After two weeks, mystery still surrounds death of Wheeler

The Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 1/17/2011 | Kathleen Brady Shea

[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.

[Wolfstar]

I bet some folks here will recognize the top components of the Revenge Rodent Smoke Bomb...

Just a word of caution...I selected that brand only as an example. We don't know what brand was used in the neighbor's house.

To the best of my knowledge, we also don't know when the smoke bombs were placed in the house, how many, and how many actually were activated. We don't know if any fingerprints were found on them. We don't know if other people, including the current owners, might have had access to the house and a reason to use the smoke bombs.

Lastly, my point was that if someone really wanted to start a fire, those smoke bombs are not useful for the purpose without an ignition source and/or accelerant. Also, the house is said to be under construction. If there were areas of the house still open to the elements, those smoke bombs would be even less dangerous. They are manufactured to be safe when used as directed and, in general, are intended to be used outdoors.

[little jeremiah]

Sorry for my rudeness.

I just couldn’t believe that anyone who had read much about Wheeler could possibly posit that he had crawled into a dumpster.

[toldyou]

In all the many articles we’ve read
online, perhaps you read, as I did, that there were kids in the park shooting off “smoke bombs” that week.

I sure hope they had proof that John Wheeler did it before blaming him. Then again, that might be too much to ask from the media.

[Wolfstar]

I just couldn’t believe that anyone...could possibly posit that he had crawled into a dumpster.

This is the most common type of commercial dumpster. As you can see, someone could not crawl into it. They would have to climb up into it, not the easiest of things to do even for a youthful, healthy person. You can't fall into them either, as they are about chest height.

No evidence has been made public as to how Wheeler got from where he was last seen on surveillance video, to approximately 5 or 6 miles away where the dumpster is believed to have been picked up. He could have walked, but he had no warm clothing, it was night or early morning, and the east coast was going through a very cold snap at the time. Whatever the cause, he clearly was staggering around.

So are we to believe he staggered 5 or more miles at night in dead of winter without warm clothing, then still had energy left to climb up into a commercial dumpster?

Additionally, the timeline made public indicates that most of the dumpsters along that route were either locked, behind secured fencing, or within sight of restaurants and apartment buildings. Most also had surveillance cameras pointed at them.

Are we to believe that, in his state, he still managed to find one of the few unlocked and out-of-sight dumpsters along that route?

[azishot]

I remember hearing Lt.Gen. McInerney in an interview with Megyn Kelly that Wheeler had the “highest” security clearance. Would he have had that type of a clearance if he was on “psychiatric” drugs?

This talk about possible PTSD came from *nameless* friends and associates. Not very credible, IMHO.

[Domestic Church]

Colby died in a canoe.

[Domestic Church]

Look into the Waste Management Company. Look into the history of the management. Who has controlling shares?

[WestCoastGal]

Yes the FBI should be able to match what was on his jacket and/or pants, if he still had the jacket on after switching to the sweatshirt. I do wonder what he had in the briefcase and how important it was?

TPTB may be very concerned, also if it was a hit I bet they know that already too. Bet there’s a lot of scurrying going on behind the scenes and a gag on any news going out.

[sheik yerbouty]

It could be a Kenyacide..

[sheik yerbouty]

Algore is a major sharehilder..

[hoosiermama]

Most recent articles have backed off the police were wanting to talk to Jack as the culprit, but to ask him if he had seen anything.....Apparently when they tried to contact him they were unable to do so.

(If the loud noise was coming from his house, it must have been very confusing to say the least.)

[smoothsailing]

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.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks for posting that. Appreciate it.

Obviously he didn’t have “mental” issues.

[hoosiermama]

we may not get much new info for some time.

Particularly if they are connecting bigger issues/people to the initial crimeS. Only the FBI will have the power to investigate as deeply as it needs to be investigated. Even if they know he was murdered by some local thugs, they must eliminate/illuminate the possibility that they were hired or otherwise connected to a more global or national issue.

Hopefully they will be meticulous and thorough no matter how long they take.

[hoosiermama]

My little great nephew is a GEEK (already-—150 IQ with ADHD). He asked his gramma if being a GEEK is a mental illness.

In that case a LOT of freepers would qualify!

[azishot]

Thanks, smoothsailing.

I believe the Lt. Gen. has tons more credibility than the nameless friends. He was right to call for the FBI to investigate. As usual, we’re impatient...well, at least I am. But after several weeks we still don’t know what the ACTUAL cause of death was.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Every report I have read that was written before he was ID’s says the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide after the autopsy was done.

Specuation:
If those reports are true, there must have been visual evidence of a wound which was not self inflicted or caused by the compactor in the truck. A gunshot wound to the back of the head comes to mind.

TinFoil:
Put that together with smoothsailings post about Wheeler having the highest security clearance & add other things to the mix.

Expertise in cyberwarfare
All of the sudden the details of Stuxnet are all over the news
Wikileaks
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0119/Stuxnet-cyberattack-Does-new-WikiLeaks-cable-shed-light-on-who-did-it

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/ramberg8/English

This might also explain why so many red herrings have been thrown out. Deflect away from National Security issues even if it means smearing his reputation.

[WestCoastGal]

"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."

SO where are they NOW!

[WestCoastGal]

“Richard Radez, a longtime friend who also graduated from West Point and Harvard Business, said he exchanged e-mails with Wheeler on Christmas. On the day after Christmas, Wheeler sent Radez an e-mail expressing concern that the nation wasn’t sufficiently prepared for cyber warfare.”

Timing seems interesting to me with the Iran situation.

[Sacajaweau]

I keep thinking of wikileaks.....