MN - Jacob Wetterling, 11, St. Joseph, 22 Oct 1989 - #12

[NewEyes]

I am new here, so forgive me if I misunderstand the rules, but I think the websleuths community has been too quick to dismiss Matthew Feeney.

Matthew, "matti" Feeney was serving as the youth minister in the Catholic Church at the time of Jacob's disappearance. Despite first saying he had an "air-tight alibi, he later admitted to dropping off a parishioner at a house across from the Wetterlings the night of Jacob's disappearance, saying that he drove past the abduction site, within an hour, or minutes, of the qbduction. Source: http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/matthew-feeney-jacob-wetterling/

In his role as youth minister he would often have children over to his house: http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/youth-ministry-proves-rewarding-for-feeney/

He was also an EMT ( medical cop?) and drove a car that was formerly a police car. The car also contained a police radio, and even a police baton according to some reports. (These would not have come with the purchase of the car as they are typically stripped of their equipment before going to auction). Source: http://postanyarticle.com/news/matt...ll-our-justice-system-punish-child-molesters/

Sometime after his role as a youth minister, he went into acting. His filmography is here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1429875/

You can view pictures of him by googling his name and clicking on "images." Sometimes he wore a beard, other times he was clean -shaven. Note the ears. His whisper-voice can be heard in this movie trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi1796014873

He traveled around the country and was also arrested in Massachusetts: http://postanyarticle.com/news/matt...ll-our-justice-system-punish-child-molesters/

Feeney has a history of child molestation, including as a camp counselor at a Catholic Church Camp in Aitkin County in 1992: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/21237086/investigators-in-feeneys-words

He talks about his "triggers" in this interview: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/21237086/investigators-in-feeneys-words

He later became a talent agent in the twin cities and was arrested for molesting the young actors he was mentoring: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/22711576/matthew-feeney-sentenced-for-child-sex-abuse

http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/new-charges-for-feeney-accused-of-molesting-boy/

He was sentenced to 9 years in prison in June of 2013: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/22711576/matthew-feeney-sentenced-for-child-sex-abuse

Questions I have:
Who vouched for his "air-tight alibi" and were they re-interviewed after he admitted to being in the area at the time of the abduction?
Did the parishioner he dropped of remember seeing the boys on their bicycles on their way to the Tom Thumb as they drove home?
Where did Feeney go after he dropped this person off?

I will continue name new post...

 

[Ifollowthis]

I have always wonder if MF and DR were friends.

 

[NewEyes]

So, after finding out that info, I googled "websleuths Matthew Feeney" to see what this community had discussed regarding him.

(modsnip)

Then I figured I better stop for fear I might stumble upon something illegal.

Questions I have:
How does someone go from youth ministry into show business? Who do you contact? What are the steps? Or is it typical to be recruited into by people you have connections with?

Did Feeney mentor/recruit/coerce others into the acting/modeling business before he opened his talent agency? Where were these talented people placed? Any into *advertiser censored*?

Feeney didn't go to jail until 2013 in my understanding. Did he have a computer at that time? Did authorities search it? What types of websites did he visit? Who did he correspond with? Everyone has a digital footprint these days.

Is it possible that Feeney abducted Jacob Wetterling and sold him into child *advertiser censored*? Prostitution?

Is it possible Jacob Wetterling is still alive and is living in a sovereign nation in Europe where such activities are legal or not prosecuted?

These are only questions I think need to be answered. Not accusations. My only tie to the Jacob Wetterling case is that I am the same age and lived in a neighboring state at the time of the abduction. Hence, it made a real impact on me at the time and I can still remember where I was when it was all over the news. I became very frightened of strangers and kidnap pings after that time like all kids in that era did. I haven't thought much about the case in recent years except in 2010 when the digging of the Rassier's farm was all over the news. Then with the attention given it recently i started thinking about it and started doing some research, literally over the past 3 days. And I currently don't have a job, so I have the time. I think there are answers on the web, and people like us can help find them.

 

[j123]

Regarding the bizarre video link:

There are a number of websites which seem to "archive" youtube videos for the purposes of pulling in traffic from google results. In most cases, people will stumble across the actual youtube page before any of these parasitic websites. However, when a youtube video is taken down, it won't show up on youtube anymore, but any sites that "archived" it will still pop up. If someone is looking for a youtube video that's been taken down, it's more likely they'll be willing to visit a "random" unknown website.

Since the websites that archive these videos have no interest in actually providing video content, they're usually filled with ads and spyware. My knowledge of this stems from a hobby of mine; I'm a big music lover, and for whatever reason artists often take down old music and recordings. In searching for them, I've come across many websites like the one you mentioned, NewEyes.

That being said, I don't think the video link you found was relevant. I think someone had posted a video on youtube titled "jacob wetterling;" the "hot video" tagline was added by the spam website or ad. I looked up the channel on youtube and it seems to legitimate, although defunct. Just presumably a teenager posting videos of The Sims; maybe he or she did a school project about a news story and chose Jacob? There is a similar video on the channel. Who knows why the Jacob one is gone. I think the username probably comes from a genuine appreciation for the candy rather than a gay code. I've never before heard of skittles symbolizing homosexuality. If you google the "hot video" tagline with the url, there are many instances of store websites that almost look legitimate with random videos prefaced with "hot video." The fact that Jacob Wetterling's name got caught up in this is merely the result of it being a popular news story. This result probably might not have even appeared a week ago.

 

[shergal]

I am new here, so forgive me if I misunderstand the rules, but I think the websleuths community has been too quick to dismiss Matthew Feeney.

Matthew, "matti" Feeney was serving as the youth minister in the Catholic Church at the time of Jacob's disappearance. Despite first saying he had an "air-tight alibi, he later admitted to dropping off a parishioner at a house across from the Wetterlings the night of Jacob's disappearance, saying that he drove past the abduction site, within an hour, or minutes, of the qbduction. Source: http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/matthew-feeney-jacob-wetterling/

In his role as youth minister he would often have children over to his house: http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/youth-ministry-proves-rewarding-for-feeney/

He was also an EMT ( medical cop?) and drove a car that was formerly a police car. The car also contained a police radio, and even a police baton according to some reports. (These would not have come with the purchase of the car as they are typically stripped of their equipment before going to auction). Source: http://postanyarticle.com/news/matt...ll-our-justice-system-punish-child-molesters/

Sometime after his role as a youth minister, he went into acting. His filmography is here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1429875/

You can view pictures of him by googling his name and clicking on "images." Sometimes he wore a beard, other times he was clean -shaven. Note the ears. His whisper-voice can be heard in this movie trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi1796014873

He traveled around the country and was also arrested in Massachusetts: http://postanyarticle.com/news/matt...ll-our-justice-system-punish-child-molesters/

Feeney has a history of child molestation, including as a camp counselor at a Catholic Church Camp in Aitkin County in 1992: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/21237086/investigators-in-feeneys-words

He talks about his "triggers" in this interview: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/21237086/investigators-in-feeneys-words

He later became a talent agent in the twin cities and was arrested for molesting the young actors he was mentoring: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/22711576/matthew-feeney-sentenced-for-child-sex-abuse

http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/new-charges-for-feeney-accused-of-molesting-boy/

He was sentenced to 9 years in prison in June of 2013: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/22711576/matthew-feeney-sentenced-for-child-sex-abuse

Questions I have:
Who vouched for his "air-tight alibi" and were they re-interviewed after he admitted to being in the area at the time of the abduction?
Did the parishioner he dropped of remember seeing the boys on their bicycles on their way to the Tom Thumb as they drove home?
Where did Feeney go after he dropped this person off?

I will continue name new post...

On your questions, my understanding is that the parents of the boy who Feeney dropped off from camp and possibly also some neighbors saw Feeney out there talking during the time period when Jacob was kidnapped. (However, I wonder how that was possible if it was such a dark moonless night??) They can't have had much for streetlights back in the cul de sac back in 1989. Just porch lights maybe? Car lights? I agree there are a lot of coincidences involving Feeney - his cop-like car, his record, his proximity.

 

[bessie]

Guys, I'm reviewing the post because I saw a couple of new names. Just want to make sire those individuals are "sleuthable". I'll let you know in a bit.

ETA: MF can be discussed as a POSSIBLE suspect because he was convicted of child molestation, and resided in the area at the time.

DO NOT discuss his family, froends, or acquaintances; and please do not post nor discuss questionable websites.

In the future, if you have a question about the rules, or a mod's decision, send it in a private message to a moderator/admin.

Thanks, and a warm welcome to our new members.

 

[cGorg]

On your questions, my understanding is that the parents of the boy who Feeney dropped off from camp and possibly also some neighbors saw Feeney out there talking during the time period when Jacob was kidnapped. (However, I wonder how that was possible if it was such a dark moonless night??) They can't have had much for streetlights back in the cul de sac back in 1989. Just porch lights maybe? Car lights? I agree there are a lot of coincidences involving Feeney - his cop-like car, his record, his proximity.

He's DEFINITELY suspicious but as I noted long ago....tall....6'-2"(abductor described as 5'-10"). Interesting pic of him with his handgun though(seen in earlier threads or on the internet). Speaking of coincidences: isn't it tragically odd that Jacob rented "Naked Gun" and his favorite game is 'CLUE'? My point being....coincidences don't necessarily mean guilt or evidence.

 

[human]

OMG cGorg!

Anything else in the coincdences? Maybe a clue?

 

[cGorg]

OMG cGorg!

Anything else in the coincdences? Maybe a clue?

Ha Ha....I have no idea.....I just noticed those two and have delved no further. Always looking for something...one never knows what 1 piece of info may lead to!

 

[ELOCsoul]

From the forthcoming book, "It Can't Happen Here" -

https://www.facebook.com/searchingforjacob

As a successful member of the entertainment community, Matthew Feeney was a respected actor and talent agent from the St. Paul area. After graduating from high school, he spent several years in the St. Joseph area serving as the director of youth ministries at St. Joseph Catholic Church. In the summer months, Feeney was a counselor at a Catholic youth camp near McGregor, Minnesota. The kids called him "Matti". On the evening of October 22, 1989, Feeney was in the Wetterling's small neighborhood dropping off a boy after a weekend of camping. According to published reports, Feeney has said that he was in the neighborhood within an hour or less of the abduction.

By 1992, Feeney was a convicted sex offender. He admitted that he had molested several boys as they slept in the cabin while at the camp in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Feeney admitted to detectives that he had fondled 10 to 12 boys in their sleep. The assaults occurred while Feeney was serving as a Catholic youth counselor. Some of the boys recalled the abuse and were able to describe details to police. Feeney was sentenced to six months in jail, 10 years of probation, and mandatory sex offender treatment.

During the course of the investigation, Feeney drew attention from police for possible involvement in Jacob Wetterling's abduction. Feeney had turned his personal journal over to investigators. In his journal, Feeney allegedly wrote about his attraction to young boys and identified himself as a child molester and a monster. He also wrote about Jacob. He expressed that he wanted to visit the Jacob Wetterling Foundation on a weekly basis, and that he hoped Jacob's abductor would slip up and reveal Jacob's whereabouts.

According to investigators, Feeney also hand wrote a letter that appeared to be intended for one of his victims. In the letter, Feeney apologized to the victim and appeared to answer a question about Jacob: "About Jacob Wetterling, no. I didn't do a thing, but sometimes I wonder. I have an airtight alibi. I was camping and (victim's name) was with me and witnesses saw us with his dad 20 minutes after the fact. What I'm scared of is: What if I had been asleep that night? Could I do something that terrible and complex in my sleep?"

Soon after Jacob's abduction, Feeney took a couple of young boys for a drive past the Wetterling abduction site. They stopped at the abduction location, and Feeney told the boys what had happened. One of the youths later recounted how Feeney's car looked like a cop car. It had a CB radio, a nightstick, and a large flashlight inside. That youth eventually became a camp counselor himself, and he acknowledged that after sex abuse allegations against Feeney surfaced in 1991, he started thinking differently about Feeney's visit to the abduction site.

Stearns County investigators cleared Feeney from involvement in Jacob's abduction. A pair of witnesses said Feeney was in the St. Joseph area at the time of the abduction, but that he was with the witnesses when the abduction occurred. Investigators also noted that the grooming methods used by Feeney were not consistent with the violent circumstances of Jacob's abduction.

In 2012, Matthew Feeney again found himself facing molestation charges, this time in both Minnesota and Massachusetts. He had established his talent agency, Walden Entertainment Group, in Bloomington, Minnesota. Two of the boys that he was charged with molesting were brothers and clients of Feeney's talent agency. In June 2013 Feeney was sentenced to 9 years and one month in prison for assaulting the boys, which reportedly occurred over several years, from 2007 to 2011. The boys’ ages ranged from 9 to 14 during the time period of the abuse. The charges in Massachusetts stemmed from an incident involving a 14 year old family member who reported the abuse after Feeney visited the family.

Families of Feeney's victims noted that his grooming process included gaining the trust of parents and spoiling the boys with gifts. According to some boys' parents, Feeney would often host X-Box parties with several children. Such special attention is what typically makes it difficult for children to reveal the dark secrets of an authoritative figure. In light of the 2012 charges filed against Feeney, Stearns County investigators reopened the possibility that he was involved in Jacob's abduction. He was cleared as a suspect after their follow up investigation.

 

[NewEyes]

I find it very odd that investigators were that quick to dismiss Matti. Especially because they were willing to identify DR as a POI with what to me looks like a lot less to go on. I personally don't think that DR was involved. This type of perp is not a one-time offender and from what I've seen, DR has never been accused of anything similar by anyone else. Just because someone is an introvert, even effeminate or gay does not make them a child molester.

Assume for a minute that DR's story is 100% reliable. I think the vehicles that wandered into his yard could very well have been teenagers looking for the party spot and took a wrong turn. I grew up in a house out in the country and this would happen to us from time to time. There were witnesses that admitted there was a party out by the pond that night and it's easy to see how kids could take a wrong turn looking for it and end up going into the Rassier's farmstead instead of the party spot to the east by the pond.

My theory is that Matti saw the three boys on their bikes as he drove down the road on his way to drop the kid off in the Wtterling neighborhood. The kids had a long time to go by bike to get to the Tom Thumb and back. I think this gave Matti plenty of time to stop at the house and even visit with the parents for a while before returning back toward town. I think he stashed his car part way down the Rassier's driveway (where couples used to park) and then hid in the ditch waiting. We don't know what investigators know about the tire tracks and if he drove a former police car maybe they dismissed the tracks as their own. At that time he wasn't a known child molester so those he was with in and around that time probably didn't think twice about vouching for his innocence and/or alibi. He was a trusted youth minister of the Church after all. I wonder if they are still standing by their statements of him now that he is a convicted child molester.

I think the reason the abductor (if it was Matti) asked their ages was to verify that they were not the age of the kids he ministered to. If they were, they might have recognized him. Maybe his plan was to assault and release so recognition would have been important. Where he might have went after that is a mystery. If he is indeed the medical cop in Kevin's story, he may have went to the Tom Thumb. Hiding in plain view so as not to attract attention. Classic move. Maybe he had Jacob in the trunk. Maybe he had ditched him somewhere by then.

I want to know where Matti lived in those years. Did he minister to any other congregations? It is common for small towns to share clergy. Maybe he served in Cold Springs too or had been around the Cold Springs kids at church youth retreats or camp. I think he could also be Jared's abuser. The car, the police radio., the ears. ..I know paramedics who wear dark colored cargo pants as part of their uniform. Did Matti have a EMT uniform? Jarred's abuser asked Jared if he knew who he was. Was he worried that Jared would recognize him from his youth minister duties? Jared has stated he recited the Lord's Prayer. Would a youth minister feel remorse upon hearing a child pray?

The investigators have said the abduction didn't match Matti's MOI. But he is a convicted child molester which is more than we can say for DR. I think there's a lot we don't know about Matti still. They've got him behind bars. I say, hang him up by his toenails and see what more he has to say about that night.

 

[human]

What party by a pond? Where did that info come from?

 

[human]

Why why why when they have allllllllllll of these other choices to they name DR as POI?

LE is picking on him because?

What is the reason?

 

[cGorg]

If MF is the culprit...and while he dropped off 'the kid' in the Wetterling neighborhood, he saw the 3 boys heading to the Tom Thumb....then how does that explain the sound in the grass heard by Aaron? I'm not saying you don't have some good ideas regarding MF because you do....but Aaron's testimony still hangs out there. Not provable, but there it is.

 

[Trackergd]

It is a well established fact that a witness can get the height of an actor incorrect if one of them is on a slightly higher or lower vantage point. It is also a fact that by dropping down an inch by bending your knees, that you can radically alter others perception of your height. It can actually make you disappear in a crowd to those following.

 

[Wisdom]

The problem with Feeney being involved...or anyone other than DR in my opinion... is that the abductor had to see the kids on their way to the store and wouldn't have known that they were going to come back the same way or even where they were going. They could've been going home the other direction for all the perp would know...unless of course the person was very local and knew the boys or was hiding in the ditch and heard some of the boys conversation on their way by the first time. It would take a TON of confidence to park your vehicle up someones driveway for a fair amount of time just hoping they would come back that same way so they could abduct a child. Not to mention the knowledge the perp had of the layout of the land....direction of the woods etc.

 

[scotgirl]

With regards to the noise Aaron heard in the grass it could just be one of those creepy sounds you think you hear when out after dark. Especially when you're young, i grew up in the countryside where there are no streetlights and we used to freak ourselves out occasionally. I could have been an animal or the breeze. I too think MF is a good POI as he was in the area. It's not his MO but perhaps he took the opportunity and something went wrong after meaning he couldn't let Jacob go. Does anyone know if Aaron or his family were involved with the church in any way, maybe that's why he took J and not Aaron if he might have recognised him.

 

[nmogren]

From the forthcoming book, "It Can't Happen Here" -

https://www.facebook.com/searchingforjacob

As a successful member of the entertainment community, Matthew Feeney was a respected actor and talent agent from the St. Paul area. After graduating from high school, he spent several years in the St. Joseph area serving as the director of youth ministries at St. Joseph Catholic Church. In the summer months, Feeney was a counselor at a Catholic youth camp near McGregor, Minnesota. The kids called him "Matti". On the evening of October 22, 1989, Feeney was in the Wetterling's small neighborhood dropping off a boy after a weekend of camping. According to published reports, Feeney has said that he was in the neighborhood within an hour or less of the abduction.

By 1992, Feeney was a convicted sex offender. He admitted that he had molested several boys as they slept in the cabin while at the camp in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Feeney admitted to detectives that he had fondled 10 to 12 boys in their sleep. The assaults occurred while Feeney was serving as a Catholic youth counselor. Some of the boys recalled the abuse and were able to describe details to police. Feeney was sentenced to six months in jail, 10 years of probation, and mandatory sex offender treatment.

During the course of the investigation, Feeney drew attention from police for possible involvement in Jacob Wetterling's abduction. Feeney had turned his personal journal over to investigators. In his journal, Feeney allegedly wrote about his attraction to young boys and identified himself as a child molester and a monster. He also wrote about Jacob. He expressed that he wanted to visit the Jacob Wetterling Foundation on a weekly basis, and that he hoped Jacob's abductor would slip up and reveal Jacob's whereabouts.

According to investigators, Feeney also hand wrote a letter that appeared to be intended for one of his victims. In the letter, Feeney apologized to the victim and appeared to answer a question about Jacob: "About Jacob Wetterling, no. I didn't do a thing, but sometimes I wonder. I have an airtight alibi. I was camping and (victim's name) was with me and witnesses saw us with his dad 20 minutes after the fact. What I'm scared of is: What if I had been asleep that night? Could I do something that terrible and complex in my sleep?"

Soon after Jacob's abduction, Feeney took a couple of young boys for a drive past the Wetterling abduction site. They stopped at the abduction location, and Feeney told the boys what had happened. One of the youths later recounted how Feeney's car looked like a cop car. It had a CB radio, a nightstick, and a large flashlight inside. That youth eventually became a camp counselor himself, and he acknowledged that after sex abuse allegations against Feeney surfaced in 1991, he started thinking differently about Feeney's visit to the abduction site.

Stearns County investigators cleared Feeney from involvement in Jacob's abduction. A pair of witnesses said Feeney was in the St. Joseph area at the time of the abduction, but that he was with the witnesses when the abduction occurred. Investigators also noted that the grooming methods used by Feeney were not consistent with the violent circumstances of Jacob's abduction.

In 2012, Matthew Feeney again found himself facing molestation charges, this time in both Minnesota and Massachusetts. He had established his talent agency, Walden Entertainment Group, in Bloomington, Minnesota. Two of the boys that he was charged with molesting were brothers and clients of Feeney's talent agency. In June 2013 Feeney was sentenced to 9 years and one month in prison for assaulting the boys, which reportedly occurred over several years, from 2007 to 2011. The boys’ ages ranged from 9 to 14 during the time period of the abuse. The charges in Massachusetts stemmed from an incident involving a 14 year old family member who reported the abuse after Feeney visited the family.

Families of Feeney's victims noted that his grooming process included gaining the trust of parents and spoiling the boys with gifts. According to some boys' parents, Feeney would often host X-Box parties with several children. Such special attention is what typically makes it difficult for children to reveal the dark secrets of an authoritative figure. In light of the 2012 charges filed against Feeney, Stearns County investigators reopened the possibility that he was involved in Jacob's abduction. He was cleared as a suspect after their follow up investigation.

Bolded-MF was cleared again as recently as 2012. He has been looked at and cleared twice as a suspect, shall we move on?

 

[nmogren]

What party at what pond? We do not have proof that the party spot was across the street from DRs house.

 

[HEY YOU!]

Bolded-MF was cleared again as recently as 2012. He has been looked at and cleared twice as a suspect, shall we move on?

'Stearns County investigators cleared Feeney from involvement in Jacob's abduction. A pair of witnesses said Feeney was in the St. Joseph area at the time of the abduction, but that he was with the witnesses when the abduction occurred. Investigators also noted that the grooming methods used by Feeney were not consistent with the violent circumstances of Jacob's abduction.'

Again, HE WAS WITH WITNESSES 20 minutes AFTER the abduction took place...otherwise he would be my #1