Posted on 01/17/2011 1:51:22 PM PST by Wolfstar
An unfitting end to an illustrious career.
That's how several West Point classmates viewed the New Year's Eve discovery of a prominent defense expert's body in a Wilmington landfill.
Two weeks after Newark, Del., police identified John "Jack" P. Wheeler 3d, 66, of New Castle, as a homicide victim, investigators still have released few particulars about the case, allowing conspiracy theorists of all kinds to draw pictures of their own.
Although the case was deemed a homicide, police have declined to list a cause, raising questions about whether Wheeler was drugged, shot, beaten, or stabbed. New information from police sources suggests he might have stopped taking medication for some sort of medical or mental-health condition.
"We're very disappointed that we've heard nothing," said Doug Thornblom, a retired Army colonel who described his roommate from West Point's Class of 1966 as a kind, respected, passionate patriot.
[SNIP]
Randy Loftin, another classmate, said Wheeler's death shocked their tight-knit group.
"This is really off the charts for someone like Jack," Loftin said. "There are few people who would stun us like that, especially the way in which he died. He was a fabulous man, someone who was always watching your back in whatever you were doing."
Newark Police Lt. Mark A. Farrall, a spokesman for the department, declined to say whether detectives had more information and had chosen not to share it, or whether clues were scarce.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
Only two members of the above mentioned family arrested and they were both soldiers. OTOH they certainly know a lot about the family. SO are they waiting to arrest them later?
According to the article they have ties through out ALL of New England.
Mob??? There isn't half a brain between them.
The 25 Best Nicknames From The New York Mob Bust
1. JOHN HARTMAN, aka Lumpy, Fatty, and Fats
2. JOHN PORCELLO, aka Johnny Pizza
3. ANDREW RUSSO, aka Mush
4. JOSEPH CARNA, aka Junior Lollipops
5. BENJAMIN CASTELAZZO, aka Benji, The Claw, and The Fang
6. DENNIS DELUCIA, aka Fat Dennis, Little Dennis, and The Beard
7. GIUSEPPE DESTEFANO, aka Pooch
8. ANTHONY DURSO, aka Baby Fat Larry and BFL
9. JACK RIZZOCASCIO, aka Jack the Wack
10. ILARIO SESSO, aka Larry, Fat Larry, and FL
11. BARTOLOMEO VERNACE, aka Peppy, Bobby, Bobby Glasses, and Robert
12. VITO CORTESIANO, aka Vito Love
13. VINCENZO FROGIERO, aka Vinny Carwash
14. FRANK BELLANTONI, aka Meatball
15. CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, aka Burger
16. FRANK MARINI*, aka “Bombs Away”, “Smokey”
17. LUIGI MANOCCHIO, aka Baby Shacks, The Old Man, and The Professor
18. GIOVANNI VELLA, aka John Vella, Mousey and Little John
19. JOHN BRANCACCIO, aka Johnny Bandana
20. VINCENT AULISI, aka The Vet
21. DANIEL CILENTI, aka Uncle Danny
22. VINCENT DRAGONETTI, aka Vinny, Skinny, Mike, Mikey, and Marbles
23. ANTHONY LICATA, aka Cheeks, Anthony Firehawk, Anthony Nighthawk, Nighthawk, and Firehawk
24. JOHN AZARELLI, aka Johnny Cash
25. ANTHONY CALABRO, aka Nooch
*(Just kidding-I made that one up)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-25-most-creative-nicknames-from-the-new-york-m
Watching Megyn Kelly reading some of those names to Bill O’Reilly last night on The Factor was hilarious. They were both struggling to keep a straight face, even though I’m pretty sure they were in hysterics privately.
http://articles.philly.com/2011-01-06/news/27012912_1_arson-attempt-nemours-building-mitre
There are several items I did not know. For instance, he told courthouse employees (abt 7:30) he had $120.00 in his pocket (in spite of being robbed) and was staying at a nearby hotel (Hotel DuPont?? they declined comment).
He told the parking attendant that his brother had driven him from the station and he was recovering from the death of his mother. His mother and brother have been dead for years.
Interesting Wheeler backgound.
I did a Lexus-Nexus search and came across several interesting articles regarding the days of raising funds for the Viet Nam Memorial. I cannot post the articles because of copyright, but I have them and will freepmail them if anyone wants them.
The Viet Nam Memorial was not controversy free. In 1983 [Pulitzer and Peabody winner] Carlton Sherwood of WDVM, Cannel 9 now WUSA) did an expose entitlted “Vietnam Memorial: A Broken Promise?” accusing financial irregularities in the Viet Nam Memorial Fund targeting Wheeler and Jan Scruggs. An investigation turned up nothing to substantiate the claims and the station issued a formal apology.
Said Sherwood:
“...’’It ruined me professionally,’’..... He said his reports on the memorial’s financing were fair and accurate, but the television station for which he did the inquiry would not defend it after a Federal investigation did not back up the reporter. ...”
(source: The New York Times, July 17, 1984
REPORTER’S PROJECT RUINS HIS CAREER; JONATHAN FRIENDLY
Pg A-10, Col4)
Besides those allegations it has been reported he could also be demanding and abrasive when seeking donations (Type A — ya think?). I think of that when I read his lastest passion was getting ROTC back on campuses. I bet he told many of those anti-Military, anti-ROTC types exactly what was on his mind.
sounds like he was deteriorating mentally...
Forgetting where you put the car sounds like Alzheimer’s or senility, but the time line is too fast for Alzheimers etc. but I wonder about drugs/medicines or a stroke/brain tumor or brain hemorrhage from trauma.
a lot of medicines can cause this, but usually the person gets so confused they forget to take the pills, and so get better. The deterioration here sounds like it just kept getting worse...
Routine toxicology screens for alcohol and normal drugs are usually back in a few days, but in this case I’d check for weird things like heavy metal (lead, etc) and other rare toxins that can cause encephalopathy (looking for slow poisoning).
I suppose it's in the realm of possibility that a disgruntled academic could be behind his murder; it's just not striking me as highly likely right now. But no theory should be dismissed until more actual evidence is revealed.
I doubt it as well, but the thought of him making the anti-military crowd angry makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. :-)
LOL!
Seriously, I would like to see the first re-established ROTC on campus name their headquarters after John Wheeler.
LOL, I missed the show, but my wife saw it and says the same thing!
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