MN - Jacob Wetterling, 11, St. Joseph, 22 Oct 1989 - #15

[bessie]

I understand Tinner's thinking, but the cases ARE different, as the blood evidence from DR's property is very old. However, they've had it five years?? Wouldn't they know by now if this is a workable sample? What happened to the DNA evidence on Jared's case? If it isn't DR, which I don't think it is, his life has been turned upside-down.

Just posted yesterday:

MESSAGE ON TWITTER:

Bill Comeans ‏@BillComeans

DNA samples are in the hands of the forensic scientist. In 3 yrs they've made it from a forgotten box in storage to the lab. Closer now.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11643951

 

[Jbrown324320]

I think science has advanced enough to test items with very small and old evidence. I do think SCSO is stalling for time, hoping more evidence is found or DR incriminates himself. DR is certainly digging himself a hole every time he gives an interview in the public. It seems to me he is socially underdeveloped. Not the perpetrator. Although he seems like he has info that would blow the case open but he is afraid of what would happen if he does. Because a lot of high up people may possibly be involved. All my opinion only.

 

[human]

It's not the SCSO as a whole, but there's at least a couple of people in LE that are definitely not playing a straight game. There's wickedness in the county, because there's also people outside of LE who are evil (abby---and some of those associated with the abby).

Put it all together, and you've got a mess getting in the way, and it's affecting a very high profile case that needs to be FULLY investigated. The people in LE, and elsewhere who are trying to solve this case can't do much in there's a couple people in LE involved who are not looking at ALL the information. No one can prove they have looked at everything, but there's people that can prove they haven't.

So why did they name DR as POI? He has so many ties to St. Johns. And his family was friends withe the perf priest Gillespie.

 

[human]

Just posted yesterday:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11643951

DNA back in 1989 was brand new. That is, using it for crimes. I think the first case using DNA was in 1989. Brand new

 

[bessie]

DNA back in 1989 was brand new. That is, using it for crimes. I think the first case using DNA was in 1989. Brand new

I believe the year is correct, but I don't get the relevance. My point is that evidence in some cases has been stored away for decades. Even after DNA analysis became a fact of life, evidence in a vast number of cases was so minute, or corrupt, that it could not be tested. More recently, advanced technology has rendered these long forgotten bits of evidence viable. The huge demand, high cost, and limited facilities performing the newer testing, however, often equates to a seemingly endless wait for families who've already been tortured for years with unanswered questions, and a lack of justice for a loved one.

 

[scotgirl]

I follow some cases on The Doe Network and NAMUS and they are managing to get DNA profiles from even badly degraded evidence to close many cases. It's hard to believe they would be unable to get what they need from the evidence taken from DR's farm. IMO he is not the perp but what doesn't sit right with me is that he hasn't taken legal steps to clear his name. That makes me unable to discount him totally.

 

[tinner007]

Just posted yesterday:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11643951

Just to clear things up the Twitter link is not referring to the Wetterling case.

 

[ThePhantom]

Thenotebook, it troubles me deeply that Hollinger has continued to interface with young men for all these years. He has connections, that much is clear. Even if one were to "alert" an authority in order to express concern, I dare say it would be met with indifference. I am sitting here literally shaking my head -- I am disgusted. So many times in our society the welfare and protection of the children are not the priority. And I think it stinks.

 

[chaplain1]

So why did they name DR as POI? He has so many ties to St. Johns. And his family was friends withe the perf priest Gillespie.

I can conceive of a clever band of pervs.

But, I echo human, they could have pinned it on the Bahners or others without anyone thinking twice. Hell, I think they brag about it but the investigators (including fbi, bca) cannot conceive of them being capable of pulling this off. DR is smart, has resources, has a job, has friends in high places; why would he be the patsy?

 

[Jewelia]

I follow some cases on The Doe Network and NAMUS and they are managing to get DNA profiles from even badly degraded evidence to close many cases. It's hard to believe they would be unable to get what they need from the evidence taken from DR's farm. IMO he is not the perp but what doesn't sit right with me is that he hasn't taken legal steps to clear his name. That makes me unable to discount him totally.

DR is a bit of an odd duck, and maybe he thinks NOT getting legal counsel will prove he's confident in his innocence.

With the Wetterling case being a high profile case, and with all the press/other types of media covering the case, you'd think this "evidence"/"DNA" would have had the top experts trying to get that old blood analyzed expeditiously.

 

[chaplain1]

DR is a bit of an odd duck, and maybe he thinks NOT getting legal counsel will prove he's confident in his innocence.

With the Wetterling case being a high profile case, and with all the press/other types of media covering the case, you'd think this "evidence"/"DNA" would have had the top experts trying to get that old blood analyzed expeditiously.

You're right, it's very strange to me

 

[Ifollowthis]

I think DR is a POI because LE thinks he knows Who Did It, not necessarily that he is the abductor.

 

[chaplain1]

I think DR is a POI because LE thinks he knows Who Did It, not necessarily that he is the abductor.

This makes more sense to me than the theory that he is the patsy.

 

[Fukiyama]

I can conceive of a clever band of pervs.

But, I echo human, they could have pinned it on the Bahners or others without anyone thinking twice. Hell, I think they brag about it but the investigators (including fbi, bca) cannot conceive of them being capable of pulling this off. DR is smart, has resources, has a job, has friends in high places; why would he be the patsy?

Maybe DR is playing the part for a reason. I think if LE (assuming it has less than honorable intentions in this case) went after lowlifes like the B brothers or DAH, they'd be expected to see it through and get a conviction. For all the reasons you list why DR doesn't make a good patsy, he gives LE the easy out. LE can point the finger at him for years and nothing happens.

 

[chaplain1]

Maybe DR is playing the part for a reason. I think if LE (assuming it has less than honorable intentions in this case) went after lowlifes like the B brothers or DAH, they'd be expected to see it through and get a conviction. For all the reasons you list why DR doesn't make a good patsy, he gives LE the easy out. LE can point the finger at him for years and nothing happens.

But, if the officials are so conniving, why wouldn't they have just framed the Bahners? Who would question it? We would be all be on the JBR thread instead

 

[Jewelia]

But, if the officials are so conniving, why wouldn't they have just framed the Bahners? Who would question it? We would be all be on the JBR thread instead

I still think the Bahners play some roll in the Jacob W. case. I think they were gophers to be on the look out. Maybe DR knows something. Maybe they were working for LK.... They aren't the sharpest tacks in the
bunch, but pedophiles like them know how to hunt for victims. That's about all they know! The SCSO certainly wouldn't want Stearns County knowing a couple of dummies pulled one over on them, so maybe they are using DR to help line things up!

 

[shergal]

DR is a bit of an odd duck, and maybe he thinks NOT getting legal counsel will prove he's confident in his innocence.

With the Wetterling case being a high profile case, and with all the press/other types of media covering the case, you'd think this "evidence"/"DNA" would have had the top experts trying to get that old blood analyzed expeditiously.

My understanding is it's not a matter of getting it analyzed expeditiously. It's that they are holding it for future developments in DNA and other types of analysis.

 

[cGorg]

that IT is pretty much IT.

 

[chaplain1]

Aren't the developments in reading poorer quality DNA and partial sequencing? That makes some sense to me if he used a bleach like substance to clean.

 

[Trino]

Thinking logically, per me... (sort of posted previously)

I think whoever took J probably was not lying in wait as the boys made their way to the store along the end of a deserted and relatively isolated road. Why would a guy with a stocking over his face and a gun be on a lonely road just be lurking around when he had absolutely no idea any juvenile male would be along? Who would he have been stalking when the Wetterling house wasn't within sight to stalk? Why, if he was there when the boys first passed, did he not accost them then?

I think whoever did this saw the boys as they approached the store from the road, then possibly drove part way and hid until the boys returned. Let us remember the experiment by the university prof who proved it was so dark that students could not see more than a several inches in front of their faces. Hiding a car in such darkness would seem very possible, and the boys may have been too frightened to realize there was a vehicle. Who in 1989 carried a stocking and a gun around if they were on foot? Just my thoughts of what seems to me to be logical.