by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Reactions have been varied to the news that Jacob Wetterling’s remains have finally been found after almost three decades after the then-11-year-old boy was abducted from his hometown of St. Joseph.
Danny Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, was arrested last summer for possessing child pornography. As part of a plea agreement, he reportedly led investigators last week to Paynesville where they found Jacob’s remains.
Heinrich confessed to kidnapping and fatally shooting Wetterling as he pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in a federal court in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
Mayor Rick Schultz issued a statement that expresses eloquently the thoughts, emotions and hopes of not just St. Joseph residents but people throughout the Central Minnesota area who have never forgotten the tragedy of Jacob and his family.
The following is Schultz’s announcement:
“Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 marked an end of a (nearly) 27-year search for hope and truth.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wetterlings. These past 27 years, the Wetterlings have spent countless moments lost in the void of a missing son, the absence of truth, with little to believe in but their faith, family, friends and community.
“I can think of no more devastating loss than that of a child. Children are not supposed to die. Parents expect to see their children grow and mature. As a community, it’s time to allow the Wetterlings time to grieve and heal. While we can’t take away their pain, we can provide support.
“While the experience of grief is profoundly personal, the bravery of the Wetterlings, who shared with us their hope, desires and emotions for the past 27 years, was an inspiration to all. The Wetterlings allowed the community to be part of their family. In doing so, they enlightened the nation to understand their battle and through their perseverance, they and their foundation (the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center) are a beacon for all missing children.
“I have gained a profound respect for Patty and Jerry Wetterling, for the emotional struggles they weathered at each turn of the investigation throughout these many years. Yet, their resilience and determination in giving attention to combat heinous acts, such as this, while they searched for answers, is to be admired.
“A friend of mine told me the most powerful one-line prayer he has ever heard is, ‘Let me not die while I am still alive.’ I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can give in to the void, the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs, constricts your ability to think or even breathe. Or you can try to find meaning. We pray the Wetterlings do find that meaning and know the community extends any support they need.”
