MN - Jacob Wetterling, 11, St. Joseph, 22 Oct 1989 - #3

[human]

Minnesota passed a law in 2000 that mde clergy mandated reporters. Until that time, they were not required to report abuse of any kind.

 

[margaret_diane]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/mother-jacob-wetterling-praying/story?id=11065019

"Ernie Allen, head of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, confirmed that the Stearns County Sheriff's office, the FBI, and members of his organization's 'Team Adam' were all at the farm. Team Adam is made up of retired law enforcement officials who specialize in finding missing children."

Was anyone else aware that ANYONE other that ACTIVE (non-retired) members of LE were involved in the investigation of the DR Farm?????? I only just discovered this article this evening and was surprised! Sure, retired LE know what they're doing, and probably have some experience / expertise to offer -- but what about protecting the confidentiality of the warrant? Or of the property owners for that matter? WHY were they called in / or did they just volunteer and get accepted to participate?? This raises a LOT of questions for me about WHAT they were looking for, what they found, how they found it...

 

[shergal]

Hmm.. interesting.. "This is a continuation of an investigative angle that law enforcement has been pursuing for some time," Allen told ABCNews.com.

I wonder if this was the dad or DR who answered the phone??

A man who answered a cell phone registered to the property refused to confirm his identity and refused to answer any questions about the renewed activity on the farm.

"I'm not answering any stupid questions," the man told ABCNews.com. "We've been questioned and harassed for 21 years. We're done."
____________

Oh well, the Wetterlings haven't had their son for 20 years, so somehow I can't work up a lot of sympathy for the POI.

 

[human]

since no one knew about them generally speaking, I wonder how they can say that they have been harassed?

 

[concentric]

Oh well, the Wetterlings haven't had their son for 20 years, so somehow I can't work up a lot of sympathy for the POI.

------------------
How many of us have wondered what happened to Jacob, during and after the abduction? It's so horrible to contemplate that my mind tries to block it out, because I can't deal with it. I know many of you feel that same way.

If, we as people in the general public feel this way, how much more so the family and friends of Jacob?

 

[concentric]

Adding on to my previous post: If, we as people in the general public feel this way, how much more so the family and friends of Jacob? How much more so, Jared? And how much more so, Jacob?

 

[shergal]

I looked up that "Team Adam" that was mentioned in Margaret's article above. They sound very impressive and I'm glad they were called in to help in the search at the farm.
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ServiceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=308

 

[margaret_diane]

Years ago Patty Wetterling wrote a letter to the media (to her son's abductor). In researching today, I found a copy, and am reposting here because I think it brings back a lot of emotion to the case, when so often, we become immune to it all, and are apt to forget that these are real people, with real families, who's pain is still... very real.

PATTY'S LETTER TO THE MEDIA (I am unclear on the date which this was published on).
I often wonder does October 22nd mean anything to you? Do you remember the young boy you took from us? Do you still have him with you? He's an adult now, but just as loved and still dearly missed. Do you know the person you took?

Jacob was born February 17, 1978. He has his Grandpa's middle name. He loved sports and was incredibly competitive, especially with his younger brother, Trevor. They played, and they'd fight and then they'd fall asleep, each with one arm wrapped around the other. He fished with his Dad, and he had lots of friends. He was most known for his sense of fairness. Even if it had nothing to do with him - it always bothered him when things weren't fair.

He tried hard at whatever he did. He was goalie for his hockey team. I remember asking him did it ever bother him when somebody scored on him? He said not really. If I stopped it, it was great save. If it went in, it was a great shot

You took away a wonderful person. Someone who probably would have stood up for you if things weren't fair. Did no one do nice things for you?

I have found some comfort picturing you not as a mean old, ugly, bad guy, but at one time, you were an eleven year old boy. Someone's son...possibly someone's brother needing and hopefully sharing the love an 11 year old boy deserves. If this love wasn't shared in your family, I'm sorry. Every child is entitled to the love and caring that family and friends provide.

If you still have Jacob, I wish for something good to happen to you, like catching a really big fish. Hopefully then, you will treat him well. I hope you have peaceful moments where you can walk in the woods or on a beach, content, not miserable and vindictive.

I have a hard time getting through anniversary dates. Still not knowing where Jacob is, I continue to talk to him. Birthdays, holidays, but especially now. Where are you Jacob? What next? I talk to God, praying for Jacob, and even struggling with trying to pray for you. -- If only I could talk to you.

I'm not sure what I would say, although after so much time, surprisingly, I don't hate you. I know nothing about you. I wonder, were you ever like Jacob? Did you also love peanut butter? Did you sneeze when you looked at the sun? Did you play jokes on April Fools Day? Jacob is not just a kid on a poster. His mom and dad, Amy, Carmen and Trevor miss him daily. He has dreams and hopes and potential.

I still have positive dreams. For my own survival, I have had to let go of a lot of anger or I would be swallowed up in it. But the questions persist. I pray that God will smile down on us all this year and bring us some peace. All I'm asking for is your response; a call to allow me and all the people whose lives Jacob touched to find peace and a sense of calm that disappeared that night on October 22, 1989. The peace that can't return until the questions surrounding Jacob's disappearance are answered. You have held the answers for so long. You also hold the pain. Please talk to me.

Patty Wetterling
Jacob's mom

 

[concentric]

I looked up that "Team Adam" that was mentioned in Margaret's article above. They sound very impressive and I'm glad they were called in to help in the search at the farm.
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ServiceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=308

That's great to know, thank you. Years ago I was researching the disappearance of Dru Sjodin, this on another crime-sleuthing site. I remember saying that what we needed was a rapid response team with a "toolbox" of various skills, equipment etc. to respond to abductions, I even had an acronym. I remember one individual who posted, "I like that idea--a toolbox." That word is bandied about quite a lot these days; however, I like to think that some of our postings back then were recognized, thought about and put to good use. And, I truly think we did some good, even those of us who were merely armchair researchers.

 

[human]

October 22 is coming up. I hope that this is resolved before then.

That letter from Patty is gut wrenching. What a great person Patty is.

 

[margaret_diane]

In researching further yesterday, I learned that Patty W. once had a dream about Jacob, which she described as very vivid. Although I can't recall all the details of her dream, she had mentioned that she was beckoned into a private room with Jacob, and passed by a man on a payphone whom she somehow knew was his abductor. She asked to see his face (Jacob's, I think), and then she woke up before seeing it. She said it woke her up, and her bedside alarm clock read 3:11am.

Interestingly, the following morning, she was notified that at precisely 3:11am someone contacted (I believe it was the Missing Children's National Centre)... and said (left message saying?)... something to the effect of, "Its jacob wetterling, I just wanted to let you know I'm still alive".

I don't know what became of that call - does anyone happen to know if they ever found out who made that call or where it was placed from???

If I find the article regarding this matter, I'll come back and add a link.

 

[Trino]

In researching further yesterday, I learned that Patty W. once had a dream about Jacob, which she described as very vivid. Although I can't recall all the details of her dream, she had mentioned that she was beckoned into a private room with Jacob, and passed by a man on a payphone whom she somehow knew was his abductor. She asked to see his face (Jacob's, I think), and then she woke up before seeing it. She said it woke her up, and her bedside alarm clock read 3:11am.

Interestingly, the following morning, she was notified that at precisely 3:11am someone contacted (I believe it was the Missing Children's National Centre)... and said (left message saying?)... something to the effect of, "Its jacob wetterling, I just wanted to let you know I'm still alive".

I don't know what became of that call - does anyone happen to know if they ever found out who made that call or where it was placed from???

If I find the article regarding this matter, I'll come back and add a link.

Here's the story and the reference:

"Several years ago, she popped awake from a chilling dream at exactly 3:11 a.m., according to their bedside clock. In the dream, Patty was at a convention at a hotel. Suddenly Jacob walked up - a mature, handsome young man. "I don't remember the conversation, but I was to follow him into a private room so we could talk," Patty says. "We walked past a stranger who was talking on a pay phone, and somehow I knew that this man was Jacob's abductor. 'Turn around,' I said to him. I wanted to see his face." That's when Patty woke up - at 3:11 a.m.

The next day, Patty had lunch with Robert Lee, the executive director of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, which she and Jerry created in 1990, to help families of missing children. "Patty casually told me about the dream," says Lee. "She's never put much stock in things like that, but this dream had been unusually vivid. And Patty mentioned that she had woken up at 3:11 in the morning." After lunch, the two went to the foundation office and were greeted by Alma Hansen, who is on the staff. "We had an unusual call on the answering machine last night," Alma said. She then played the message, in which a voice whispered: "This is Jacob Wetterling. I just want you to know I'm still alive." The call, traced to New York, had come in at 3:11 a.m."

http://missing87975.yuku.com/topic/2457

So, if the call was traced, then what?

 

[shergal]

Here's the story and the reference:

"We had an unusual call on the answering machine last night," Alma said. She then played the message, in which a voice whispered: "This is Jacob Wetterling. I just want you to know I'm still alive." The call, traced to New York, had come in at 3:11 a.m."

http://missing87975.yuku.com/topic/2457

So, if the call was traced, then what?

(Respectfully snipped for space.)

That was a great link, Trino, very thorough accounts of what happened - thank you!

They did mention further down on that link that:
"The family has endured daily drives past the spot where Jacob was snatched and years of prank calls like the answering machine message with a young man's voice whispering, "This is Jacob Wetterling and I want you to know I'm still alive."
But the Wetterlings refuse to change their phone number or move from the four-bedroom home that Jacob biked away from 13 years ago."

So maybe they determined it was a prank call? Still what a creepy coincidence that Patty would dream about that exact time.

 

[Trino]

(Respectfully snipped for space.)

That was a great link, Trino, very thorough accounts of what happened - thank you!

They did mention further down on that link that:
"The family has endured daily drives past the spot where Jacob was snatched and years of prank calls like the answering machine message with a young man's voice whispering, "This is Jacob Wetterling and I want you to know I'm still alive."
But the Wetterlings refuse to change their phone number or move from the four-bedroom home that Jacob biked away from 13 years ago."

So maybe they determined it was a prank call? Still what a creepy coincidence that Patty would dream about that exact time.

I, too, assume it was a prank call, but who was the creep that made it and why? Still, as you've stated, it was certainly a strange coincidence.

 

[margaret_diane]

(Respectfully snipped for space.)

That was a great link, Trino, very thorough accounts of what happened - thank you!

They did mention further down on that link that:
"The family has endured daily drives past the spot where Jacob was snatched and years of prank calls like the answering machine message with a young man's voice whispering, "This is Jacob Wetterling and I want you to know I'm still alive."
But the Wetterlings refuse to change their phone number or move from the four-bedroom home that Jacob biked away from 13 years ago."

So maybe they determined it was a prank call? Still what a creepy coincidence that Patty would dream about that exact time.

I'm aware that the family has gotten prank calls at the house, however, the call referred to in the article seems to indicate the message left at 3:11am was received at the JWRF -- not at the house. With that in mind, I'm still wondering where the call traced to, and specifically to whom? Was it ever specifically prooven to be a prank call??

 

[Lotus]

In the resent article about the sheriff who works the case it says that the new investigation was based on a tip, I wonder who it was? I wonder if it was a relative or a friend of DR who perhaps have had suspicions all along but have kept it to themselves for all these years out of denial perhaps?
And I'm curious about the items they took from the house. I wonder what type of objects would be considered suspicious enough to be investigated but at the same time not obvious enough to be solid evidence for an immediate arrest?
I hope the answers come soon.

 

[kemo]

In the resent article about the sheriff who works the case it says that the new investigation was based on a tip, I wonder who it was? I wonder if it was a relative or a friend of DR who perhaps have had suspicions all along but have kept it to themselves for all these years out of denial perhaps?
And I'm curious about the items they took from the house. I wonder what type of objects would be considered suspicious enough to be investigated but at the same time not obvious enough to be solid evidence for an immediate arrest?
I hope the answers come soon.

I don't recall him saying anything about a "tip" unless you are refering to the baseball analogy: "We either hit a home run or we strike out or it's just a foul tip type of thing,". At the time he spoke, it dosen't sound like they had anything. Its been going on 3 months.

 

[Trino]

In the resent article about the sheriff who works the case it says that the new investigation was based on a tip, I wonder who it was? I wonder if it was a relative or a friend of DR who perhaps have had suspicions all along but have kept it to themselves for all these years out of denial perhaps?
And I'm curious about the items they took from the house. I wonder what type of objects would be considered suspicious enough to be investigated but at the same time not obvious enough to be solid evidence for an immediate arrest?
I hope the answers come soon.

I don't believe the house was searched, only the dirt on the property.

 

[margaret_diane]

I don't believe the house was searched, only the dirt on the property.

I believe a barn *may* have been searched, and some items of interest *may* have been removed from there -- however, don't quote me on this. My memory is pretty good, but I cannot for the life of me recall where I read that (or I'd cite a reference!). As for what *may* have been taken off the property besides dirt / ash, well I don't know -- however, lets imagine we were investigators checking a barn, or other similar structure. What do you imagine might be useful to take to check for forensic evidence?

I would take any furniture / appliance I could get my hands on! Why? Because I know that furniture, wood, fabric... etc can all hold microscopic bits of dna for a seemingly endless amount of time!!

I wonder when results from the testing will be made available??

 

[Trino]

I don't think anything was taken other than loads of dirt. There are several references like this.

http://wcco.com/crime/wetterling.search.dirt.2.1825852.html

This is the third search of the property, although I don't know if the other two searches included buildings.