{"id":12841,"date":"2026-08-04T10:53:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T10:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=12841"},"modified":"2026-08-04T10:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T10:53:52","slug":"timeline-27-years-of-agony-in-jacob-wetterling-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/?p=12841","title":{"rendered":"Timeline: 27 years of agony in Jacob Wetterling case"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12386\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegoldentime.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/photo_2026-08-03_14-18-08-820x1024.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegoldentime.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/photo_2026-08-03_14-18-08-820x1024.jpg 820w, https:\/\/www.thegoldentime.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/photo_2026-08-03_14-18-08-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.thegoldentime.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/photo_2026-08-03_14-18-08-768x959.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thegoldentime.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/photo_2026-08-03_14-18-08.jpg 1080w\" alt=\"\" width=\"820\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Jacob Wetterling was missing for 27 years before authorities found his remains and a man confessed to the kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing the boy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>Here\u2019s a snapshot of what happened since Jacob was taken.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_1989:_the_abduction\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1989: The abduction<\/h3>\n<p>Danny Heinrich confronts 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling, his brother and a friend while they\u2019re out renting a movie on Oct. 22, 1989, in St. Joseph, Minn. Heinrich \u2014 wearing a mask and carrying a gun \u2014 takes Jacob.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>Heinrich sexually abuses Jacob and shoots him twice, according to court testimony on Sept. 6, 2016.<\/p>\n<p>He digs Jacob\u2019s grave with a Bobcat and doesn\u2019t bury the boy\u2019s shoes, according to the testimony.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>Hundreds of Minnesota National Guard members, law enforcement officials and volunteers search for Jacob in the days after his disappearance.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_1994:_federal_legislation_to_register_sex_offenders\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1994: Federal legislation to register sex offenders<\/h3>\n<p>Congress passes a crime bill that includes the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gpo.gov\/fdsys\/pkg\/BILLS-103hr3355enr\/pdf\/BILLS-103hr3355enr.pdf\">Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sex Offender Registration Act<\/a>, which required states to register and track sex offenders.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_2009:_two_decades_missing\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2009: Two decades missing<\/h3>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>The 20th anniversary of Jacob\u2019s disappearance attracts renewed attention to his case. Investigators had looked into tens of thousands of tips since 1989, but made little progress.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_2010:_no_new_evidence_after_stearns_county_farm_search\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2010: No new evidence after Stearns County farm search<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.apmcdn.org\/93095beec2ca6ec95b972586a9b4097371b44261\/uncropped\/2c3e74-20100701-wetterlingsitesearch.jpg\" alt=\"Digging near Wetterling site\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Investigators use a tractor-mounted backhoe to dig just southeast of the Rassier farm in St. Joseph on July 1, 2010.Kimm Anderson | St. Cloud Times via AP file<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Authorities converge on a Stearns County farm over the summer but come back with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2010\/07\/01\/wetterling-site-search-complete\">no new evidence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_may_2014:_more_potential_links_\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 2014: More potential links<\/h3>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>Stearns County investigators look at whether\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2014\/05\/14\/investigators-look-at-possible-link-in-25yearold-case-\">several assaults against teenage boys<\/a>\u00a0in another town in the years before Jacob\u2019s disappearance are connected to the case.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_fall_2015:_person_of_interest_charged\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fall 2015: Person of interest charged<\/h3>\n<p>Federal investigators\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2015\/10\/29\/wetterling-case\">arrest Danny Heinrich<\/a>\u00a0on child pornography charges, and name him a \u201cperson of interest\u201d in the Wetterling case, declining to offer many details.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img.apmcdn.org\/95edc00289bf868c565848c650eafac689677b64\/uncropped\/6e3abd-20151104-heinrich-horizontal.jpg\" alt=\"Danny Heinrich\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This photo released Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015 by the Sherburne County Sheriff\u2019s Office, shows Daniel Heinrich, who was arrested on federal charges stemming from a long-term child exploitation investigation.Sherburne County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>Jared Scheierl, who was sexually assaulted months before Jacob was taken, describes Heinrich\u2019s arrest as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2016\/09\/06\/danny-heinrich-wetterling-case-court-appearance\">surreal<\/a>.\u201d A man had sexually assaulted Scheierl and threatened to kill him, later letting him go. Authorities say they found Heinrich\u2019s DNA on Scheierl\u2019s sweatshirt.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h3_2016:_jacobs_remains_found,_heinrich_confesses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2016: Jacob\u2019s remains found, Heinrich confesses<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"h4_\u2022_april:_heinrichs_lawyers_allege_illegal_search\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2022 April: Heinrich\u2019s lawyers allege illegal search<\/h4>\n<p>Danny Heinrich\u2019s lawyers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2016\/04\/27\/wetterling-person-of-interest-wants-trial-moved\">say authorities illegally searched<\/a>\u00a0his home while seeking evidence in Jacob\u2019s abduction. They also say they want his trial on pornography charges moved. The case would never go to trial.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"h4_\u2022_june:_lengthy_filing_describes_heinrichs_link_to_case\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2022 June: Lengthy filing describes Heinrich\u2019s link to case<\/h4>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twincities.com\/2016\/06\/02\/jacob-wetterling-danny-heinrich-person-of-interest-detailed\/\">Pioneer Press reports<\/a>\u00a0on June 2 that a new court document details why investigators consider Heinrich a \u201cperson of interest\u201d in Jacob\u2019s abduction.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"h4_\u2022_september:_jacobs_remains_identified;_a_confession_in_court\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2022 September: Jacob\u2019s remains identified; a confession in court<\/h4>\n<p>On Saturday, Sept. 3, Stearns County officials announce that they have found Jacob\u2019s remains, leaving much of central Minnesota in a state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2016\/09\/04\/minnesotans-meet-wetterling-news-with-relief-grief\">sadness and relief<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p>Heinrich confesses to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing Jacob in a plea hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 6. He describes the events in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.mprnews.org\/newscut\/2016\/09\/in-hearing-on-wetterling-crime-a-new-level-of-detail\/\">graphic detail<\/a>. Heinrich also confesses to sexually assaulting Jared Scheierl.<\/p>\n<p>The confessions are part of a plea deal in which Heinrich would not be charged for Jacob\u2019s murder.<\/p>\n<p>Heinrich is expected to be sentenced later this fall to 20 years in prison on federal child pornography charges.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/episode\/2026\/04\/16\/jacob-wetterling-parents-new-documentary\">37 years after son\u2019s killing, Jacob Wetterling\u2019s parents tell their story in new documentary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2019\/01\/09\/judge-says-rasier-attorneys-can-t-question-wetterling-killer\">Judge: Rassier attorneys can\u2019t question Wetterling killer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2018\/11\/29\/danny-heinrich-jacob-wetterling-jared-scheierl-judge\">Court awards $17 million to victim of Jacob Wetterling\u2019s killer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2018\/11\/20\/rassier-lawyers-want-to-talk-to-wetterling-killer-for-lawsuit-stearns-county\">Rassier lawyers want to talk to Wetterling killer for lawsuit against Stearns County<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dear reader,<\/h4>\n<p>When our communities are navigating uncertainty, staying informed matters more than ever.<\/p>\n<p>At MPR News, we\u2019re committed to keeping Minnesotans informed and involved, curious and connected\u2014and\u00a0<em>Minnesota Today<\/em>\u00a0is one way we do that.<\/p>\n<p>Do you want to receive the\u00a0<em>Minnesota Today<\/em>\u00a0newsletter and start your weekday mornings with the latest regional news and headlines from MPR News?<\/p>\n<p>Getting these updates in your inbox helps you stay informed with trusted reporting and thoughtful context from across Minnesota.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jacob Wetterling was missing for 27 years before authorities found his remains and a man confessed to the kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing the boy. Here\u2019s a snapshot of what &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12841"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12842,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12841\/revisions\/12842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}