(KNSI) – Residents are asked to leave a porch light on tonight in memory of Jacob Wetterling and all the children who never made it home. Jacob was kidnapped on October 22nd, 1989, while riding his bike home after dropping off a movie at Tom Thumb with his younger brother and a friend. He never made it home.
His mother, Patty Wetterling, sent a message saying, “Everyone wants to know what they can do to help us. Say a prayer-light a candle. Be with friends. Play with your children. Giggle. Hold Hands. Eat ice cream.
Create joy. Help your neighbor. That is what will bring me comfort today.”
Jacob’s disappearance was a mystery for 27-years until September of 2016, when Jacob’s remains were found after the confessed kidnapper and killer brought police to the place where he buried the 11-year-old.
The kidnapping is one of the most high-profile cases in Minnesota’s history. The confessed killer, Danny Heinrich, buried Jacob near Paynesville, about 30 miles from the kidnapping.
Heinrich testified that he kidnapped and handcuffed Jacob, drove him to a gravel pit near, molested him and killed him. Heinrich said he was able to avoid police that night by listening to a police scanner. He said that he came back to the site a year later and moved the body after noticing Jacob’s jacket had become exposed.
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