Ep. 058 | The Murder of Jacob Wetterling

Jacob Erwin Wetterling was an 11‑year‑old boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota who was kidnapped at gunpoint on October 22, 1989, while riding his bicycle home with his brother and a friend. His disappearance touched the nation and sparked frantic searches, media coverage, and advocacy from his parents, Jerry and Patty Wetterling, who went on to found the Jacob Wetterling Foundation and help pass the federal. For nearly 27 years, the case remained unsolved until 2016, when Danny Heinrich confessed to abducting, sexually assaulting, and murdering Jacob, finally leading authorities to his remains buried near Paynesville, Minnesota. Jacob’s tragic story profoundly impacted child safety laws in the U.S., and continues to remind communities of both the dangers children face and the enduring power of hope and advocacy.

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