Officials Say Remains of Boy Abducted in 1989 Found

The Latest on the discovery of the remains of Jacob Wetterling, who has been missing in Minnesota since 1989 (all times local):

5:50 p.m.

Authorities in central Minnesota say the remains of Jacob Wetterling have been found.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says in a statement that Jacob's remains were identified on Saturday.

Jacob was 11 when he was kidnapped from a rural road on Oct. 22, 1989, near his home in St. Joseph, about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis. No one has been arrested or charged in his abduction, though authorities named 53-year-old Danny Heinrich as a person of interest last year.

Heinrich was charged with multiple counts of child pornography, but was not charged in Jacob's abduction. He has denied involvement.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that Heinrich took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case, said remains and other evidence were found.

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Associated Press writer Amy Forliti contributed to this report.

5:15 p.m.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and other officials are offering support to the family of Jacob Wetterling after his mother said the remains of the boy missing for nearly 27 years have been found.

In a statement, Dayton says Jacob's story "has touched the lives and hearts of Minnesotans for a generation." And he says he's praying for peace for the Wetterling family "and for all Minnesotans touched by this tragedy."

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has worked with Jacob's mother, Patty Wetterling, on missing children legislation. Klobuchar says the Wetterling family "and all who knew and loved Jacob are in our hearts today."

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, whose district includes the Wetterlings' hometown of St. Joseph, says Jacob's disappearance on Oct. 22, 1989, "shattered the innocence of all Minnesotans."

2:25 p.m.

A law enforcement official says a person of interest in the decades-old abduction of a Minnesota boy has led authorities to some remains.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case. The official did not confirm whether the remains are that of Jacob Wetterling, who was 11 when he was kidnapped on Oct. 22, 1989.

Danny Heinrich has not been charged in connection with Jacob's abduction, but he faces multiple child pornography charges. The official told the AP that Heinrich took authorities to a field in central Minnesota last week, and that remains and other evidence were recovered.

Wetterling's mother, Patty, told KARE-TV in a text Saturday that her son's remains were found.

Associated Press writer Amy Forliti contributed to this report.

11:20 a.m.

Officials at the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center say they are in deep grief over reports that the remains of the center's namesake have been found.

Jacob Wetterling was 11 when he disappeared in 1989 near his central Minnesota home. His mother, Patty, said Saturday that his remains have been found.

Federal authorities have declined to comment.

The resource center in Minneapolis is dedicated to helping prevent the exploitation of children. Their statement Saturday said they "didn't want Jacob's story to end this way."

10:30 a.m.

The mother of a Minnesota boy missing since 1989 says his remains have been found.

Patty Wetterling said in a text message to KARE-TV that 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling "has been found and our hearts are broken."

Wetterling did not immediately respond to calls and text messages from The Associated Press. Federal authorities declined to comment.

The mystery of Jacob's abduction has intrigued Minnesota residents for more than two decades. In the years afterward, Patty Wetterling became a nationally recognized advocate for missing children.