Ongoing FR Analysis: Jack Wheeler Murder

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

[Albion Wilde]

Wilmington, Delaware (CNN) -- Police have found homicide victim John Wheeler's cell phone, according to a taxi driver who was interviewed by investigators this week.

Athel Scott told CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti that police told him they found the cab driver's number in the phone of Wheeler, the former Pentagon official who was found dead in a Delaware landfill. He said investigators wanted to know how his number got there. Scott... says he told the police he didn't have any idea.

"I never got a call from the man. I don't know him... He's never been in my cab. I don't know how my number got in his cellphone," Scott says he told police...

[smoothsailing]

He was casually dressed, wearing only a sport coat and slacks despite the cold.

He also was more chatty.

“He told me to take him to the Hotel du Pont,” Spence said.

...Spence, who remembers him as calm, relaxed and lucid.

"He wasn't suited down. He was just relaxed. We don't get too many people like that, dressed casually."

Sheesh, you would think the reporter would have asked;

"By the way, Mr. Spence, it sounds like you got a good look at Mr. Wheeler, was he by any chance carrying a briefcase?"

[DaveTesla]

Doubletree Parking garage

[Sacajaweau]

Relaxed....because he was on his way home from his Mitre Meeting...It's how I feel after a Town Board meeting unless I got snookered.

The briefcase MIGHT be a helpful note from Spence BUT it's more important that the Pharmacist describe Jack's clothing and VERIFY that John had a briefcase and/or an overcoat.

Something seems very, very wrong with this investigation.

[angcat]

Interesting thanks for the ping. The Hotel looks like a dump. Is it a upscale place? If so who goes into that area? Do they have wedding there? Just curious.

[angcat]

One more thing, did anyone read the comments under the article. I was intrigued by another name regarding the Dupont heiress and how she had her son's girlfriend murdered. So much to read so little time.

[smoothsailing]

Okay...then he has a watch on both wrists.

LOL, with such astute observations, I expect you will be solving the case any day now....

[brityank]

Thanks, Albion.

Looks like either the reporter misquoted or the cabbie lied:

Spence drove Wheeler along Walnut Street -- the most common route cabbies take to the hotel. When they neared 10th Street, Wheeler started talking.

"He mentioned how Hotel du Pont wasn't worth the money," Spence said.

Spence made his way up 10th Street and turned right onto Orange Street. When they reached the southeast corner of 11th and Orange streets, Wheeler got out.

He'd need to turn LEFT to get up Orange Street to 11th; Orange is one way going North, and 11th is one way headed East. Also, the southeast corner is next to the Nemours Building; the Hotel DuPont entry is directly opposite on 10th.

[azishot]

Thanks for the ping.

The cabbie said he dropped Wheeler off at the Hotel du Pont.
Has anything been released from the staff, patrons, etc. of the hotel about Wheeler?

Trying to keep up with this mystery...

[Sacajaweau]

No one has addressed the hoodie he was wearing when last seen. Either John bought it, someone gave it to him OR he had a room someplace where he had clothes. But a hoodie?? For John?? Doesn't fit. Someone must have given it to him. Who was he with??

What was he wearing when they found him...

I'll bet you 100 to 1 that John was carrying...and was going hunting that last night. He thought he was watching them....They were watching him...

That Scott cabbie...saw him twice?? and then says at the end of an interview..."That's all I know!" and throws up his hands...

Scott's last gesture threw me...It's something a kid might do after witnessing a playground fight.

The Army game was on the 30th. We see him at 8 AM, 3:30 PM and 8:30 PM for the last time. He must have watched the game someplace...and not alone...

[fatima]

Really,I’m going back to read it.

[Sacajaweau]

I know there's a cuff rule...that's all....My uncle was a tailor and I worked for him when I was young.

Solve this?? My best guess is the Marini family.

[angcat]

Frank and Anthony Marini are not related.

[WestCoastGal]

Why are you shouting about the topcoat to me? - I don’t think I made a reference to it, unless it was in an article. I don’t find that of interest to the case really.

And, FYI - I do have the notes about the car park as well.

Dec. 13 (Monday) - Car parked in Amtrak parking garage on Martin Luther King Boulevard near Wilmington Train Station.
* Delaware Chancery Court judge denies application for temporary restraining order against neighbors Marinis.
Dec. 23-27 - Strange activity at New Castle home with someone leaving unusually loud television constantly playing; also possibly involves 2 wooden chairs in kitchen and several wooden floorboards which eventually wound up with crime scene tape around them.

Dec 24th he is driven to the Wilmington Amtrak train station by his friend and neighbor. He is going to NY to see his wife, and carrying an antique dish as a gift for her in his briefcase.

(someone mentioned on the Examiner thread that there was a package for Mrs Wheeler left at the front desk of their apt in NYC which was still there some days later.

[cricket]

Have there been reports as to 'what' clothes he was wearing when found?

Also; have 'lost' this story for a while. . .have they said yet, what condition his body was; and how he died?

[WestCoastGal]

From that link there’s a witness who says

“Kathleen Boyer, a security guard at the New Castle County Courthouse, said a man she now believes was Wheeler told her he was dropped off by his brother two days prior so he could visit his mother, in Wilmington. The man did not have any apparent injuries but did mention he was robbed of his briefcase. He was looking for a hotel and wanted to know where Front Street was.”

Front Street is where the Amtrak station is - more curious.

[Sacajaweau]

"He wasn't suited down". That's a pretty good memory...

If John walked into ANY of those buildings near the DuPont, there must have a video......What major building doesn't have a substantial security system?

[Marty62]

So many of these “strange” deaths of people with high level security clearances go unsolved. The FBI whether purposeful or out of negligence do not follow the logical trails, especially if they get the impression it will go to “higher ups”.

People thought that all the spying and intrigue ended with the end of ther “Cold War”.

The group in D.C that are hellbent on monitoring and tracking every American (political or “anti” types), will not keep true Patriots around for long. Notice no one is asking if there had been a difference of opinion at his job in the month prior to this murder.

[Bronzy]

Maybe he means that funeral homes embalm bodies. Autopsies are usually done at the coroner’s facility.

[Guenevere]

The Tucson shooting helped obliterate curiosity or continued speculation of Wheeler....imo

I find the timing....well...interesting.

[LucyT]

Updates. - Pinging to # 574. - Delaware Online: One of Wheeler's last rides.

(Begin at # 248 for new info and photos.)

Thanks Albion Wilde.