Authorities in central Minnesota say the remains of Jacob Wetterling have been found.
Wetterling, who lived in rural St. Joseph, his brother and a friend were coming home from a convenience store on bikes and a scooter when a man wearing a stocking mask and holding a gun approached.
Officials have confirmed the remains of Jacob Wetterling have been found, almost 27 years after his disappearance.
Daniel Heinrich has been held for unrelated child pornography charges but was named a person of interest last October in regards to Jacob's disappearance in St. Joseph back in 1989. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a statement that "Jacob Wetterling's remains have been located" and that the Ramsey County medical examiner and a forensic odontologist identified them Saturday.
Law enforcement sources say last week, Heinrich told the Federal Bureau of Investigation where Wetterling's remains were located as part of an ongoing plea agreement. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were found. The masked assailant let his friends go unharmed, provided they flee; the 11-year-old Wetterling, however, the assailant held onto. They say authorities are reviewing new evidence in the case and expect to provide more information early next week.
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Investigators first questioned Heinrich shortly after Jacob's abduction and he has been tied to the kidnapping and sexual assault of another Stearns County boy from the same time period.
Investigators interviewed Heinrich about Jacob's disappearance, according to Andrew M. Luger, the US attorney for Minnesota.
The Wetterling family started the resource center in Jacob's honor to help prevent the exploitation of other children; Jacob's 1989 abduction led to the passing of a 1994 law that requires states to establish sex offender registries. No charges can be filed in that case, however, as the statute of limitations has passed.
Patty Wetterling released a statement to the media late Monday morning through Alison Feigh, program manager for the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center.
"I don't know that I ever thought I'd see that in the headlines", he said.
