| 5/6/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2041 |
| |
(Cont’d: Sheriff’s appeal) > The sheriff says he believes investigators may be closer now than ever to solving the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping. They all agree that it's the coming together of everybody that can make the difference. Here's where you come in. The sheriff is looking for men today who would have been between the ages of 10 and 15 in the late '80s and early '90s. He's specifically looking for boys *from the areas around* St. Joseph and Cold Spring who were approached in a sexual manner by an adult man and never reported that to police. "They might have a small piece to the puzzle that would go a long way in helping us out," [Sheriff] Sanner said. "It might not be any information we can do anything with — or relevant to our case — but let *us* make that decision. The sheriff says *now* is the time. If you have any information, call the Stearns County Sheriff's Department at (320) 251-4240. NOTE: This is also the number to call for information or concerns regarding Josh. |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2040 |
| |
http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=63458 <<< Web link to synopsis of tonight’s KARE-11 News Extra concerning a possible connection between Jacob Wetterling’s abduction and other crimes in the area involving male youths. "We are more convinced that this occurred by somebody local, somebody on foot. We are more convinced of that now than we ever have been," [Sheriff] Sanner said. ... The local focus is a dramatic shift. ... "They went door to door and they asked people 'did you notice anything unusual that night?'" [Patty Wetterling] said. "What they're asking now ... is for people to talk about the usual. Who was *usually* around? Who was usually there on Sunday night? We're asking for somebody who was there — not the unusual. The usual." ... [Said Jared, who was 'violently sexually assaulted' in Cold Spring 9 months prior to Jacob’s abduction:] "Let's hear about ... any other similar cases out there that we can possibly connect to that case." (Cont’d: Sheriff’s appeal) |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2039 |
| |
The reality is, no matter whether Josh had one beer or several...if he was lured by someone he knew...he was caught by surprise |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Liz |
Message #2038 |
| |
Ok people. If you like to think that I am in denial as well, so be it. However, as Nick and Katie have said, placing blame on Josh for drinking and his friends for not "watching" him is incredbly counterproductive. Yes, maybe if Josh hadn't been alone that nght, nothing would've happened, but focusing on the "what ifs" will not help find him. |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Steve |
Message #2036 |
| |
Nate my friend you are in major DENIAL |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Nick |
Message #2035 |
| |
Look, folks, as many of us have noted on multiple occassions, blaming people like Josh and his friends is 1) mean, 2) wrong, and 3) counter-productive. It seems very unlikely, given the evidence (especially after yet another on-campus search) that Josh is on the SJU campus. Of course, many of us have believed this for a long time, but the inability to find Josh on campus strengthens this possibility as more and more time passes. So I ask you to please help us, by concentrating on the issues instead of trying to blame people when we simply do not know what happened. |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
CSB student |
Message #2034 |
| |
I agree with the post about alcohol--Josh would probably not be missing if alcohol use wasn't so heavy on campus--also any more info on the "suspicious" English professor? |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
anonymous |
Message #2033 |
| |
I'm not an expert but it is concerning that so many college students who have disappeared recently were drinking. It seems the responsible parties in THIS case are 1) Josh 2) his peers with him that night 3)The university for not cracking down on underage drinking |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2032 |
| |
Do you think the sheriff's dept. still believes Josh accidentally drowned, or "sunk into the muck" on the campus grounds? It has sounded to me all along like they haven't taken other possibilities (abduction) very seriously |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2031 |
| |
It's odd to me -- on the one hand, the Stearns Cnty Sheriff is saying they have no leads in this case...yet on the other hand, they have stated in the past that they cannot release information they have because it might "compromise on ongoing investigation." How can the authorities expect help from the public if they aren't willing to offer any information at all? I believe the Guimond's aren't given much in the way of information either. It all just seems so strange to me...almost as though something is being hidden...any thoughts? Thanks |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Anonymous |
Message #2030 |
| |
Josh did have a computer and I believe it was taken into evidence right away. As for the picture, I've asked around, but no one knows what its significance is. If anyone knows, please share. |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2029 |
| |
"It's like an elephant in the room." Mark, I know what you mean ... it's hard to know how to help if you don't know what the significance of certain things are ... like that picture |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Mark |
Message #2028 |
| |
A couple questions for those who knew Josh... Did Josh have a computer? Did he spent alot of time on the computer? If he owned one, was it taken into evidence? And I know I've wondered about this before, but what significance is the photo on the front page? (ID This Photo) It's like an elephant in the room. |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2026 |
| |
Anonymous ... it might be difficult to investigate the prof you have mentioned if he is out of the country ... which I believe a poster mentioned he was a while back. I would like to believe that he has been or is being checked out. We won't state any names here, because as Liz pointed out, there is a warning by the webmaster not to do that. I don't believe in tamping down freedom of speech, and I don't believe intimidating people from speaking out is productive either. But as someone mentioned, I've no doubt SJU monitors this site. So we have to be prudent in our communication. I am grateful for your willingness to speak out ... I think some people have been fearful of speaking up, and feel threatened. But those of us who care about truth and justice are behind you 100%, we got your back |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2025 |
| |
I want to thank everyone here who has been openly sharing their thoughts and ideas. I believe it is only through honesty and an open dialogue that we will ever get to the bottom of what happened to Joshua |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
.. |
Message #2024 |
| |
Aubs, thank you. Everything you say makes sense. It seems like a process of elimination then. Who were the people Josh was most likely to interact with on a regular basis. Then, within that group, are there any that ever demonstrated "questionable" behavior that would warrant suspicion. Of course, there is always the possibility that it could have been someone Josh did not personally know, but who somehow had seen him. I feel Josh was targeted -- someone was waiting for the opportunity catch him alone -- maybe not Josh per se, but catch a young male alone on the campus. |
| |
|
|
| 5/6/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2023 |
| |
http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=63390 <<< Web link to a synopsis of Wednesday night’s KARE-11 News Extra concerning a possible connection between Jacob Wetterling’s abduction and the abduction and physical, verbal, and sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy 9 months earlier in Cold Spring. The second part of the report will air Thursday night, May 6, on the news at 10. In the preview, KARE-11 quotes Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner as saying, "We might be as close as we’ve ever been to resolving that case." The preview concludes somewhat cryptically with the following words from investigative reporter Rick Kupchella: "What’s the latest on the new theory in the Jacob Wetterling case? There are specific things the sheriff would like you to know, and there’s something else he’d like you to do." |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2022 |
| |
Mounted Reserves Find Nothing in Search for Missing SJU Student / Kelly Scott, St. Cloud Times, May 6, 2004 / COLLEGEVILLE -- Searchers on horseback turned up nothing Wednesday after looking for missing student Josh Guimond at St. John's University. Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said this season's dry weather let about 10 members of the department's Mounted Reserves search areas that had been too wet to cover before. They searched lowland areas near the university for about 31/2 hours, he said. ... The 20-year-old Maple Lake man would have graduated this weekend from St. John's. Sanner said investigators will continue to look into the case but have no new information. No more searches are planned unless new information comes to investigators, Sanner said. ... / Copyright © 2004 St. Cloud Times. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Liz |
Message #2021 |
| |
i believe mentioning anyone's name specifically are not to be mentioned here. See the note on the posting page: "Comments or accusations regarding an individual or listing a specific name should not be left via this publicly viewed message board." I believe it has to do with legal liabililty issues. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2020 |
| |
Re: "...do you think the perp may be someone who works on the campus or has cause to be there on a regular basis?" >> .. Of course I have no way of knowing first-hand; I can only quote the experts. According to them, in situations consistent with known elements of Josh's disappearance, IF indeed a crime occurred, AND IF it is the kind of offender suggested by the lack of physical evidence and the fact that there has been no trace of Josh, it be stated with a high degree of confidence that an alleged offender WOULD HAVE A LEGITIMATE REASON TO BE IN THE AREA. But there can be many legitimate reasons. Common reasons include living there, visiting there, working there, shopping there, or engaging in recreational activities there. Thus, if an offender is a long-haul trucker, he would typically find his victims at truck stops and the abduction would likely be preceded by a financial transaction. Legitimacy: Nothing arouses suspicion and nobody notices anything out of the ordinary. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
anon |
Message #2019 |
| |
The former dept head is also aware of complaints about this prof |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
anonymous |
Message #2018 |
| |
Reportedly the professor mentioned has had complaints filed against him with life safety at SJU |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2017 |
| |
I'm sure SJU monitors this site. They are watching it closely to make sure the reputation of the university isn't being sullied. I guess the other concern is this website being taken down if someone (i.e. this english prof) feels he being slandered. I tried to explore the potential relationship of this professor to Josh and several posters showed up to defend him. I really have no idea whether Josh knew him ... or anything else about him, except that he seemed to go on a sabbatical right around the time Josh went missing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that, thanks. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2016 |
| |
Seems the majority of people focused on this case believe Josh was abducted. I wonder if the sheriff's dept. recognizes this too, but chooses to stand by the accidental drowning theory because they have no leads... |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
anonymous |
Message #2015 |
| |
why is mentioning the English professor taboo?--no name is mentioned--I bet this site is being censored by SJU!! |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
anonymous |
Message #2014 |
| |
The Wetterling case is far from solved. Also if there was a video camera at the scene of the scent this case would be solved by now!--face reality! |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2013 |
| |
"It would be an easy thing for a sophisticated offender who knew he wouldn't arouse suspicion at that particular location" ... Aubs, do you think the perp may be someone who works on the campus or has cause to be there on a regular basis? |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2012 |
| |
I would like to believe that a professional investigator has checked into the alibi etc. of the english professor ... that seems to be a "taboo" subject for this board though so I wouldn't push it |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2011 |
| |
Aubs, it's sounding more and more like we may be dealing with an experienced perpetrator. I just couldn't understand how all those highly trained trackers could not pick up Josh's scent anywhere else on campus ... but taking into account what you said, now I can see how the crime scene could have been contaminated. It is scary to think the perpetrator was still hanging around ... and scarier still that it might be someone people know, but would not suspect... |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
anonymous |
Message #2010 |
| |
any new info on the english professor?? |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2009 |
| |
"Re: ''One thing that still perplexes me is why the tracking dogs seemed to only pick up Josh's scent at the edge of that lake.'' >>> Well, I understand tracking dogs respond primarily to the minuscule skin particles -- too small to see -- that we shed around us all the time. It would be an easy thing for a sophisticated offender who knew he wouldn't arouse suspicion at that particular location, to contaminate any area of his choosing -- provided, of course, he had prior access to Josh to obtain the necessary scrapings. I heard a first-hand account that none of the dogs showed any interest in that area after midnight Sunday (i.e., early Monday morning); however, by Monday afternoon the dogs were VERY interested in that particular spot. Of course, we now know that Josh wasn't in there. But wouldn't it be interesting to discover that entire area was under video surveillance all day Monday? ... " |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2008 |
| |
Aubs, many thanks to you, too, for all the updates and information you have provided. It is greatly appreciated!! |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2007 |
| |
One thing that still perplexes me is why the tracking dogs seemed to only pick up Josh's scent at the edge of that lake. No, I don't think he's in a lake, but it puzzles me because I'm pretty sure they had several tracking dogs out there within a day or so after Josh went missing. Can anyone add some clarity to this for me? Thank you in advance. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #2006 |
| |
To Kevin, please accept my gratitude for the information you have provided. To every person here who has offered to help with a new search, you have my deepest respect, you are all heroes to me, and I am thankful to God that people like you are there to help with this situation. I'm praying for you, and for Josh's family...that out of these new search efforts, we might finally know what happened to Joshua. It's been too long for him to be lost like this. Thanks to each and every one of your for your dedication to finding him. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Aubs |
Message #2005 |
| |
"KSTP TV Channel 5 reports ... Patty Wetterling Delays Launch of Congressional Campaign ... ST. CLOUD (AP) - Patty Wetterling has delayed launching her congressional campaign until next week. Wetterling said she had hoped to begin active campaigning this week. But she moved the date back when a Twin Cities television station said it would air a report with new information about the 1989 unsolved abduction of her son, Jacob. Wetterling says this isn't the right time to kick off a full-fledged political campaign. She now plans to launch her congressional campaign next Tuesday at Jacob's school -- North Junior High School in St. Cloud. ... ... http://www.kstp.com/article/view/141922/ ... The Wetterling investigation seems to be drawing to a conclusion, no doubt bringing new hope for the Guimond family." |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Mark |
Message #2004 |
| |
"Here's an article about the mounted reserve unit: ... http://www.co.stearns.mn.us/departments/sheriff/safety/mru.htm Since they are volunteers, I doubt any searches will happen before the weekend. Also, please note the email address for Sheriff Sanner. I plan to send him my name, address, and phone # and request that I be contacted to help search." |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
anon2u |
Message #2003 |
| |
I would suggest anyone interested in joining in a search contact the Sheriff's department and volunteer. If a bunch of us do that maybe they will open up the search and let us help. You can probably find the contact information through the Stearns county web site. |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Anonymous |
Message #2002 |
| |
Do we have any idea when Stearns County is planning to perform this search? Does anyone have any good ideas of how to go about letting the Sheriff's Dept. know that a mass number of people want to help? I would like to remind the Sheriff's Dept. that during the initial search for Josh the ATVs that were there were much more reliable than their horses (the ATVs had to pull out one of their horses from the marshy places that they intend to look at again). |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Kevin |
Message #2001 |
| |
(Cont’d) ... The good news is that we’re not looking at a large urban population running in the hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, we’re looking only at known sex offenders and persons with credible allegations against them of sexual misconduct involving young males. Surely, in a potential population pool of roughly 10,000, this number cannot be greater than 1% -- or about 100. Moreover, we’re interested only in men older than 35 (age 20 at first crime + 15 yrs. elapsed time = 35), which further reduces the number of likely suspects. The subject pool shrinks even further if we consider that the offender in the Cold Spring case was described at the time as being 40-50 years of age. This would make him 55-65 years of age at the present time. I would be shocked if there were more than a handful of convicted sex offenders, or men with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving male victims, in this age range in this relatively unpopulated rural area. The noose tightens. ... |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
Kevin |
Message #2000 |
| |
Greetings .. (America’s Oldest..?). We have a very, very interesting situation shaping up here. Could this be the glimmerings of a linkage? Do we have a series? As the crow flies, Cold Spring, where the unnamed boy was abducted, is 10 mi. S-SW of Collegeville A&U, where Josh vanished. St. Joseph, where Jacob was abducted, is 10 mi. NE of Cold Spring. Josh’s site is 5 mi. NW of Jacob’s abduction site. All of these locations are connected by major access roads. If you draw a line connecting these three locations, you have a triangle that does not include any towns -- only farmland and forest. It seems likely that if we’re talking about a single offender, he lives at or near one of these locations. Cold Spring has a population of about 3,000 and St. Joe 5,000. Collegeville is unincorporated, but I would guess the majority of its population consists of college students, all of whom can immediately be eliminated as suspects in a series(?) of crimes dating back 15 years. ... (Continued) ... |
| |
|
|
| 5/5/04 |
.. |
Message #1999 |
| |
Christopher? Thank you!!!!!!!!! |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
Christopher |
Message #1998 |
| |
"Coming up in the KARE-11 News Extra for Wednesday, May 05, 2004: ... KARE 11 Investigates ... Rick Kupchella, Jeff Wiltgen and John Drilling ... KARE 11 investigates a chilling coincidence involving one of Minnesota's most infamous unsolved crimes. ... Just months before Jacob Wetterling disappeared, another little boy was abducted a few miles down the road. But this boy got away and he's finally telling his story. ... In fact, he's never talked publically about his case until now. Watch Rick Kupchella's investigation -- Wednesday on KARE 11 News. ... http://www.kare11.com/extras/index.asp?EXTRA_ID=63324 ... " |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
.. |
Message #1997 |
| |
Personally I feel the local and state authorities, the local community and St. John's University have let this family down. Frankly, I'm not impressed with the lack of activism amongst Josh's peers, either. The only notable exception is a handful of loyal friends who obviously love and care about Josh, and feel frustrated about what else they can do. But one person can make a difference ... one person can lead an effort for change ... the resolve of one person could mean the difference between Josh being found, and his name fading from the public's memory forever ... |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
.. |
Message #1996 |
| |
All schools have a responsibility to do everything within their power to ensure student safety on campus. If the Guimonds wanted to pursue a civil suit against the school, they might have a legitimate claim. But, I think we all understand that all they really want is to know what happened to their son. One thing I can't get out of my mind is that video of a local govt meeting in which Josh's father and grandfather pleaded with the authorities for help. I could feel the arrogance from those local yokel politicians all the way across the country, and my heart broke for the Guimonds. If such cold heartedness occurred here there would be community outrage and demands for an apology and proper treatment. |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
.. |
Message #1995 |
| |
Okay friends of Joshua -- did you hear Mrs. Guimond's plea? I know all of you are intelligent, educated, compassionate people -- can you be bold, too -- and push for what is right? Who among you is willing to step out and take charge of a renewed effort to find Joshua? Who has the courage, the drive and the heart to do it? I hope and pray one of you will step up to the challenge. And in the meantime, it's time for me to start writing Greta, O'Reilly, Oprah and whoever else I can think of to let them know that at a graduation coming soon, a young man full of promise will not be there to celebrate with his friends and family. It's heartbreaking, and it's wrong. Someone, please help. |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
Aubs |
Message #1994 |
| |
Re: "I have been saddened by the seeming apathy on the part of the community in helping.... How come, do you think, most people just gave up on this case?" Unfortunately, Josh has both the 'wrong' age and the 'wrong' gender. At least he has the 'right' color. It’s a sad fact, but we live in a society mired in all sorts of prejudice. Minorities, adults, and males are very disadvantaged when they disappear. To complicate matters, our elected representatives at all levels seem to be asleep at the wheel. Where is the call to action? Where is the leadership? Where are the organized efforts to mobilize community support? What makes it even more difficult for Josh is the fact that he has been persistently stigmatized throughout this ordeal as somehow being personally responsible for his fate. Of course, I can understand this human tendency to blame the victim, prompted by the defensive denial all of us employ to some extent as a coping mechanism in an unpredictable, sometimes dangerous world. |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
Mom |
Message #1993 |
| |
I agree that community, friends, and students should go toether to the Sheriff's dept. and volenteer to do another search for Josh. The family can not do this alone and need the outcry from everyone. The issue is not whether Joshua was drunk, it is where is he. We need to find Josh first and solve the other isses after. Joshua I love and miss you. |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
.. |
Message #1992 |
| |
The parents of this young woman were given an incredible amount of support. They were very upset, as you can imagine, but the leaders of our community, and the people in our community, did everything they could to demonstrate their support. People contributed financially, they talked with the parents, they never stopped reaching out ... they kept distributing fliers every day... kept asking questions in the community, searching for answers ... Mr. Guimond would not have been left to his own devices here ... the sheriff's dept. would never in a million years have pulled any kind of power play with this family, and trust me, if any local university here did not cooperate 100% to help find a missing student, the outcry would be deafening |
| |
|
|
| 5/4/04 |
.. |
Message #1991 |
| |
To Josh's friends here ... I've been wondering when a group of you might assemble and approach Stearns Cnty Sherrif together and ask how you, as a group, can help find Josh. This is as much to demonstrate that many people are still expecting answers as it is to offer tangible support to Josh's family. There is power in numbers, but it has seemed that only a handful of students is even interested in helping the Guimond family at this point. I have been saddened by the seeming apathy on the part of the community in helping them. How come, do you think, most people just gave up on this case? When we had a teenage girl turn up missing here about a year ago, the community banded together and would not stop until she was found. They formed search committees, publicity teams, you name it -- it just wasn't acceptable that a young person should suddenly disappear -- hundreds of local people felt compelled to help ... |
| |
|
|
| 5/3/04 |
Sanjay |
Message #1987 |
| |
"Here's a news brief suggesting that intoxicated individuals are as likely to stay put or ask for help as they are to stumble into bogs and bodies of water. Actually, more so, to be perfectly reasonable. If you're a student, do the math: How many of your peers have you seen passed out on the spot, how many have you seen falling into a lake, and how many have you seen wandering into the marshes? . . . 'Teen Walks into Police Station, Says He's Too Drunk to Walk' . . . A 16-year-old Austin boy has been cited for underage drinking after walking into the police station early Sunday and asking officers for a ride home. The boy claimed he was too drunk to walk. Officers say the boy's blood-alcohol level was .185%, which is almost twice the legal limit for driving in Minnesota. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) ... " |
| |
|
|
