Man admits abducting, killing 11-year-old Minnesota boy nearly 27 years ago

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Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Officials: Remains found are those of boy kidnapped in 1989
A 2009 file photo of Patty and Jerry Wetterling with a photo of their son Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted in October 1989 in St. Joseph, Minn.
AP Photo/Craig Lassig, File-AP

A Minnesota man has confessed to kidnapping and killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling nearly 27 years ago.



Danny Heinrich made the admission Tuesday as he pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in federal court in Minneapolis.



Danny Heinrich, of Minnesota


Heinrich led authorities to Jacob's remains last week, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case.



He admitted abducting Jacob near the boy's home in the central Minnesota community of St. Joseph on Oct. 22, 1989.



Authorities named Heinrich as a person of interest last October when they announced the child pornography charges.



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9:45 a.m.



A Minnesota man who led authorities to the remains of an 11-year-old boy who was abducted in 1989 is expected to appear in federal court in a child pornography case.



Danny Heinrich's status conference is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.



Last year, authorities named Heinrich as a person of interest in the abduction of Jacob Wetterling, who was snatched from a rural Minnesota road on Oct. 22, 1989.



Heinrich was never charged in that case. But he led authorities to Jacob's remains last week, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case.



The Stearns County Sheriff's Office said Jacob's remains were identified Saturday. Authorities expect to provide more details this week.

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