ABC 20/20 “Snatched” October 13 2023 Recap & Preview
The upcoming episode of “20/20” titled “Snatched” delves into the infamous 1989 kidnapping case of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling in Minnesota. Jacob was abducted while riding his bike with his brother and a friend near his home. The masked, armed kidnapper took him, leaving a community in shock and reshaping how parents approached child safety.
This “20/20” episode, hosted by co-anchor Deborah Roberts, provides an in-depth look at the case, shedding light on previously undisclosed details of the investigation. It also features exclusive interviews with key figures, including Jacob’s parents, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, friends who were present during the kidnapping, and blogger Joy Baker. Baker’s work with the Wetterling family played a crucial role in pushing for a fresh review of the case.
The program also includes insights from investigators and prosecutors who were dedicated to finding Jacob and offering answers to his family. It explores the impact of Jacob’s abduction on the local community and the broader issue of child safety. Additionally, viewers will learn about Patty Wetterling’s ongoing commitment to the cause of missing children and her unwavering quest to find her son, as detailed in her book, “Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope.”
“Snatched” airs on Friday, October 13, from 9:01 to 11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC and will be available for streaming on Hulu the next day.
What Happened to Jacob Wetterling & Danny Heinrich?
Jacob Erwin Wetterling was an 11-year-old American boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota, who was kidnapped from his hometown on October 22, 1989. His abduction remained a mystery for nearly 27 years.
On September 1, 2016, human bones were recovered from a pasture near Paynesville, about 30 miles from where Jacob was abducted. On September 3, Jacob’s family confirmed that the bones belonged to him. This discovery was made possible due to information provided by Danny Heinrich, a person of interest in the case, who had also been linked to the abduction and sexual assault of another boy, Jared Scheierl.
On the evening of October 22, 1989, Jacob, along with his younger brother Trevor and a friend, Aaron Larson, was biking home from a convenience store. A masked man named Danny Heinrich, armed with an unloaded revolver, confronted the boys. He ordered them to throw their bikes into a ditch and lie on the ground, inquiring about their ages. Jacob’s brother was told to run into the woods and not look back, or he would be shot. Heinrich then demanded to see the faces of the remaining boys, chose Jacob, and instructed Aaron to run away.
Nine months before Jacob’s abduction, on January 13, 1989, Heinrich had kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and threatened 12-year-old Jared Scheierl, exhibiting a similar modus operandi. This incident occurred not far from the location where Jacob and his friends were abducted.
In May 2014, investigators began revisiting a series of child molestations and attempted molestations that had occurred in the Paynesville area in the years leading up to Jacob’s abduction. This led them to believe that the same perpetrator might be connected to both cases.
In October 2015, Danny James Heinrich was publicly named as a person of interest in Jacob Wetterling’s disappearance. While he had been questioned shortly after the abduction and had provided a DNA sample, he was not charged at the time. However, in 2015, Heinrich’s DNA was matched to evidence from Jared Scheierl’s case. Although the statute of limitations had expired for that case, child pornography was discovered in Heinrich’s home during a search, leading to his arrest on October 28, 2015.
Heinrich agreed to cooperate with authorities as part of a plea bargain. On September 1, 2016, he led investigators to a burial site where Jacob’s remains and clothing were recovered. Heinrich admitted to kidnapping, molesting, and murdering Jacob, as well as kidnapping and sexually assaulting Jared Scheierl. In exchange for his plea and cooperation, he was sentenced to the maximum prison term of 20 years for child pornography.
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation was established by Jacob’s parents, Jerry and Patty Wetterling, four months after his abduction. It advocates for children’s safety and played a pivotal role in the creation of the Jacob Wetterling Act, the first law to institute a state sex-offender registry. The foundation later became the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, continuing its mission to educate the public about child abduction and safety. A bridge crossing the Mississippi River near St. Cloud was named in Jacob’s honor.
