One must wonder about the thoroughness of the
facebook book, and whether social media of any kind is really adequate to shed meaningful light on a cold case such as this one.
Social media, after all, is mostly about seeking attention, not factual accuracy, as well as myopic tunnel vision: censoring (flagging & deleting) comments that you disagree with.
For those prone to regurgitating old newspaper articles, many other vehicles were investigated following the Wetterling abduction. Here are a few examples:
December 18, 1989, Ellsworth, WI: Cream-colored Ford Fairlane station wagon
A 14-year-old Ellsworth girl told police a man in a ski mask forced her into a car Monday before she was able to jump out of the car and flee, authorities said.
Police Chief Ron Miller said the girl told police she had missed her school bus and was walking to school on Main Street about 7:40 a.m. when a man drove up to her and asked if she wanted a ride. She said she refused the ride, but then the man stopped, grabbed her by the hair and shoved her into the car.
The man tried to make sexual advances, and she managed to break away and jump out of the car, Miller said.
The suspect was described only as being about 6 feet tall, Miller said. The car, described as a cream-colored Ford Fairlane station wagon, sped away, Miller added.
FBI officials, who are investigating the October abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling from St. Joseph, Minn., said Monday it was too soon to determine if there is any link between the two incidents.
"It's too early to tell, but we are in touch with the folks there," FBI spokesman Byron Gigler said in a telephone interview from Stearns County, Minn.
Source:
ELLSWORTH GIRL TELLS OF BEING FORCED INTO CAR: OFFICIALS TREATING CASE AS CHILD ENTICEMENT; FBI, WETTERLING TASK FORCE CONTACTED
St. Paul Pioneer Press, page 1B
December 19, 1989
Bill Gardner, Staff Writer
December 14, 1989, Richfield, MN: A dark brown, full-size, older model two-door
The second incident occurred Thursday while a 7-year-old boy was walking home after leaving the school bus near W. 71st St. and James Av. S. Police said a man in a car stopped, opened the door, and attempted to get the boy in the car. The boy immediately ran. The car was described as dark brown, a full-size, older model two-door. The man is described as white, in his late 20s, with dark brown collar-length hair and a dark full, wide moustache. He was wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans.
Richfield Public Safety Director John Erskine said Richfield authorities contacted the FBI and determined there was no connection with the Jacob Wetterling abduction in St. Joseph.
Source:
Abduction attempts under investigation by Richfield police
Star Tribune, page 10D
December 16, 1989
Mark Brunswick; Staff Writer
November 30, 1989, Spring Lake Park, MN: brownish-red van
The boy said he was followed twice by a man in a brownish-red van.
Sallman said the boy reported being followed twice by the same vehicle, at 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. The boy said he was riding his bike in the area of 83rd and University Avs. in Spring Lake Park, close to the Fridley city line, when he was followed by a van that pursued him into a cul-de-sac, Sallman said.
The boy said he turned around and asked the driver what he was doing. The boy said the driver ordered him into the van and he rode his bike to an apartment complex where he saw some adults and asked for help.
Source:
FBI doubts boy's claim that he fled abductor
Star Tribune, page 02B
December 2, 1989
Donna Halvorsen; Staff Writer
Prov. 11:14