MN - Jacob Wetterling, 11, St. Joseph, 22 Oct 1989 - #13

[shergal]

Your post here led me to Bing search "Cold Spring Catholic Churches" and as soon as I saw the results, a certain chill ran down my spine. Here is what I found-

Welcome to St. Boniface Catholic Church Cold Spring, MN

www.stboniface.com

Cold Spring. Cared for by the monks of St. John's Abbey, Collegeville. Offers Mass in Spanish and signed for the hard of hearing. Mass schedule, historical timeline ...

501 Main St, Cold Spring, MN 56320 ·

http://www.bing.com/search?q=Cold+Spring+Catholic+CHurch&go=Submit+Query&qs=bs&form=QBRE

We, the Church of Saint Boniface a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Saint Cloud that has been served by Benedictine monks and Sisters since its founding in 1878, participate in the mission of the Church given by the Lord Jesus to proclaim His Gospel and make disciples of all nations, to welcome these new disciples in a praying and hospitable community, and to provide on-going formation in discipleship of Jesus Christ.

Are the kraemers Catholic, is this their church that day in 1989, does he know the kraemers because of this iconic church?

We have previously discussed on here St. Boniface church in Cold Spring and the priest there, Fran Hoefgren.

Fran Hoefgen, one of the pedophile priests, was serving as associate pastor of St. Boniface in Cold Spring during the mid to late 80's.
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2014/03/francis_hoefgen_priest_abuse.php

 

[shergal]

Current cremation options at St. John's:
http://www.saintjohnsabbeycemetery.org/how-to-purchase/cremation-options/

 

[Sasquatch321]

We have previously discussed on here St. Boniface church in Cold Spring and the priest there, Fran Hoefgren.

Fran Hoefgen, one of the pedophile priests, was serving as associate pastor of St. Boniface in Cold Spring during the mid to late 80's.
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2014/03/francis_hoefgen_priest_abuse.php

"In 2011, the same year Hoefgen was officially removed from the priesthood, he wrote a one-sentence letter of apology to a man whom he'd allegedly abused as a child in Cold Spring."

He's from cold spring, knows the area, is a molesting priest, is this jareds guy?

 

[shergal]

"In 2011, the same year Hoefgen was officially removed from the priesthood, he wrote a one-sentence letter of apology to a man whom he'd allegedly abused as a child in Cold Spring."

He's from cold spring, knows the area, is a molesting priest, is this jareds guy?

It's difficult to say. he doesn't look much like Jared's sketch. BW, on the other hand, looks a lot like the sketch:
http://www.immelman.us/personal-log/obituary-bruce-wollmering-osb/

http://www.deadzoom.com/member/samiping/BW.jpg

 

[Sasquatch321]

It's difficult to say. he doesn't look much like Jared's sketch. BW, on the other hand, looks a lot like the sketch:
http://www.immelman.us/personal-log/obituary-bruce-wollmering-osb/

http://www.deadzoom.com/member/samiping/BW.jpg

I am looking for the big nose and ears jared speaks of but these guys have small ears. Who are the Sextons traveling from St Johns Abbey to Cold Spring St. Boniface church during 1989?

 

[human]

I believe people have information that could potentially provide new insights -- but for one reason or another they're not talking. What are some of the possible reasons individuals might be reluctant to open up about what they may have seen, experienced or heard? Perhaps fear of getting involved, embarrassment, concern about some kind of retribution. I was a bit afraid myself when I began digging into the Guimond case and I don't spook easily. If a church is willing to cover up criminal behavior, and outright lie about deviant activities of its priests -- what else are they hiding? After all, if a miscreant can indulge in whatever aberrant behavior he wants, sure in the knowledge that he will not be held accountable, why not go all the way? Who is going to hold the abbey accountable or ever suspect them to begin with? It's history has been to dig deep into their pockets and pay off, silence and settle. One could make the statement that the abbey could not possibly have been involved in any way in any of the sexual molestations of young boys in the surrounding community, but it seems to me that is akin to ignoring the elephant in the room. Why haven't any of these cases been solved?

Who knows, but power sure has a lot to do with things in the real world.

Loss of job, loss of friends, relatives affected, so many issues.

 

[human]

The burn pit at the R farm is an option for Jacob, sorry to say. I believe that is why it was dug up.

The lime created by burning all of the assorted items in the pit would cover any odors and work with decomposition

 

[ThePhantom]

The best shot for getting potential evidence was DR's. The abbey was (and continues to be) very well protected by many different entities -- the entire place should have been searched from top to bottom. Then again the same could be said of DR's place. The only hope I have is that one of BW's or perhaps other monk's cohorts will get a conscience and speak up. I can just imagine the justification they might go through in their minds about how it's not their place to judge and it's between God and the perpetrator etc. I call that a lie of omission and a cop out. The families deserve the truth. As I've mentioned before, I had a conversation with an editor at the Star Trib several years ago in an effort to encourage further investigation. She became silent and put up a wall that told me she wasn't going to go there. Neither would the Department of Education, and many other govt agencies. Not going to touch the church. The answers have to come from within the abbey. Imagine if all the church's cabins and properties in the other parts of MN were searched. How about the tunnels and other underground areas of St. John's. BW knew the grounds like the back of his hand. What did the sheriff find in his room after it was searched? He hasn't divulged a thing about it. And here we are, still trying to solve puzzles with so many missing pieces.

 

[Dave K]

The best shot for getting potential evidence was DR's. The abbey was (and continues to be) very well protected by many different entities -- the entire place should have been searched from top to bottom. Then again the same could be said of DR's place. The only hope I have is that one of BW's or perhaps other monk's cohorts will get a conscience and speak up. I can just imagine the justification they might go through in their minds about how it's not their place to judge and it's between God and the perpetrator etc. I call that a lie of omission and a cop out. The families deserve the truth. As I've mentioned before, I had a conversation with an editor at the Star Trib several years ago in an effort to encourage further investigation. She became silent and put up a wall that told me she wasn't going to go there. Neither would the Department of Education, and many other govt agencies. Not going to touch the church. The answers have to come from within the abbey. Imagine if all the church's cabins and properties in the other parts of MN were searched. How about the tunnels and other underground areas of St. John's. BW knew the grounds like the back of his hand. What did the sheriff find in his room after it was searched? He hasn't divulged a thing about it. And here we are, still trying to solve puzzles with so many missing pieces.

Something just hit me reading this. At this point, I'm not certain what to make of the potential connection to the church; but, I can see, understand and appreciate the concern that's significant among a lot of posters; it does almost look like just being what they are, the church has the advantage of an impenetrable defense. Here's what just hit me; I wonder how many of the investigators involved, even over the years, are Catholic.

 

[shergal]

Something just hit me reading this. At this point, I'm not certain what to make of the potential connection to the church; but, I can see, understand and appreciate the concern that's significant among a lot of posters; it does almost look like just being what they are, the church has the advantage of an impenetrable defense. Here's what just hit me; I wonder how many of the investigators involved, even over the years, are Catholic.

Or how many of the investigators are Johnny graduates. (Not that there aren't thousands of good Johnny graduates - but there is a loyalty issue there, I feel.)

 

[ThePhantom]

Right, starting with the sheriff, many of the local politicians and even politicians at higher levels. Not to mention St. John's University football team and all the $$$ that generates. Mercy don't mess with the football team ( a la Penn State). Looks like Coach Gagliardi got out before someone started asking him some tough questions -- such as how St. John's responded when one of the football players formally complained about BW sexually harassing him (which was close to the time Guimond disappeared).

 

[Dave K]

Or how many of the investigators are Johnny graduates. (Not that there aren't thousands of good Johnny graduates - but there is a loyalty issue there, I feel.)

I agree with this; both the part of lots of good graduates, but, also the loyalty thing; and in fact, I believe that just within the Catholic Church as a whole, there is the potential for misplaced loyalty. Did you see JBrown's post? That's interesting.

It looks like JBrown's post that I was referring to here was deleted. If that's the case, I'm not going to repeat it here, but, it was interesting.

 

[ThePhantom]

Can you give me an idea about what JBrown's post said? I really value everyone's insights. Thanks!

 

[Jbrown324320]

I put the last name of the sheriff who is in charge of the investigation. (was it deleted because I put his name in it?) He graduated from St Johns, a close relative of his (I maybe was too specific of the relation) and the county atty's husband works there too. When the sheriff was interviewed for a news story about Jacob, a St John's football helmet was prominently displayed behind him. No books, no papers, no family pics I could see. Just the helmet. BIG conflict of interest for Josh G's case. We haven't linked Jacob to SJU yet, so I guess it wouldn't be too conflicting.

 

[aliensporebomb]

SNIP.
One more thing; I know that at least for some time, certain scanners could pick up some cell phone traffic; as I remember, it was outlawed a few years ago. 1989 was before cell phones, but, there had been some wondering about what type of phone system would have been in the area, and whether there would have been any way, anyone could have listened in on other's calls. That would be one possibility of someone else finding out that night, that the Wetterling's were away, and the kids were going up to TT's.

49 megahertz band cordless telephones, baby monitors and walkie talkies.

I believe this was all cordless phone chatter easily monitored.

Cellular is a lot harder to monitor due the fact that the devices hand-off to different towers.

 

[CanManEh]

I have not read this thread much but i just seen this on youtube and wondered if this is something that has allready been brought up in here....Do you know about the boy named jared who was abducted just a few miles from where jacob was taken around the same time also and it was at night the kidnaper had a police radio in his car jared was with a friend coming home on his bike the man cam over told his friend to run the other way and do not look back there almost 100 percent sure it is the same guy that took jacob same MO like everything almost the same way happend to this kid ..Is this common knowledge already in here ...

 

[CanManEh]

Here is the link...hope this works .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VPmotFYGI4

 

[scotgirl]

I have not read this thread much but i just seen this on youtube and wondered if this is something that has allready been brought up in here....Do you know about the boy named jared who was abducted just a few miles from where jacob was taken around the same time also and it was at night the kidnaper had a police radio in his car jared was with a friend coming home on his bike the man cam over told his friend to run the other way and do not look back there almost 100 percent sure it is the same guy that took jacob same MO like everything almost the same way happend to this kid ..Is this common knowledge already in here ...

Thanks but Jared's story is well known on this thread

 

[Dave K]

I put the last name of the sheriff who is in charge of the investigation. (was it deleted because I put his name in it?) He graduated from St Johns, a close relative of his (I maybe was too specific of the relation) and the county atty's husband works there too. When the sheriff was interviewed for a news story about Jacob, a St John's football helmet was prominently displayed behind him. No books, no papers, no family pics I could see. Just the helmet. BIG conflict of interest for Josh G's case. We haven't linked Jacob to SJU yet, so I guess it wouldn't be too conflicting.

The last two sentences:

"BIG conflict of interest for Josh G's case. We haven't linked Jacob to SJU yet, so I guess it wouldn't be too conflicting."

Yeah, but, neither we, nor anyone else has connected Jacob's abduction to 'Anyone' so, in the concept of an investigation, if investigators could potentially be prejudiced against thoroughly investigating any certain entity, then, there's a conflict. In other words, since no one has been connected to Jacob's abduction, then, everyone/anyone needs to be looked at; if St Johns is something that should be looked into, then, it can't be protected or ruled out by investigators. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Trino]

The last two sentences:

"BIG conflict of interest for Josh G's case. We haven't linked Jacob to SJU yet, so I guess it wouldn't be too conflicting."

if St Johns is something that should be looked into, then, it can't be protected or ruled out by investigators. Hope that makes sense.

Snipped...
Unfortunately, it has been protected. And, I have not heard of anyone looking into this connection nor am I aware that this will ever happen.