MN MN - Jackie Theel, 6, Paynesville, 5 Sept 1944

[Ciriii57]

The teacher would have been a teacher in the Paynesville School District for a number of years, and recognized the family resemblance - not necessarily that it was Jackie. This boy had several brothers. In one article, the quote was she saw someone who looked like a "Theel boy." Not only did Jackie have several brothers who could all be similar in appearance, there was a large extended family in the area. We all know how strong family resemblance can be, especially if from a small, rural community. In my small town, I could look at my daughter's classmates and know which of my classmates were the parents.

I get what you're saying but do you really think you could pick out one of your children's friends over a decade later and not in your small hometown but in a city teeming with people? Perhaps you could, I don't know, but I don't much so much faith in family resemblance being a positive identifier.
Seeing someone who looked like a Theel boy, and seeing THE Theel boy are very different things. Potentially thousands of people could look like a Theel boy.
No, I'm more convinced than ever that this teacher maybe wanted to see Jackie, but didn't.
I don't personally believe he ever left town.

 

[Richard]

There could be quite a number of different scenarios which would explain Jackie's seemingly permanent disappearance.

It is highly doubtful that a little 6 year old boy would intentionally "run away" with the intent of beginning a new life, never contacting his family or friends again.

It might be a possibility that he met with an accident, such as falling down an open well or drain, but in such a situation, he would have been found long ago.

Placing one's self in Jackie's shoes that lunch hour, he would have wanted to get home to eat (since he hadn't had much breakfast) and to tell his mother about his new school and teacher. His only problem initially was being on his own and disoriented as to where home was. His mother had anticipated or understood this and had appointed an older brother to walk him home - even writing a note to his teacher about it.

The one thing that stands out in my mind is the train which arrived during the lunch hour, probably announcing itself with its whistle - a sound Jackie knew well since his house was very close to the rail road track and the station. Hearing the train whistle would have been a major clue to him as to what direction his home was.

If he had first headed West by mistake, he wouldn't have gone far until he reached the highway - probably something he knew he was not to cross. Hearing the train, he would have headed north along the side of the highway in the general direction of the creamery, the train tracks, and home. I believe that this was supported by people who claimed to have seen him near the highway. He might have been abducted by someone driving past, or he may have been abducted by someone in the vicinity of the train tracks.

 

[Richard]

This September 5th will mark 80 years since little Jackie went missing.

Victor John "Jackie" Theel, age 6
Missing since 5 September 1944

 

[Richard]

Bumping this thread up for Little Jackie...

 

[Richard]

Below is a link to the Minnesota Missing Persons Clearinghouse website. It is an official website showing photos of persons listed as missing and cases under investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) or state police.

Jackie's case is NOT listed on that site. This September 5 will mark 80 years since Jackie disappeared while walking home from his first day of school to eat lunch.

LINKS:

Administrative Services - Minnesota Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse

dps.mn.gov

The Paynesville boy who went missing after his first day of school in 1944

Victor John Jackie Theel was just 6 years old in 1944 when he went missing, apparently without a trace, walking home from his first day of school in Paynesville, Minnesota.

www.wctrib.com

 

[sarahrocknrolllove]

All of your questions are good ones. Because of the long time interval, unfortunately most of these "clues" or reported sightings have become legends associated with the story. Like second hand or third hand information repeated so often that they become intermixed with the actual facts of the case.
Looking at the map and reading the story, my gut feeling is that Jackie started out in the wrong direction, moving west instead of north. After walking for four to six blocks in the wrong direction, and seeing nothing familiar, he came to the highway - which he probably had been told not to cross. And at this point; hungry, confused, and frightened - one of two possible scenarios occurred.
First, someone in a passing car may have indeed picked him up - more likely between 1 and 2PM. Had the car been traveling generally NORTH on Hwy 23 (the side Jackie was probably on), then that car would have proceeded down "main street" and past Jackie's house on the way through town. This would have been a big risk by a would be kidnapper.
Secondly, Jackie might have realized his navigational error when reaching the Highway, and then turned north toward the Creamery. Certainly he would have known his way home from there. But perhaps he was seen by someone there and taken toward the river, and then to a train car? Knowing what the train schedule was for September 1944 might provide valuable clues. Jackie could have been thrown from the train somewhere between Paynesville and the next stop on the line, or might have been taken to a camp of migrant workers.
The problem here is with the sequence of clues. Most likely the reports of sightings of Jackie by the Highway at 1PM and 4:45PM came first, and police focussed on them in tracking down the men in the gray car.
As is so often the case, the scenting dogs were not called in until a few days later, and AFTER rainy, cold weather had set in. The dogs did not track Jackie all the way from the school, as implied by the story, but rather PICKED UP his scent by the Creamery and tracked him moving West toward the River rhere the scent ended (but note that the railroad was also right there).
Scenting/Tracking dogs are absolutely unbelievable in their abilities. A well trained dog knows immediately upon discovering the scent which direction to move - even days after the track has been laid. They would have ignored the "back track" (that is where Jackie had been) and gone in the direction that he moved. Some dogs can be trained to back track, but this would be an exception because their instinct tells them to go forward.
It should be asked also if Jackie had been near that side of the Creamery or near the river at any time in the days prior to his disappearance. That might have tended to rule out the dog scent evidence if he had been there in recent days before he went missing.
The way that the map is numbered, would indicate that Jackie passed within a block of his house, then went to the river and then proceeded down the highway. That does not make much sense. I feel that it was more likely the other way around and that the 4:45 sighting was a case of mistaken memory, mistaken identity, or simply not true. Again, perhaps locating either or both of the boys who reported this might yield a different story today.
Concerning people with learning disabilities serving in the Navy or other branches of the service... The story did not indicate that Jackie was in any way severely retarded, only that he might have been "a little slow". There are many men and women serving in our armed forces today and in the past who have various learning disabilities. I do not mean at all any disrespect by that, only that it might be quite possible for Jackie to have served in the Navy if he had passed the entrance exams with acceptable scores.
I have no idea who the teacher in question was or why he or she did not ask the obvious questions. I wonder if it might be just more of the legends generated by the mystery of the story. With some specifics as to where the home port was, or what the name of the ship was, the Naval Historical Center at the Washington (DC) Navy Yard, or the National Archives at Suitland, MD, or the National Personnel Records Center at St. Louis, MO might be able to confirm the existence of a sailor named Jackie Theel in 1960.
It would certainly be good literary writing to have this lost little boy dressed in a sailor suit, later become a world traveled sailor. By the way, sailors were often referred to in olden days as "Jack Tars" or simply as "Jackies". In the early 20th Century, boys bands were often outfitted in sailor suits and referred to as "Jackie Bands". And even today, the sailor uniform with bell bottom, button fly trousers, jumper top, and square knot tie are referred to as "Cracker Jacks".

Wow! I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that information—i learned so much by all that you have written—really, thank you youve definitely answered alot of questions for me that i just was not aware of—in general & also as far as this particular case of little missing Jackie goes. I have nothing to add to Jackie’s case, but i surely hope one day we will all get the answers that little Jackie & his family so deserve to have.

 

[Richard]

The "Soo" railroad line which ran through Paynesville in September 1944 was actually the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Saint Marie railroad. It was mostly an ore and freight type of railroad.

Jackie's house and the Creamery where dogs tracked his scent were located adjacent to the railroad line, which bordered Paynesville to the north. Could that railroad, or persons associated in some way with it have played a part in Jackie's disappearance?

Here are some links to the railroad's history:

Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (Soo Line) | Trains and Railroads

The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (MStP&SSM) (reporting mark SOO) was a Class I railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Midwestern United States.

www.trains-and-railroads.com

About the Soo Line – The Soo Line Historical and Technical Society

www.sooline.org

Soo Line Railroad: "Ship Soo To And Through The Upper Midwest"

The Soo Line Railroad, officially known as the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie served the upper Midwest.

www.american-rails.com

Mysteries on the SOO Line

Some time ago, a random post on Facebook got me looking at an area of Northern Michigan (Upper Peninsula) near a small abandoned town of Corinne in Mackinac County, Michigan. If you cannot find Cor…

smallmr.com

 

[Richard]

Little Jackie has been missing for 80 years.

 

[Pennysmom1]

Missing Person / NamUs #MP52980

View NamUs missing person case MP52980 for Victor John Theel missing from Paynesville, Minnesota. Date of last contact: Sep 05, 1944. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Victor John Theel – The Charley Project

• Missing Since 9/05/1944
• Missing From Paynesville, Minnesota
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 02/15/1938 (86)
• Age 6 years old
• Height and Weight 3'0, 45 pounds
• 
  
• Clothing/Jewelry Description A slightly faded navy blue and white sailor suit a square-cut collar that had three stripes, three stripes on each sleeve at the wrist, high front pockets, long pants buttoned to the waist, brown short socks, new black shoes with a seam from toe to instep, and no undergarments. One of the buttons in the back of the suit was missing and been replaced with a safety pin.
• 
  
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Blond hair, blue eyes. Victor's nickname is Jackie and most accounts refer to him by that name. He has a one-inch scar on the back of his head. At the time of his disappearance, he had a newly healed cut on the inside of his thumb and a fresh scratch on his right cheek below his eye.

Details of Disappearance​

Jackie attended his first day of school in Paynesville, Minnesota on September 5, 1944. It was a half-day; he was supposed to come home for lunch and stay there. His mother had sent him to school with a note for the teacher saying Jackie's older brother would pick him up. But at 11:30 a.m., Jackie's teacher sent him on his way home alone, asking first if he knew the way.

His home was on the corner of Lake Avenue south and east Railroad Street in Paynesville; that address is now a vacant lot. He never arrived there and has never been heard from again.

Bloodhounds traced Jackie's scent down Augusta Avenue, a block west of Washburne Street. His home was a block east of Washburne Street. The trail continued to the Crow River, just west of the North American Creamery. The tracks of a child were found leading west along the river. They went as far as Highway 23 and both the tracks and the scent vanished. This was the only indication of his whereabouts after he left school that day.

Witnesses reported seeing a small boy matching Jackie's description standing along Highway 23 at 1:00 p.m. that day. Other witnesses claim they saw a small boy getting into a gray car on Highway 23 at 4:45 p.m. It has not been confirmed that either child was Jackie.

Jackie's surviving family members remember him as a "slow" child who, unlike his siblings, was never allowed to run errands in town or go far from home without his parents. They don't believe he was seriously mentally disabled, however, since he was able to attend school.

His loved ones believe that he became lost and was picked up by a stranger along Highway 23. Soldiers stationed in the Army at the time could get discharged if they had dependents; Jackie may have been taken by a soldier for that reason.

In the 1960s, one of Jackie's former teachers saw a young man matching his description and calling himself Jackie Theel, getting off a Navy ship in California. The man told the teacher he had been adopted. It has not been confirmed that he was the same Jackie Theel who disappeared in 1944, however.

Jackie is one of fifteen children. One of his sisters and one of his brothers still live in the Paynesville area and are still searching for him, but the police no longer have the records of their investigation; their archives go back only to 1960. He has never been declared legally dead and his case remains unsolved.

 

[Pennysmom1]

1383DMMN - Victor John Theel

Circumstances of Disappearance​

<<On Tuesday, September 5, 1944, Jackie attended his first day of school. His mom sent him with a note saying an older brother would pick him up, but when school let out the teacher allowed Jackie to leave on his own. His home was on the corner of Lake Avenue south and east Railroad Street in Paynesville; that address is now a vacant lot.

When he didn’t come home, his mom called the sheriff. That prompted a massive search with hundreds of volunteers. Boy Scout troops from neighboring towns were called in to help. Sheriff’s department blood hounds and even the civil air patrol took part.

It was a blood hound that found the only clue. It followed Jackie’s scent on a wandering trail leading away from the school down to the river that runs through town. Newspaper records detail how the dog then tracked the scent away from the river, through the west end of Paynesville, and out to a ditch along Old Highway 23.

From there Jackie’s scent vanished. There was strong speculation that little Jackie had been abducted.>>


Feb 4, 2016

KARE 11 Investigates: Mystery of Jackie Theel

Long before Jacob Wetterling – and not that far from where he was taken -- another young central Minnesota boy disappeared without a trace.

www.kare11.com

<<“Couple of people had said they’d seen a little boy standing alongside the road crying,” said Judy Espelund. “Someone else seen him get into a car.”>>

<<When KARE 11 asked the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department to review their old records of the Jackie Theel case, we were told they no longer existed. The Department only has records dating back to 1960.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension told KARE 11 they were not the investigating agency and have no records of Jackie’s case either. Jackie Theel is also not listed on the BCA’s official missing person’s clearinghouse website.>>

Sept 22, 2004- Paynesville Press

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1944, six-year-old Jackie Theel attended his first day of school in Paynesville. His mother later told the Press that he had talked about going to school for weeks and was so excited that he did not eat breakfast. <P>As far as a

<<On Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1944, six-year-old Jackie Theel attended his first day of school in Paynesville. His mother later told the Press that he had talked about going to school for weeks and was so excited that he did not eat breakfast.

As far as anyone knows, he did not eat lunch either.

Jackie Theel attended only a half day of school. He left school to walk home for lunch that day and disappeared. "He was in first grade, his first day of school. He was supposed to come home for lunch, but we never saw him," said Fay, his younger brother, who was four-years-old when Jackie disappeared.>>

<<It seems to me that the town of Paynesville was pretty much closed down for three days," said Fay, who now lives on Highway 23 between Roscoe and Richmond.

There was nice weather on the first day of school that year, recalled Annabelle. Then, when they started searching for Jackie the next day, the weather turned cold, rainy, and nasty, she said.>>

Man, I am bawling my eyes out reading this! So sad, that poor family not knowing what happened to him for so long.

 

[Pennysmom1]

March 5, 2024

The Paynesville boy who went missing after his first day of school in 1944

Victor John Jackie Theel was just 6 years old in 1944 when he went missing, apparently without a trace, walking home from his first day of school in Paynesville, Minnesota.

www.wctrib.com

<<Sources for this article come from the Paynesville Historical Society, which has a file of old newspaper clippings from the days after Theel disappeared. Newspaper sources include the Paynesville Press, St. Cloud Times and the Minneapolis Star.>>

Does anyone here have a Newspapers.com subscription? I do not.

 

[cenazoic]

Unfortunately the Paynesville Press for 1944 doesn’t appear to have been digitized (not in newspapers.com, newspaperarchive.com, MN Historical Society (goes through 1933), although I did not check Google Papers or the Library of Congress.

That said, here’s some clips from the Minneapolis paper. While there are other clips, these have the most details.

A week in: JackieTheel1944

Second page of above: JackieTheel1945p2

Abduction theory (Sept 15,1944): JackieTheel1944AbductionTheory

One year Anniversary: JackieTheel1946


(Also, sorry for the poor (and incorrectly dated) link names; I didn’t realize Newspapers.com would use them as above.)