Update..Person of Interest, Jacob Wetterling case

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Federal authorities in Minnesota are investigating a man in the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling, whose mother became a national advocate for the cause of missing children after his abduction in 1989.

Authorities say 52 year old  Daniel James Heinrich, of Annandale, was identified after being the subject of a child pornography investigation.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Thursday a search warrant had been executed seeking evidence in a 1989 kidnapping near Cold Spring and Wetterling’s disappearance near St. Joseph.

Heinrich has not been charged in either of those cases but does face charges from a long-term child exploitation investigation.

Heinrich has denied involvement in the disappearance of Wetterling, who was 11 years old at the time.

When asked if Heinrich was a suspect in the Wetterling case Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said “we refer to him as a person of interest.”

Authorities said most of the child pornography involved young boys. Also found were video tapes Heinrich apparently shot of young boys in public.

Heinrich made an initial court appearance on the pornograpy charges Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

An application for a search warrant in that case said authorities wanted to search for items including human remains, a red T-shirt with the name Wetterling on the back and a red hockey team jacket with the name Jacob stitched on the front.

The search was carried out July 28.

Wetterling was 11 when he was abducted Oct. 22, 1989, near his home in the central Minnesota community of St. Joseph.

Patty and Jerry Wetterling issued a statement urging anyone who knows anything about Heinrich and his possible ties to the St. Joseph area in 1989 to call authorities.

The statement said,    “The search for Jacob is an ongoing investigation and we will watch and learn like everyone else. Right now we know what is being reported. We know what you all know.”
The Wetterlings also thanked everyone involved in the investigation so far.

“We are so grateful for the prayers, the support and the hope shared in our search for Jacob and the search for answers.”