Jacob Wetterling

[bobberboy]

The remains of 11 year old Jacob Wetterling were identified over the weekend ending a 27 year vigil by his family and the central MN community where Jacob lived. Those not from the upper midwest may not be familiar with the case but it led to national mandatory registration of sex offenders. Jacob was abducted in 1989 and had been missing since. Details are available here:

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/09/04/minnesotans-meet-wetterling-news-with-relief-grief

It's a very sad ending to nearly three decades of hope by the family and community that Jacob might be found alive someday. It's also a reminder of the heartbreaking disappearances of kids and others, including MIA's, that families everywhere have to cope with. And a reminder to keep your people safe...

 

[Johnny]

BB - I watch a LOT of the Cold Case shows on TV
and it is with mixed emotions when the remains of
someone's loved one turns up like this . . . .

I saw this one on the National News this weekend. very sad.

 

[bobby_bates]

This story was in the "Stars and Stripes" newspaper over here in Afghanistan. It is a tragic story of loss, but as a parent, it has to provide some closure to know the final outcome. May young Jacob rest in peace...

 

[bobberboy]

It's a terrible story. After nearly 27 years the parents ended up trading justice for the return of their son's remains. The perpetrator led authorities to Jacob's grave last week after a plea deal in which he will serve 20 years for a separate offense. He will not be charged and tried for the murder of Jacob. I agree that it will bring an end to a very long ordeal and I would have done as Jacob's parents chose to do. It's sickening though to realize that the murderer was still in control of the outcome at the end as he was the only one who knew the location of the remains. He held the power of that information to determine the outcome of the case and traded it to save his worthless hide from a life sentence. He pled guilty to a federal count of child pornography and will serve his time in a federal prison. His time there will be pretty wretched as I believe that child abusers are held in particular contempt by their fellow prisoners. It may turn out to be a "goes around - comes around" deal for him. He was 26 at the time he committed the crime and will be 73 when he's served his time. The reporting I've heard suggests he'll go from prison to some kind of commitment program. Hopefully he'll never be at large again. I guess my attitude is not a very forgiving one but I hope there is a very deep, very special hole in hell for the likes of this guy. Violence against children in my book merits nothing less.