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

[Cappuccino]

The fact that you discount interviews that are still available to see with DR's actual words is strange. And in what context would it ever be normal to say that 'I didn't want to waste my time' in regards to searching for an abducted child? And you should explain that if you are believing everything DR has stated, then why didn't he tell 911 about the small blue car with the little passenger while he was on the phone with them? Why did he not tell the cops at the end of the driveway when he went up that way the same night?

I am looking for a plausible explanation for these 2 facts. Not even mentioning tire tracks. Just explain how that makes any sense at all.

Well, this is where we differ because I don't consider it strange for someone to treat the contents of media interviews with caution, I regard it as prudent. Remember you're often getting the media's presentation of what he said, as opposed to the uncut version. Even if the media have always been 100% accurate in the way they've reported him, DR is not required to give a complete account of that night to any journalist. He may have told each of them part of the story.

The only people he is required to give a comprehensive account to are the police, and seeing as we don't know the contents of his police interviews, we're groping in the dark. If I was to guess, I'd say it sounds like DR didn't take the report of a missing child all that seriously at first, maybe he thought it was a prank or the child was hiding or something equally not worth worrying about. Only later when he realised the seriousness of the situation did he attach importance to cars or people he'd seen that night. That, however, is just as much guesswork on my part as your suspicious interpretations of his words are on yours.

 

[Jewelia]

I am thinking that LE at the time had no idea how to manage or contain an event of this nature. I think we can all agree that this was the watermark event that focused attention on child abductions and set the ball rolling on methodology and procedure for first responders, containment and forensic analysis.

Frankly, I think Sterns County is in a bit of a pickle. Almost anything they do at this point, other than finding Jacob, makes them look incompetent at some level, and if they clear DR because they never had any hard evidence, he may be able to file suit for damage to his reputation. If they name other POI's this late in the game, it gives the appearance that they were not thorough in the initial investigations. The only reason I am a bit critical of them is because they refuse to share any evidence with experts, or to even admit they have had outside resources look at the evidence. It gives the impression of a cover up to save face.

While I do not completely advocate this path, I am wondering (if they had agreement from the family), to give DR limited immunity if he comes clean with any details of his potential involvement, name others involved and of course if there is a body to recover, the location. If he still claims innocence, we can start looking in another direction. However, if later a link is found to DR, the limited immunity would be violated and he would be arrested and prosecuted. If is far past time to give the family closure. Stonewalling on the part of SC is no longer an option and should not be acceptable to the Governor and State Legislature.

Very well put. I was taking a short break, I intended longer, but it's hard to get away from this when you're passionate about seeing Jacob's abductor caught.

I agree that DR could possibly help if he's connected in any way, and fesses up. The limited immunity could be just the right thing at this point, and if he's innocent, he still may be able to help. However, he's gotten himself into trouble already with his mouth. Something just feels off about DR, but knowing what I know now, I just can't pin point him as the abductor. I do believe the SCSO has painted themselves into the corner a bit. I think the investigation was possibly botched to a degree from the beginning.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, and we know the abduction was sexually motivated, I doubt even more it was DR. I'm not an expert by a long shot, but I did learn a lot about teacher pedophiles/child molesters, and child molesters rarely sexually abuse just one child. Where there's one, there's usually hundreds. I wouldn't say this if I haven't read about it extensively, and spoken with various experts, ranging from support group leaders for sexually abused victims, to a private detective that helped put a child molester who murdered a victim away.

They eventually get caught, and he's got access to many more children as a teacher. With all the media press about DR, surely another victim would have come forward.

There's other POIs/potential suspects out there. Certainly the SCSO isn't going to share sensitive information, so we can't possibly know all the facts.

I do think that everyone needs to work together in this, and be open minded.....or even think out of the box.... Me included.

 

[human]

Seems like common sense don't you think?

Common sense says LE has the info enough to name a POI . They got additional search warrants even.

This is not some Middle Eastern country. Minnesota is a top state in every way. Just google and find out that it is a far different place than most of the US. Please do not judge MN through the eyes of your stste

 

[human]

There is no evidence that DR is homosexual. No evidence of being interested in children sexually. There must have been nothing on his computer, or he would have been charged. But, suddenly, with a man who has a perfect employment record as well, we're supposed to believe he sexually assaulted and abducted a young male? I think not.

Since we have no access to his employment records, I do not think we can say that. Since we both were teachers, we know in the past that teachers got away with things they would have never gotten away with after Jacob happened

 

[human]

I'm well aware of that. I was responding to another poster who said that five years was nothing because criminals had been caught after 30 years. My point being that those cases weren't ones were the guilty party was under scrutiny for 30 years, unlike DR who has been under scrutiny for the last 5.

Huh? Five or thirty? Which is it? I think it was stated that no criminal has been under scrutiny 30 years? I am confused.

 

[human]

Its okay, I'm just taking a break. There's no point in having exactly the same conversation about DR yet again, it just feels like Groundhog Day. If there's something new to say about him I'm all ears, but there's only so many times you can go over the same ground.

Yup. But it keeps this thread alive while other children do not even get a mention anymore.

 

[human]

I am thinking that LE at the time had no idea how to manage or contain an event of this nature. I think we can all agree that this was the watermark event that focused attention on child abductions and set the ball rolling on methodology and procedure for first responders, containment and forensic analysis.

Frankly, I think Sterns County is in a bit of a pickle. Almost anything they do at this point, other than finding Jacob, makes them look incompetent at some level, and if they clear DR because they never had any hard evidence, he may be able to file suit for damage to his reputation. If they name other POI's this late in the game, it gives the appearance that they were not thorough in the initial investigations. The only reason I am a bit critical of them is because they refuse to share any evidence with experts, or to even admit they have had outside resources look at the evidence. It gives the impression of a cover up to save face.

While I do not completely advocate this path, I am wondering (if they had agreement from the family), to give DR limited immunity if he comes clean with any details of his potential involvement, name others involved and of course if there is a body to recover, the location. If he still claims innocence, we can start looking in another direction. However, if later a link is found to DR, the limited immunity would be violated and he would be arrested and prosecuted. If is far past time to give the family closure. Stonewalling on the part of SC is no longer an option and should not be acceptable to the Governor and State Legislature.

Patty W has the ear of Governors and Presidents and powerful people such as the Attorney Jeff Anderson. She apparently is doing whatever satisfies her in this quest

 

[human]

Well, this is where we differ because I don't consider it strange for someone to treat the contents of media interviews with caution, I regard it as prudent. Remember you're often getting the media's presentation of what he said, as opposed to the uncut version. Even if the media have always been 100% accurate in the way they've reported him, DR is not required to give a complete account of that night to any journalist. He may have told each of them part of the story.

The only people he is required to give a comprehensive account to are the police, and seeing as we don't know the contents of his police interviews, we're groping in the dark. If I was to guess, I'd say it sounds like DR didn't take the report of a missing child all that seriously at first, maybe he thought it was a prank or the child was hiding or something equally not worth worrying about. Only later when he realised the seriousness of the situation did he attach importance to cars or people he'd seen that night. That, however, is just as much guesswork on my part as your suspicious interpretations of his words are on yours.

His own words on television?

And helicopters flying low and police everywhere? Althoug we have seen he has said no police and lots of police.

The facts are he is named POI and LE got sealed search warrants.

 

[bessie]

Suspects often do remain under scrutiny for 5-10-20-30 years and longer. Some relocate, true, but likewise, some detectives keep tabs on suspects' whereabouts for years until they can nab them. Other suspects remain where they've always been, never skipping a beat in their public lives; secure in their beliefs that they've covered their tracks until science and persistent detective work prove them wrong -- and occasionally, even a fluke. The Resolved Cold Case forum and trial threads are filled with such true life stories, not to mention the SK forum.

 

[bessie]

BOSTON (AP) — A quarter century after 14-year-old Mary T. Burhoe was stabbed to death and left in the high grass along the Mystic River, a former suspect in the crime is headed to prison. Investigators knew about the blood stain on the girl's jeans back in the 1980s, but they didn't have the technology to connect it to her killer.

It wasn't until 2000 that DNA testing was able to lead them to Patrick John Durham.

[...]
Burhoe had been stabbed more than 100 times. Her body was found in July 1981, about a half-mile from where she had last been seen with Durham and others the night before.

Durham, then 18, had long been a suspect and was originally charged with threatening the girl with a knife that night, but the case against him was dismissed for lack of evidence.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/ap/0206/1808_guilty_slaying_girl.html
==============================

(Here, LE started looking at the DNA in 1995. The case was resolved in 2015.)

[...]
On May 15th, 1987, Janet Robinson was found assaulted, beaten, and strangled to death.

Investigators initially identified Hall as a suspect.

"The original officer, Lieutenant Davis was on the right track," Captain Jim Coe said.

The complicated case eventually led away from Hall and he reportedly moved to Colorado. Then the case went cold.

In 1995, Captain Coe took over the case. With a DNA sample that police called 'the only significant evidence left at scene' Coe began to study statements Hall gave to police in 1987

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11538368
========================

I could list these all day because they give me such satisfaction, but I'll try to exercise restraint. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't point out the disappearance of a 10-year-old Australian girl, Louise Bell, in 1983. She remains missing, but in 2013, the suspect -- a former schoolteacher, mind you -- was finally arrested after a new, low copy DNA process was used to nail him.
==========================

NEW forensic evidence led to Major Crime detectives charging a former schoolteacher in the Louise Bell murder case.

The evidence forms the backbone of the case against former schoolteacher Dieter Pfennig, 65, who was today charged with the murder of the 10-year-old schoolgirl.

In a sensational development in the 30-year old mystery, detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Section descended on Port Lincoln.

Pfennig, who has been a suspect in the Bell abduction for two decades, was taken to the Port Lincoln police station after being arrested and formally interviewed.

[...]
It was the second time his house had been searched by officers investigating the case.

Deputy Commissioner Grant Stevens declined to be drawn on the nature of the new evidence against Pfennig, but said police would allege he abducted Louise from her bedroom sometime after 10.30pm on January 4.

They believe he acted alone and no other suspects are being sought.

"She has not been seen since and unfortunately her remains have not been located,'' Mr Stevens said.

http://m.adelaidenow.com.au/news/so...girl-louise-bell/story-fni6uo1m-1226763196736

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9999128

 

[human]

A ten year old boy named Barway was just found in the river, no doubt murdered by his father. Right in MN,that is why I bring it up.

There was litttle info out there . There were vigils, fund raisers.

Here is one thing LE had that no one knew ( except thhee witness. And there is plenty more LE knew but no one else knew)


Quote Originally Posted by Damarna View Post
Why do you think Barway stated he saw his father? Could it be possible PC left his phone upstairs? Told the child to wait here (near the car) and ran back to get it? I may be missing something.
PC's Jetta was parked in the lot when Barway was dropped off. PC was in the Jetta. 9 minutes later PC drove out of lot and north on hwy whatever. Neighbor saw Barway get into car with PC.

 

[Trino]

Suspects often do remain under scrutiny for 5-10-20-30 years and longer. Some relocate, true, but likewise, some detectives keep tabs on suspects' whereabouts for years until they can nab them. Other suspects remain where they've always been, never skipping a beat in their public lives; secure in their beliefs that they've covered their tracks until science and persistent detective work prove them wrong -- and occasionally, even a fluke. The Resolved Cold Case forum and trial threads are filled with such true life stories, not to mention the SK forum.

One thing posters are forgetting is that DR did not own the property. His parents owned it and, most likely, were active on the farm. In 1989, his parents were in their late 50's, early 60's. It would be difficult to hide anything from them when they returned from their trip.

 

[HEY YOU!]

One thing posters are forgetting is that DR did not own the property. His parents owned it and, most likely, were active on the farm. In 1989, his parents were in their late 50's, early 60's. It would be difficult to hide anything from them when they returned from their trip.

It doesn't matter who owned the property, only that DR was there alone during the time of the abduction. Not hard to hide a body if you had time to move, bury, destroy before they got home.

 

[shergal]

It doesn't matter who owned the property, only that DR was there alone during the time of the abduction. Not hard to hide a body if you had time to move, bury, destroy before they got home.

IMO, DR didn't do the actual abduction, but possibly knows who did or possibly helped someone get away that night. Or maybe he just helped cover for someone later, a friend who was involved. Thus, there would be no need to bury any bodies, but there may possibly be something written, since DR loves to journal everything.

According to DR himself in various taped interviews, he states that his room is a mess, he is a bit of a "packrat" and could well have had something which made LE wonder just how much he knew. (This is not an interview that media "messed with" it is words right out of his own mouth.) This would be enough reason to name him a POI. A POI can be someone who holds a vital piece of information, as well as someone who actually committed a crime. (All JMO)

 

[Cappuccino]

IMO, DR didn't do the actual abduction, but possibly knows who did or possibly helped someone get away that night. Or maybe he just helped cover for someone later, a friend who was involved. Thus, there would be no need to bury any bodies, but there may possibly be something written, since DR loves to journal everything.

According to DR himself in various taped interviews, he states that his room is a mess, he is a bit of a "packrat" and could well have had something which made LE wonder just how much he knew. (This is not an interview that media "messed with" it is words right out of his own mouth.) This would be enough reason to name him a POI. A POI can be someone who holds a vital piece of information, as well as someone who actually committed a crime. (All JMO)

That scenario strikes me as far more believable than DR as the abductor. He was right on the spot after all, that at least we can all agree on. His parents were away, maybe he had a friend over, or even just saw someone he knew do something that he kept quiet about.

And on that note, let's not forget Jared's abductor, of whom we have a description. Is there anyone is DR's circle of friends who would fit it?

 

[Ifollowthis]

Does anyone know if one of the DR family vehicles was not at the farm but was normally stored there and showed up later?? Maybe loaned to someone or being used by another family member??

 

[chaplain1]

That scenario strikes me as far more believable than DR as the abductor. He was right on the spot after all, that at least we can all agree on. His parents were away, maybe he had a friend over, or even just saw someone he knew do something that he kept quiet about.

And on that note, let's not forget Jared's abductor, of whom we have a description. Is there anyone is DR's circle of friends who would fit it?

Jared seems to be sold on DAH.

 

[thenotebook]

Hollinger. We need to sleuth Hollinger. He is a dead ringer for the sketch in Jared's case.

 

[SpringThyme]

Just read the book. I thought it was informative and objective. I finally figured out who Hollinger is. He does look like the sketch from Jared's case. If you watch a video of him, he has a commanding voice.

 

[cGorg]

...and why would he risk driving all the way up the driveway again?

Unless he knew the place...which I doubt