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

[Dushi]

Good point about the footprints. Maybe they think he left the scene, realized he was in deep doodoo and offed himself. Still makes no sense why he didnt dispose of her body and drive the truck.If he did this someone is hiding him out or he hitched a ride with a truck driver and is far away from there.

Yes, it doesn't make sense
I think it would be easier to disappear a body than a truck

 

[lillygator]

were they romantically involved?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

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)

No, please don't be sorry. I'm sorry bc I didnt mean it the way I typed it. I should have explained what I meant. I didn't mean to imply all small towns would show vigilantism. I was trying to get at how tight knit this community is, that everybody knows everybody, and that if they find the perp before police do then there could be a chance that the perp could be taken out & the community turns a blind eye to whomever serves that justice. Since meth was brought up as rumor, if a meth addict or someone on drugs was in a crazy state of mind & accidentally killed these kids, then chances are they'll serve some years in prison but then get out go live the rest of their lives free. Society as a whole is pretty much sick of people getting away with murder. When time served for lewd behavior outweighs time served for murder, it shows how we may need an overhaul in our justice system. Yes you're right, vigilantism is everywhere, small towns as well as big cities. I was only giving a quick answer that came to mind first when the statement arose that le should let the community know if another suspect is on the loose. Totally didn't mean to stereotype & I apologize...

:blowkiss:

 

[Dushi]

were they romantically involved?

I have assumed they were!!!!
I don't think I saw it posted now that i think of it

 

[Skully]

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?

Wouldn't there be a blood trail up to some point, and a scent trail as well?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

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.

I read 3 year tour of duty. I thought that meant he toured overseas for 3 years, not that he was in the service for just 3 years. Idk, I'm not as familiar with this stuff. My oldest is contemplating enlisting.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

If somebody pushed the truck over the embankment hoping it would go into the river, they probably wouldn't be from the area bc if they were then they'd know the Little Wabash is shallow and only a few feet deep.

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Jacob would know that Jessica talked to her mother bc her mom said it sounded like they were having a good time. Jessica told her mom that she just caught a fish. So, why in the world would Jacob push his truck down an embankment in an area he knows that her mothers knows they were fishing at? Why wouldn't he drive away, like to another state, and push his truck over a mountain then disappear? Or why not blow up his truck? It just doesn't make sense that he'd do this himself.

Unless maybe he snapped? Maybe a flashback? Maybe he had a psychotic episode & once he realized what he did, he jetted?

Idk, still doesn't sit right. This guy seems totally clean.

 

[Dushi]

Wouldn't there be a blood trail up to some point, and a scent trail as well?

Yes I believe there would be

 

[Dushi]

I read 3 year tour of duty. I thought that meant he toured overseas for 3 years, not that he was in the service for just 3 years. Idk, I'm not as familiar with this stuff. My oldest is contemplating enlisting.

His facebook says he was doing a tour of duty in 2010

 

[Jersey*Girl]

I just read the most perfect analogy regarding the difference in their ages...

Jessica was camping overnight with Jacob. She is 17. He is 22 or 24 (which is it?). Her mother is catching some heat in discussions all over about this. BUT. Nobody really seemed to care when it was Taylor Swift dating John Mayer. She was 17. I think he was around 30? This comparison was given in a comment & I thought dang wow I didn't think of that...

 

[Jersey*Girl]

His facebook says he was doing a tour of duty in 2010

Thank you! How long is bootcamp & special training before a person is deployed?

 

[Dushi]

Thank you! How long is bootcamp & special training before a person is deployed?

LOL, haven't a clue, different country

 

[shefner]

Well, I will just go ahead and admit that my 18 year old daughter dated a man who was 52. Yes that's right...52 (about 4 years older than her dad and me).

She met him at a Christian conference and he is a member of a well-known Christian band that I will not name....but you would know it. He didn't look or act 52. But still, I worried alot about this. The man came several times from Nashville to visit her...he stayed in a hotel and ate with our family. When his group toured near our vicinity, he got us front row seats...and of course, a meet and greet with the band.

It sounds terrible now...the age difference was crazy! But I tried to stay cool throughout the whole thing (her daddy did too) because she was old enough to leave with him anytime she wanted and there was nothing we could do about it. Within 6 months it was over. Thank goodness! And it was her decision....

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Jacob C Wheeler was part of the 52nd Ordnance Group at Fort Campbell, KY. Here's info on it from their site: (note there's a ton more info at their link)

http://www.campbell.army.mil/units/52EOD/Pages/52EOD.aspx

Quote:
Welcome to the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD). This site is intended to provide the public, Soldiers, and family members with information about this command, its mission and structure, and our many units and posts that support the national military strategy.

The 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD) is located at Fort Campbell Kentucky. Fort Campbell is home to the only Air Assault Division in the world, the 101st Airborne Division.* As home to the Army’s most-deployed contingency forces, we continuously refine our efforts to provide the highest standards of service and support to sustain readiness and well-being. On order, the 52d EOD Group deploys and conducts EOD force protection operations for military and civilian authorities to defeat or mitigate conventional and unconventional (nuclear, biological, chemical and improvised) explosive devices in an assigned area of responsibility.

Whether you have already arrived, or have recently received orders to report here, the information in this web site will help you learn more about the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD).
Again, welcome to the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD).

Marue R. Quick
Colonel, Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Commanding

 

[ttcRider]

Have we heard from any of the family members at all?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

If he served a 3 year tour of duty, and if he's really only 22 instead of 24, wth did he find time to get married? Before he left? Where did he meet his wife?

 

[Jersey*Girl]

Have we heard from any of the family members at all?

Just his estranged wife...I think.

 

[88keys]

Thank you! How long is bootcamp & special training before a person is deployed?

When my brother-in-law enlisted (back in 2006), I think boot camp was several months...I'm pretty sure he went in March and we went to his graduation in June. Then he went off for more training for several months. When he was deployed in 2008, he had two months of specialized training before leaving for an 8 month deployment.

This was four years ago though, and things may have changed. Also, it depends on what unit they are in, and what their mission is. My BIL was a mechanic, and was never in actual combat. I believe the 52nd Ordnance Group has something to do with disarming explosives. But even within that group, there could be smaller divisions....military units/divisions/squadrons/etc are all very confusing.

 

[88keys]

If he served a 3 year tour of duty, and if he's really only 22 instead of 24, wth did he find time to get married? Before he left? Where did he meet his wife?

He could have been married as early as 18. Maybe he got married right before he deployed- lots of couples do, so that the spouse can receive benefits if the soldier is killed in action.