GUILTY IL - Jacob Wheeler, 22, & Jessica Evans, 17, White County, 25 Aug 2012 - #1

[SurfieTX]

Based on the very little I know, I see him as a victim, not a murderer at this time

Been wrong before, but can't shake the feeling...

I'm reminded of a story I saw a couple of weeks back. Perhaps someone here can remember their names. Anyway, it was a young couple (high school) who had gone out on their first date. they went to a wooded area to take pictures of the full moon. Out of nowhere came this kid with a gun. He didn't know the young couple. For no reason, he just started shooting them. The boy ended up dying, but the girl survived (shot multiple times). She was able to crawl to the road and flag down help. The shooter stole their car, and that's how he got caught.

The shooter was a young male, I think from Russia or the Ukraine or somewhere like that, and said he shot them because he wanted to know what it felt like to kill a person.

This case has a similar vibe to me.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

I have to respectfully disagree with this. Mosul is in the northern part of Iraq, where fighting has been at a minimum for a long time now. (My brother-in-law served in this area when he was in Iraq). I'm not trying to minimize his service or say that he never saw anything bad, but compared to places like Bagdhad or Fallujah, Mosul is pretty quiet.



Sure, you could slide a boat into the river, assuming you wanted to walk through all the weeds and brush to get to it. Usually you have to kind of climb down a bit of an embankment to get to the edge of the river. The Little Wabash is small and not very deep. In fact, right now, it's only 3 feet deep. I'm not sure if there are any public boat slips around here; it's just not a very big river.

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=pah&gage=cari2

I doubt anyone is taking large speed boats or pontoon boats down it right now. Most of the people around here use john boats (rowboats) or small bass boats when they go out on the river. You could launch them from almost anywhere, assuming you can get your vehicle close enough to the edge of the water.

Almost all rivers flow south. There is no dam that I'm aware of; someone may have been confusing it with the big Wabash River.

Thank you 88keys!

Good to hear that about Mosul.

Re the boat, yeah I was thinking a row boat maybe with an engine... Only speculating as far as getaway vehicle for the perp... Unless there are tracks from another vehicle that we don't know about, or footprints maybe?

 

[88keys]

I could be wrong just as much as anybody else BUT I honestly don't think he did it...

I don't either. I know that usually, the person closest to the victim did it. But something feels different here.
If he killed her and took off on foot, why hasn't he been found yet? He couldn't have gotten that far.

If someone took him away in another vehicle, his body could be ANYWHERE. They could have crossed the Wabash into Indiana, or they could have thrown him in the river (the big Wabash I mean, not the little one). I just think if he were nearby, he would have been found by now.

What are the stats for 3 shots to the head?

I mean, 3? Could it actually be an inexperienced shooter? Is it possible the 2nd shot was a nervous jerk made by someone not accustomed to using a gun but the 3rd one was for the kill?

3 shots to the head is deliberate. It's almost overkill. And most likely done from close range. Hitting someone in the head is NOT that easy, despite what you see on tv. It's very unlikely that they were shooting from a distance, either- with the first shot, she would have fallen down. They would have had to walk up close to finish the job. It's possible that is what happened, but it's more likely that she was shot with a handgun at very close range. Like someone else said, maybe she was asleep in the truck and they walked up and shot her 3 times. I kind of hope so....if she was asleep, she probably didn't even realize what was happening before she died.

If the shot was done by Jake, then why 3? He's trained to kill with 1.

Soldiers and cops are not trained to kill with one shot. (Unless they are snipers, trained to kill with one shot from a great distance) They are trained to eliminate the threat. They take multiple shots and aim at the center mass, where you have the greatest chance of hitting the person. They generally don't aim for the head (again, despite what you see on TV) Shooting someone in the head is not really that easy, unless you are right next to them.

 

[concernedmother]

If LE think someone else is involved they should speak up and let the community know there could be a murderer (s) on the loose. Everyone will be looking for the kid.

 

[88keys]

I'm reminded of a story I saw a couple of weeks back. Perhaps someone here can remember their names. Anyway, it was a young couple (high school) who had gone out on their first date. they went to a wooded area to take pictures of the full moon. Out of nowhere came this kid with a gun. He didn't know the young couple. For no reason, he just started shooting them. The boy ended up dying, but the girl survived (shot multiple times). She was able to crawl to the road and flag down help. The shooter stole their car, and that's how he got caught.

I remember that- it was on Dateline or 48 Hours or something. So sad!

But if Jacob is wandering around out there injured, surely they would have found him by now? I mean, he just could not have gone that far. And you figure he most likely didn't cross the river, so that creates a huge boundary right there.

Re the boat, yeah I was thinking a row boat maybe with an engine...

They have small engines called "trolling motors" that you can attach to rowboats. I see a lot of them around here. That was my first thought when you said boat.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Disclosure is an underground newspaper, not a mainstream one. They are dedicated to exposing corruption and crime in Southern Illinois, and of printing stuff that the other papers are too afraid to print.

I'm not sure I would call them "inaccurate" as much as "sensationalist." I think they are a little quick to jump the gun and report stuff that later turns out to be rumors. They use a lot of anonymous sources to get their information. I don't want to slam them, because I know the owner and I think he means well...I will say that I think they are trying to handle this situation with respect to all parties involved, and are trying to confirm the info being put out before posting it. Their latest update came directly from the White County Sheriff, so that is a good sign.

One thing I noticed about Disclosure, and btw I've never heard of them til this case, is that they set the story straight as soon as they realize they've printed something not factual. Iow, they admit their misstated & do so right away from what I've seen. They also don't care what people think of them. In a way, it makes me look at their site more...

 

[Jersey*Girl]

If LE think someone else is involved they should speak up and let the community know there could be a murderer (s) on the loose. Everyone will be looking for the kid.

But small town & tight knit community could equal vigilantism.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

88, again thank you. I'm learning as I go along.

I have several cops in my family. They were all trained to shoot to injure/incapacitate a perp with 1 shot, unless in a more threatened situation they were trained to kill with a single shot so as to limit liabilities in the overkill. Maybe it depends on the situation? Again, learning as I go along in this case. 3 seems like definite overkill, deliberate, passionate.

 

[cocomod]

They had dogs out looking for him. I would think that if he were injured, they would likely have found him by now (especially with a blood trail of sorts). I want to believe he is innocent; and this story certainly seems strange. I just honestly do not know what to think.

It seems weird that they have now said that there is only one crime scene; where the truck/body were found. However, how would they know if she had been killed in the bed of the truck elsewhere and driven to that location? There wouldn't be a trail because her body hadn't been moved just the truck.

Were the 3 shots made because he was being threatened? Talk, or I shoot your girlfriend. He didn't talk, and "someone" shot her again and again. If so, what does he know or have that someone else would want??

Just thoughts running through my head. I can't make heads or tails of this.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Gotta run but ibbl.

 

[88keys]

One thing I noticed about Disclosure, and btw I've never heard of them til this case, is that they set the story straight as soon as they realize they've printed something not factual. Iow, they admit their misstated & do so right away from what I've seen. They also don't care what people think of them. In a way, it makes me look at their site more...

Yes, they do always try to get things right. I don't always agree with the WAY they present stories, but I believe that Jack and Angela really want to put the truth out there and strive to get it right.

But small town & tight knit community could equal vigilantism.

That's just a stereotype. Anything is possible, but it's not likely. And vigilantism happens in big cities, too. Just because it's a small town doesn't mean the residents have no respect for the law. We're not all ignorant rednecks who are just waiting for a chance to lynch someone.

(Sorry, that was kind of snippy...that stereotype just bugs me)

 

[Skully]

<modsnip>. I also know from personal experience, that "flash backs" they happen in a second. And things go terribily wrong. So if that is what occurred, he would not take his truck, because he would be more "hidden" on foot, not wanting someone to track him with the truck. But he could be a victim here as well. But all JMO....

 

[88keys]

Were the 3 shots made because he was being threatened? Talk, or I shoot your girlfriend. He didn't talk, and "someone" shot her again and again. If so, what does he know or have that someone else would want??

I wondered if they told him "you come with us and we won't hurt your girlfriend." But they did kill her anyway.

I have several cops in my family. They were all trained to shoot to injure/incapacitate a perp with 1 shot, unless in a more threatened situation they were trained to kill with a single shot so as to limit liabilities in the overkill. Maybe it depends on the situation?

Maybe. I guess what I mean is, they are trained not to assume that the first shot did kill the perpetrator. They are trained to take deadly aim, and would certainly be capable of killing with one shot, but I believe they are trained to keep the gun on them until they are sure the person is either dead or not a threat anymore.

3 shots...that's execution style, as someone else said. Deliberate. And reeks of experience to me.

 

[southsleuth]

There seems to be sloppy reporting all around. And what's up with all the local female anchors and adenoids!! Their voices grate on my nerves.
As to his 3 years in Iraq, wouldn't the mean he was in the military for 3 years? That sounds more like it to me. Too young to have been in Iraq 3 years.

 

[Skully]

I think shooting someone in the head 3x shows two things, one you are really mad at that person, a rage killing. And two, you know you are going to kill them, pretty quickly and with less pain and suffering.

 

[Dushi]

I think shooting someone in the head 3x shows two things, one you are really mad at that person, a rage killing. And two, you know you are going to kill them, pretty quickly and with less pain and suffering.

I agree

No signs of a struggle
No other injuries AFAIK
No assault

Out to kill

 

[Dushi]

I am concerned about one thing

If he had been shot and ran, the dogs would have picked up the trail
There has been no report of this happening

If he had just ran, without an injury, the dogs should have picked up a trail

Why did LE state their focus was on finding a body?

 

[88keys]

I think shooting someone in the head 3x shows two things, one you are really mad at that person, a rage killing. And two, you know you are going to kill them, pretty quickly and with less pain and suffering.

I agree. At the very least, they wanted to make sure she was dead and would never talk.

Why did LE state their focus was on finding a body?

I assume it was because of the amount of time that had passed. But I'm wondering if they found something at the crime scene (like a lot of blood) that indicated that he had been gravely injured.

 

[Dushi]

I agree. At the very least, they wanted to make sure she was dead and would never talk.



I assume it was because of the amount of time that had passed. But I'm wondering if they found something at the crime scene (like a lot of blood) that indicated that he had been gravely injured.

I don't think time would make them say they are focusing on a body. IMO
Its more likely, to me, that there was something at the crime scene to give them the impression that he was not alive

 

[shefner]

I think they have had scent dogs out there. They could track him to some point.

The truck was off the embankment...so this part of the crime appears to be an accident. What killer would drive over the cliff with a truck intentionally while knowing he could hurt himself....unless he was attempting suicide that way? And what if driving the truck off the embankment was meant as suicide, but it didn't work and he exited uninjured?
I keep hashing over what caused that truck to end up there?

Jessica talked to her mom after midnight and didn't show up for work by 5 am. So there are only a few hours in there for something bad to happen....
(Again, can someone confirm that Jessica was supposed to go to work by 5am Sunday? Or was it Monday? I'm thinking Sunday)