his car.

Could be that his credit cards etc were taken when the brief case was taken. Then not enough money for the cab...Which would make the theft before he went to the pharmacy. Pharmacy is a short walk from his house. He needed a ride to Wil. to get car by then.

Head injury began to cloud his thinking. If diabetic it could have been lack of nutrients/sugar. Diabetic reactions are often confused with drunkenness. Most of my friends wear an ID bracelet to let LEO and medics know. (Also may be the reason he was immediately IDed)

He may have stayed at a cheaper hotel that night in WIl. Getting coffee at a cafe in the AM. Watching the game until the next afternoon. Could have found his car and gotten sweat shirt from it, but still needed funds to get to Philly (north).

Without enough funds left to spend the night in hotel again, he heads home via bus.

Thuds (druggies) find his credit cards in brief case but cannot get cash without a pin number. They find him (may have even waited in his home) and beat him trying to get the information. Second trauma causes head injury to exasperate. He dies. They dump because something where he was murdered would incriminate them....Remember one of the dumpsters was near a bank....Drive him around hunting for an ATM?

[smoothsailing]

I remember this now from an earlier thread, apparently my mind has been going in circles, I hate it when that happens.

........................................................

To: azishot; LucyT; hoosiermama; Wolfstar; WestCoastGal; Albion Wilde; Protect the Bill of Rights; ...

I remember hearing Lt.Gen. McInerney in an interview with Megyn Kelly that Wheeler had the “highest” security clearance.

He certainly did, he said it several times. It was very important to his theory of what may have happened.

Here's a partial transcript and a link to a video of the interview:

............................................

..."What is disturbing is, this has to be a professional hit job. I got my last email from Jack on the 21st, other people had gotten them on Christmas Day, and he had a very large electronic footprint - he put out hundreds of emails a day, perhaps. He had lots of connections. Most of the well-known correspondents in the DC area knew him, had worked with him. Former Secretary of the Air Force Mike Wynne, he was his civilian assistant and extremely close to him. They were classmates at West Point, along with General Petraeus and others."

"The fact was that his latest expertise was really in cyber-warfare. It was early in his days in the military that he wrote a paper on chemical weapons, but his real and latest expertise was cyber-warfare, in which he helped Mike Wynne and General Buzz Moseley lead the Air Force, of all the services, into that area. And I participated in a number of meetings with, when he went with MITRE, that he had convened, a group of experts. And we discussed cyber-warfare. So that's the area that really he concerns me - he was very, very knowledgeable in that, plus the very high security clearances that he had. That's why I think that the FBI has go to get involved with this and find out who did this."

It's pure speculation on my part based on Gen. McInerney's theory, but the FBI may have thrown a blanket over the investigation and we may not get much new info for some time.

72 posted on 01/19/2011 9:05:30 PM PST by smoothsailing

[smoothsailing]

I remember hearing Lt.Gen. McInerney in an interview with Megyn Kelly that Wheeler had the “highest” security clearance.

[hoosiermama]

Of course there’s the neighbors......
Chapter two of book.

It's not the neighbors per se, but the contractors. There had been a large snow. Workers were not able to get home, didn't have enough money for a motel. Saw where Jack hid his key and decided to make themselves at home.

Didn't see Jack come home as were busy working inside or were off site. Lets themselves into Jack's house to be met by Jack. Jack chases them using briefcase for protection. Guys takes it and head to well known territory house under construction. There the phone is dropped. He heads to mall instead of where he told taxi to meet him, knowing they heard his conversation ordering cab.

Thugs may be druggies or illegals in need of cash. See above.

Can they trace if someone tries to make a withdrawal on your cards?

[cricket]

OK. . .maybe you all have seen this; but the announcement just mentioned by Greta; probably had something to do with this: blunt intstrument. . .and more than odd story; given the headline; which the rest of story does not even address:

New development in mysterious death of John Wheeler

interesting that the 'comments' posted following this article more interesting than story. . . link

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7899464

[hoosiermama]

My cousin's husband was in the space program and had an extremely high clearance for one of his projects. (He didn't even sleep in the same hotel two nights in a row. Never drove the same rental car two days in a row. Could not use his own cell phone ever. Undisclosed location)

NOTHING leaves the location in a briefcase or on a computer carried by the individual if the material is that highly secure.

[hoosiermama]

Just for reference from article:

...snip... blunt force trauma involves "nonpenetrating" injuries such as concussions, contusions, lacerations, broken bones and abrasions, which are distinguished from penetrating wounds inflicted by stabbing or shooting.

[hoosiermama]

Can't sleep hunting for news of the ME and had a thought

Chapter 3

Of course there’s the neighbors......

When the arson occurred the police immediately named Jack. Who pointed the finger at him? The neighbors.

When Jack needed help, they had set up a no-win situation, he couldn't go to the police for help, but was left to the mercy of thugs, who beat him to death. They were not interested in theft or they would have taken the 120 dollars. They took his phone so he couldn't communicate with the outside world. His credit cards so he had no funds to leave the area. And then they hunted him down after the initial attack failed.

[WestCoastGal]

Lot’s of good theories HM.

I still can’t past the ‘garbage’ part of this.

IMO it would be either someone wanting to send this message like a mafia style hit or even a payback from a foreign power who wanted revenge for certain cyber-warfare that went on recently. You’re garbage.

Or, it was someone he was seen with that day who wanted to ‘hide’ his body, never thinking he would be spotted falling from the truck.

If he was robbed (of what?) by homeless people or druggies the evening of the 30th or early morning of the 31st they wouldn’t have had the means or opportunity to get him to Newark.

BTW, I woke up thinking this morning about car keys. Do they keep your car keys at these monthly type parking garages or would he need his keys for the car to go anywhere.

The Philly thing is still a puzzle. Wonder if he went there frequently or this was a one of type thing which would be a huge clue. What does Philadelphia have that Delaware doesn’t?

[WestCoastGal]

I heard this last night but the Examiner Radell confirms this.

According to Delaware Online--in their first article put forth on the medical examiner's announcement of Wheeler's cause of death (and later updated to remove the LE statement altogether), the spokesman Lt. Mark Farrell expressed surprise that an announcement had been made.

Farrell--who has been the liason between the law enforcement agency and the general public since the Newark PD assumed the case--appeared to be "out of the loop," which is a definite departure to date.

LINK

[WestCoastGal]

More unexplained things and ramblings by me:

The police/fire found Jack’s cell phone at the Marini’s. supposedly on the evening of the 28th after the smoke bomb incident. But, if we believe Spence the cabbie, he wasn’t even in Delaware yet.

Who called the cab from or near the pharmacy to go to Philadelphia?

Did he have a secondary phone and if so, why didn’t he call one of his buddies? Was this so dangerous that he didn’t want anyone else involved?

The pharmacy was about 6 blocks from his house, if he had been there or even attacked there, it seems quite a long way for him to walk even without being injured or drugged.

As I’ve said numerous times, it’s virtually an impossible coincidence to be robbed/beaten/mugged on two different days by different people.

Is it possible the perps somehow associated with the neighbors stole an old phone from Jack’s house and placed it at the smoke bomb site to implicate him? I have old phones, I’m sure everyone else does too. The loud TV is a puzzle - do we know if the rest of the house was a mess? Could someone have been in there searching for something using the TV to hide the noise? Was someone trying to make everyone think Jack was in the house during those 4 days?

Anyone who watches suspense movies knows that if you’re on the run you can’t take cabs, which is perhaps why he asked the pharmacist for a ride. Later disappearing before the Philly cab arrived. However, the method of transportation to Wilmington is still a puzzle, walking IMO was not an option.

From ABCPhilly
Sammy Abdelaziz, the parking garage supervisor at Nemours said he tried to help Wheeler find his parking ticket after he was unable to locate his car.

“He said, ‘No, I don’t have the ticket because I got robbed and THEY took my briefcase from me,’” said Abdelaziz.

Abdelaziz said he noticed something was wrong based on Wheeler’s appearance. “He was walking very slow…He looked tired and exhausted,” he said.

Video of above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GssjUrHEmjU

[WestCoastGal]

A man of distinction deserves every avenue investigated into who killed him!

John Wheeler III’s resume:

EDUCATION
1966 Distinguished graduate, Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
1969 Master of Business Administration degree, with distinction, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass.
1975 Juris Doctor, Yale Law School, New Haven, Conn.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1966 – 1967, fire control platoon leader, nuclear Nike Hercules site, Franklin Lakes, N.J.
2. 1967 – 1969, graduate student, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. (summer 1968, systems analyst (Strategic Programs), Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.)
3. 1969 – 1970, member of the General Staff, Headquarters U.S. Army Vietnam, Long Binh, Vietnam
4. 1970 – 1971, staff officer, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
5. 1971 – 1972, senior planner, Amtrak, Washington, D.C.
6. 1972 – 1975, law student, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
7. 1975 – 1976, law clerk, George E. MacKinnon, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
8. 1976 – 1978, Associate, Shea and Gardner Law Firm, Washington, D.C.
9. 1978 – 1986, Assistant General Counsel, Special Counsel to Chairman, and Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. (1980 – 1981, on loan per President Reagan to create Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program)
10. 1986 – 1988, self-employed specialist in startups and turnarounds of companies, charities
11. 1988 – 1989, President G.H.W. Bush Transition Team to create Earth Conservation Corps, Washington, D.C.
12. 1989 – 1997, self-employed specialist in startups and turnarounds of companies, charities
13. 1997 – 2001, President and CEO, Deafness Research Foundation, Washington, D.C.
14. 2001 – 2005, self-employed specialist in startups and turnarounds of companies, charities (2004 – 2005, consultant to acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C.)
15. 2005 – 2008, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
16. 2008-2009 Special Assistant to the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Logistics and Energy.
17. 2009. Consultant to Mitre Corporation.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award with Bronze Device
Joint Service Commendation Medal
U.S. Representative, Pew Foundation, British American Project

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Law Journal Officer and Note Editor, Yale Law School
Languages: Fluent Spanish
1979 – 1989, Chairman, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
1983 – 1987, Chairman and CEO, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
1993 – present, created, then CEO Vietnam Children’s Fund

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
District of Columbia Bar; Council on Foreign Relations

[WestCoastGal]

This Google map of dumpster pick-up route doesn't seem as disjointed as the one we had last week ? LINK

[WestCoastGal]

Also “G” (Gardens At White Chapel) happens to look like the closest to the Delaware turnpike from Wilmington

[Albion Wilde]

My last ping was at Post 574. Lots of info and photos have been added since then, including the release of the coroner's opinion of Cause of Death: blunt force trauma.

I urge you to read the thread in detail for many in-depth posts and links, with thanks to so many FReeper case analysts, especially Gondring, WestCoastGal, smoothsailing, hoosiermama, Sacajaweau and others (forgive me if I have neglected anyone). Here are some highlights:

Posts 604 & 605: Photos of Wheeler's kitchen w/ muddy footprints and floorboards missing;

Post 610: Link to map of key sites;

Post 647: Link to video of burn marks in Marini house;

Page 651: Continued discussion of house, cellphone;

Post 703: Link to DelawareOnline's complete website about case details, timeline, video and photos;

Post 718: Link to WorldNew's complete bibliography of articles about Wheeler case; discussion and more links follow on that page;

Post 751: Photo of cabbie and discussion;

Page 801: Additional dissection of case details;

Post 876: Link to article about "spotters" at landfills who monitor trash dumps, with reference to how Wheeler's body was discovered;

Posts 884 & 885: Cause of death (blunt force trauma) revealed by authorities;

Post 904: Review of John Wheeler's many accomplishments.

* * *

OK, pinglist, there's your weekend reading.