This story has obsessed my county since it happened in 1989. We all thought that once the deer hunting season opened in early November, Jacob would be found, but it never happened, and eventually the trail went cold. Here in central Minnesota, our hearts are broken along with those of Patty and Jerry and their three surviving children.
I remember that this event opened our eyes to the numerous sexual assaults of young boys in Paynesville over the previous 1-2 years, which had not been open knowledge. Often law enforcement does not publicize things like that so as not to make people ‘overreact in fear’. In retrospect, we can see that such a tactic is harmful to the safety of everyone.
We are all so emotional over the events of the past 5 days. I am hoping that MN can change its statute of imitations on serious crime when DNA is available to solve a crime.
Dan Heinrich will go to jail for child pornography, not for assaulting Jared Scheierl and not for killing Jacob Wetterling. Seems ridiculous and unjust. With DNA now available, there should be no time limit.
Saw a news report on all of the attempted abductions in Paynesville during that period of time.
Paynesville authorities blew it, big time.
The perp is on a federal charge. So no parole. He’ll do the max and be lucky to be alive at the end of that much hard time.
My family’s was camping in the area at the time, I was the same age as Jacob then. I remember being creeped out about the timing and proximity, especially since we were in town when it happened.
Prisoners don’t like child molesters. He will be dealt with.
Most victims of child sexual abuse hold on to their stories up into their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s. Sometimes take it to their graves. Living a life of emotional scars.
My heart aches for this family.