Quick recap: On Wednesday, January 26, 2000, 19-year-old Angel Hernandez was convicted by a Kandiyohi County jury on all seven of the criminal counts he had been facing:

1. Count I: Terroristic threats committed for the benefit of a gang

2. Count II: Assault in the fifth degree committed for the benefit of a gang

3. Count III: Disorderly conduct committed for the benefit of a gang

4. Count IV: Attempted theft

5. Count V:Terroristic threats

6. Count VI: Assault in the fifth degree

7. Count VII: Disorderly conduct

Angel was now facing 18 months in prison, plus an additional 12 months because of the added gang charge.

Next came sentencing and Judge Donald Spilseth had a decision to make. He’d seen this young man come through his courtroom several times before, but this time, something had changed. In the past, Angel had always appeared cocky, haughty, and irreverent, but this time he was different. He appeared respectful, thoughtful, and even apologetic. It was as if his whole attitude had changed.

The judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation from Angel’s probation officer, Nancy Naujokas (nye-OH-kiss), who would now interview Angel and other relevant parties to provide a clearer picture of his situation and the nature of the offense. It would include a review of Angel’s history and background, his personal characteristics, family factors, childhood experiences, education, employment, finances, physical and mental health, and drug or alcohol use. It would also include a careful review of the offense, applicable statutes, sentencing guidelines, and a sentencing recommendation based on all the information collected.

In the meantime, Judge Spilseth had a lot to consider before making his final decision on how best to sentence Angel Hernandez.

Eight days earlier, it had been the first day of spring semester at the University of Minnesota, and Professor Robert J. Levy (LEE-vee) was welcoming his law students back into his classroom. He always enjoyed spring semester because it’s when he offered his popular “Sentencing Workshop,” a class he’d developed over the past eight years while serving as a law professor at the U of M Law School—and one that he hoped would leave a lasting legacy after his retirement one year later.

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Hi bloggies. Just a quick word before I jump into Chapter 12. If you’ve heard me speak at any of the book events that Patty Wetterling and I have done over the past year and a half, you’ve probably heard me tell the story about why I started this blog. That was way back in 2010… almost 15 years ago now.

I started “Joy the Curious” because I was trying to figure out how to become a writer, and decided a blog would be a good way of holding my feet to the fire so I would stay committed to that goal. My first story was about an old, rundown beach house on Longboat Key, Florida… one that I’d been curious about for years. That initial curiosity led me to discover an epic story that involved bootlegging, Prohibition, orange juice, perfume-making, the Gambino brothers, and a young chemist from Germany who went on to become one of the richest men in America. (If you haven’t read my Villa am Meer story yet, you can find it here, free for all subscribers):

https://www.joythecurious.com/p/villa-am-meer-chapter-1

It was Villa am Meer that caused me to fall in love with blogging, and I ESPECIALLY loved how people were commenting and encouraging me along the way. Now that I’ve moved my blog to Substack, I haven’t received as many comments as I used to, and I MISS YOU! If you have thoughts or questions about my “Sentenced to College” story, please click the orange button that says “Leave a comment” at the end of the post and let me know you’re here!

As always, thanks for following along!

—Joy

January 26, 2000 – Closing arguments and the verdict

THE COURT:

This is Kandiyohi County District Court, Criminal Division. This is the third day of the State versus Angel Hernandez trial. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Before beginning final arguments, Judge Spilseth instructed the jury that there would be one more piece of evidence submitted in the case. The attorneys for both the prosecution and the defense had reached a compromise to allow a chart showing the abbreviated conviction records for certain local individuals alleged to be Latin King gang members. Angel’s attorney, John Holbrook, agreed to allow this chart as evidence rather than forcing the jury to sit through more time-consuming testimony for each individual conviction.

With that behind them, State Prosecutor Connie Crowell began her final argument. After some initial niceties, a brief explanation about the difference between direct evidence and circumstantial evidence, and a brief review of the witnesses’ accounts of what took place that day at JC Penney, Ms. Crowell got to the meat of her argument.

She referred to Officer Monson’s testimony about the list of local Latin King members whose convictions had now been abbreviated and consolidated onto a handy chart that would go with the jury to the deliberation room.

MS. CROWELL:

Officer Monson started to describe specific individuals and testified to their activities, to their criteria, and to their convictions, and he started with Mr. L.D.

• That Mr. L.D. is a confirmed, state-entered Latin King member, that he has a controlled substance second degree crime, methamphetamine; second degree felony assault; fourth degree felony assault; second degree felony assault, dangerous weapon, and a third degree controlled substance crime, cocaine; that he's confirmed and, indeed, had been, until he went to Worthington, a leader of the Latin Kings.

• That Mr. J.M. has several felonies, including robbery, burglary.

• That Mr. F.J. has controlled substance crimes, burglary, certain people not to have pistols, weapons violation, burglary.

• Mr. J.P., second degree felony assault.

• And Mr. Hernandez, receiving stolen property, firearms.

All confirmed, state-entered members of the Latin Kings and that, indeed, when Mr. L.D. moved out of town, the defendant stepped in to that leadership role. He stepped in and took over.

Defense Attorney John Holbrook objected to the assumption that Angel had taken over as leader, but the objection was overruled.

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Starting with Chapter 3, I decided to put “Sentenced to College” behind a paywall as premium content. I felt this was necessary for two reasons. First, I want to protect Angel’s privacy and that of his family. Second, I want to protect my copyrighted material from being stolen by A.I. bots. From here on out, “Sentenced to College” will be accessible only to paid subscribers.

Note, a paid subscription is $30/year or $5/month. You can also sign on as a “Journey Supporter” for $100/year, which gives me all the warm feels of knowing my writing matters. It also comes with a complimentary copy of Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope, signed by Patty and me. In addition, I will be sharing a portion of the proceeds from my paid subscriptions with Angel and his family.

Finally, with your paid membership for premium content, you can expect a new chapter of “Sentenced to College” to be delivered every 1-2 weeks, until its conclusion.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this story as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. I guarantee you, the best is yet to come.

—Joy

January 25, 2000 – Day 2, CONTINUED

After J.C. Penney store manager W.E. completed his testimony, state prosecutor Connie Crowell called her second witness to the stand—M.P.—one of three Kandi Mall security guards who responded to W.E.’s call for backup support on the day of the incident.

After being sworn in, 25-year-old M.P. stated that he lived in Little Falls (about 85 miles north of Willmar), was in construction, and currently managed a 48-unit town home complex. However, eighteen months earlier, he’d been working as a supervisor for Tri-State Security and was assigned to mall security at the Kandi Mall in Willmar.

M.P. said it was around 5:40 PM on February 17, 1999 and he was about ready to leave for the day. Just as his two other staff arrived, he received a call from the store manager at J.C. Penney who needed assistance with an attempted shoplifting. All three security personnel responded to the incident.

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Note, starting with this chapter, I’ve decided to put “Sentenced to College” behind a paywall as premium content. I’ve had to put a lot of thought into this, and feel this is necessary for two reasons. First, I want to protect Angel’s privacy and that of his family. Second, I want to protect my copyrighted material from being stolen by A.I. bots. In the near future, I plan to put this entire story behind a paywall, so it will be accessible only to paid subscribers.

Note, a paid subscription is $30/year or $5/month. You can also sign on as a “Journey Supporter” for $100/year, which gives me all the warm feels of knowing my writing matters. It also comes with a complimentary copy of Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope, signed by Patty and me. In addition, I will be sharing a portion of the proceeds from my paid subscriptions with Angel and his family.

Finally, with your paid membership for premium content, you can expect a new chapter of “Sentenced to College” to be delivered more frequently, every 1-2 weeks, until its conclusion.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this story as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. I guarantee you, the best is yet to come.

—Joy

January 25, 2000 – Day 2

JUDGE SPILSETH:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the jury. We will now proceed with the second day of trial. When we concluded yesterday, the State was examining its first witness. Ms. Crowell, are you going to continue with the examination of Officer Monson?

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January 24, 2000 – Day 1 continued

After opening arguments had been delivered on the first day of Angel’s trial, it was time to call witnesses.

The first witness for the prosecution was Officer Bruce Monson, a 21-year member of the Willmar Police Department, and an investigator with the city’s Gang Enforcement Team (GET). This special unit of the Willmar PD had been established about two years earlier, after a spate of drive-by shootings and increasing gang activity in the Willmar area. Both Monson and his partner, Officer James Proshek, had been members of the GET since its beginning.

Prosecutor Connie Crowell first questioned Officer Monson about his background experience with gang enforcement. He responded that he’d taught DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) classes to 5th graders for seven years, which included a unit on gangs. He also attended several classes and seminars on gang behavior through the Minnesota Gang Strike Force and the Quad State Task Force, which served the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He and his partner had interviewed several area gang members and, most recently, had been presenters at other law enforcement trainings.

Ms. Crowell presented Officer Monson’s resume to the Court as Exhibit 1.

Next, she asked him to describe his duties as a member of Willmar’s Gang Enforcement Team.

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In July 1999, just after Angel had been convicted of parole violations for smoking marijuana on three separate occasions, he found himself back in the Kandiyohi County Jail where Judge Spilseth had sentenced him to 45 days. By revoking the stay of imposition on Angel’s earlier case of “receiving stolen property/firearms,” the court now recognized Angel as a convicted felon. The good news was—for the time being anyway—the stay of execution on that case was still in place, meaning that the judge had chosen not to execute the full sentence of one year and one day in prison, but instead had imposed a lesser sentence of 45 days in the county jail, with credit for time served and good behavior.

Back at home, Angel’s mother was in a full panic. Angel’s lawyer, Kent Marshall, may have been a brilliant criminal lawyer, but she had no way of knowing it because she couldn’t understand English. All she knew for sure was that Manuel Guerrero from St. Paul had helped her family in the past. He was smart, fair, generous, and bilingual. She was aware that Manuel had refused to represent Angel anymore because of his ongoing association with the Latin Kings, but her son was now facing up to 2 ½ years in prison and Maria Hernandez was desperate. She drove the 100+ miles to meet with Manuel Guerrero at his office in St. Paul and begged him to reconsider.

At that time, Manuel Guerrero was in his final year of teaching law classes at the University of Minnesota and leading the Chicano Latin Studies Department. It would be a transition year for him, and in 2000 he planed to retire from the U to practice criminal law part time, mostly representing Latino people in outstate Minnesota where he felt they weren’t being served adequately.

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While awaiting trial for the J.C. Penney incident that took place back in February 1999, Angel was still expected to abide by the terms of his probation that stemmed from his 1998 conviction of receiving stolen firearms. It was a lengthy list of requirements that not only included jail time, a fine, paying restitution, and providing a written apology to the owner of the stolen guns, the requirements also stated that:

• You must absolutely abstain from the use, possession, or consumption of alcohol or any other mood altering substance unless prescribed by a physician.

• You are subject to random urinalysis, alee­sensor, or any other method of testing deemed appropriate by probation to monitor your compliance with the abstinence provision.

• You must not own, possess, operate, or have access to firearms or any other weapons.

• You must meet with your probation agent at least one time per week or as otherwise directed by your agent.

• You must not fail appointments with your agent and you must present yourself at the times your agent arranges.

• You must notify your probation agent of any new address change so that your agent does know your proper address and telephone number at all times.

• You are not to leave the State of Minnesota without advance permission from either the Court or your probation agent.

• You are responsible to be law abiding and of good behavior at all times while on probation.

Angel had been doing a good job of staying in contact with his probation officer and not missing any appointments, but in light of the J.C. Penney incident, it was clear he was still having trouble staying out of trouble. This became even more evident in May when he tested positive for the use of marijuana on three separate occasions.

So, on June 30, 1999, Angel appeared once again in front of Judge Spilseth at the Kandiyohi County Courthouse in Willmar.

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On October 20, 1998 — six weeks after Angel accepted a guilty plea for “Receiving Stolen Property, Firearms” — he sat before Judge Spilseth once again for his sentencing hearing.

He had already spent 75 days in jail while awaiting his September 8 plea hearing and was given an additional credit for good time, bringing his total time served to 112 days. He and his defense lawyer, Carter Greiner, were hopeful there would be no more jail time, and also that the judge would agree to a stay of imposition of his sentence, meaning that as long as Angel abided by all the rules of his probation for the next 10 years, his conviction would be reduced to a misdemeanor so he wouldn’t have to carry a felony conviction on his record for the rest of his life.

In between the plea hearing and and the sentencing hearing, Angel’s probation officer, Nancy Naujokas (Nye-OH-kiss), had been conducting a pre-sentencing investigation (PSI) based on interviews with Angel and a variety of other people who could provide pertinent information about his background. These people might include the prosecutor, law enforcement agents, victims, mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, school personnel, family members, associates, and past or current employers. Following the interviews, and taking into account any extenuating circumstances, she would compile a probation report for Judge Spilseth with recommendations and guidelines on how lenient or severe Angel’s sentence should be.

The hearing began at 10:30 AM, and after listening to the opinions of both the defense and the prosecuting attorney over how Angel should be sentenced, Judge Spilseth spoke directly to Angel.

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New here? Start from the beginning…

On September 8, 1998, 18-year-old Angel Hernandez appeared before Judge Donald M. Spilseth, ready to make a plea on the charges of “Receiving Stolen Property, Firearms” and “Crimes Committed for the Benefit of a Gang.” By then, he’d already served two and a half months in jail and was ready to plead guilty to the first charge, in exchange for the second charge being dropped.

The plea agreement also stated that Angel would have to fully disclose what exactly had happened on June 28, 1998—the night Willmar Police caught him, his friend J.T., and his younger brother with a stolen van and two loaded, sawed-off shotguns inside it.

At the plea hearing on September 8, Angel was represented by his public defender, Carter Greiner, and was questioned by Judge Spilseth to make sure he understood what was being put before him.

THE COURT: Do you understand that this agreement contemplates that you would enter a plea of guilty to Count I which is a felony charge?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

THE COURT: If you are convicted and sentenced in connection with Count I, this would result in a serious felony conviction on your record; do you understand that?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

THE COURT: If you do this, you are waiving your right to a trial and giving up a number of other important rights; do you understand that?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

THE COURT: With that in mind do you wish to proceed with a plea of guilty pursuant to this agreement, or would you rather proceed with this matter on a trial? A trial is scheduled for September 22nd.

THE DEFENDANT: I don't know.

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New here? Start from the beginning...

In 1995, a family and addiction counselor named Kate Cavett began working with young gang members inside an adolescent male correctional facility in Minnesota. She was also an experienced oral historian, so in an effort to better understand gang subculture and develop effective programming that might actually help these young teens escape gang life, she began listening to them and recording their stories.

For three years, Cavett sat down with 105 young Minnesota gang members from all walks of life. They were of Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, and Native descent. They lived in places like Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Cloud and Duluth, but also smaller, more rural locations like Grand Rapids, Litchfield and Willmar.

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Getting a handle on the problem

In January 2007, Minnesota Lawyer magazine interviewed Willmar Police Chief Jim Kulset about his decade-long efforts to combat gangs and drug trafficking in his rural Minnesota community of about 19,000 residents.

At that time, Kulset sat on the Minnesota Gang and Drug Oversight Council, an advisory group that had been established by the legislature in 1997 to oversee the state’s new Gang Strike Force. Ten years later, Kulset was at the Capitol in St. Paul once again to request more state funding to help local law enforcement agencies get a handle on the rapid rise of gang activity in rural Minnesota.

It hadn’t always been this way. Back in the early 1990s, Kulset had been working as a detective sergeant in Willmar and had just started noticing some gang-related graffiti popping up around town. Probably just kids. Nothing serious.

But then, it was.

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New here? Start from the beginning...

In the spring of 1989, I had just graduated from the University of Minnesota with a shiny new Journalism degree and high hopes of landing a copywriting job at one of those big and trendy ad agencies in downtown Minneapolis. These were the years of Prince, First Avenue, Kirby Puckett, and—soon on the way—a World Series trophy and a notorious Halloween Blizzard that we still talk about today.

Minneapolis was red hot and I couldn’t wait to be part of it. I wanted to live downtown, work downtown, and ooze downtown. I worked hard on my portfolio and spent day after day lining up informational interviews with busy, unpleasant creative directors who had no time or openings for a fresh-faced college graduate with zero experience. The best I could hope for at the end of each interview was a word of encouragement and a referral to another busy and unpleasant creative director at another agency. And so it went. For months.

To pay the rent, I got a job at a recruitment ad agency where I spent the day writing and placing help-wanted ads. I could type lightning-fast and the pay was decent, but it was far from the downtown copywriting job I’d dreamed of. I was just about ready to throw in the towel when my college roommate called and asked if I wanted to move to the tiny lake town of Spicer for the summer. Betsy had just started her own graphic design studio and was looking for a freelance copywriter for the summer. To sweeten the deal, she said we could waterski on our lunch breaks. I was packed and on my way within a week.

By the end of that summer in 1991, I had bought-in to the business, moved into my own apartment, and was soon to fall in love with a turkey farmer who lived across the hall from me. One year later, Betsy and I had turned our little graphic design studio into a full service advertising agency and moved it south about 15 miles to the big city of Willmar. With a population of about 18,000, it was no Minneapolis, but it had a Target and that was good enough for me.

A rural city on the brink of change

In the early 1990s, Willmar, Minnesota was undergoing a series of significant changes brought about by a rapid shift in its demographics. Since its founding as a railroad town along the Great Northern Railway that stretched from St. Paul to Seattle, Willmar was inhabited mostly by people of Norwegian and Swedish descent who were attracted to the fertile farming land. It would eventually grow to become southwest Minnesota’s largest city, due in large part to efforts by railroad magnate James J. Hill who recruited new emigrants from northern Europe.

Agriculture dominated the local economy, with sugar beet production taking the lead after a federal tariff on imported sugar was introduced in 1897. Mexican migrants began to move north to help in the sugar beet fields, and by 1943 it was estimated that 350 Mexican nationals were employed by Minnesota sugar beet farmers.

Then, in 1949, a young man by the name of Earl B. Olson purchased his first turkey processing plant in Willmar and started a company that would go on to become one of the world’s largest turkey processors—Jennie-O.

Throughout the next several decades, Jennie-O began recruiting the Mexican migrants who came during the summer to work in the farm fields and convinced them to stay. Their efforts proved successful—so successful in fact, that between 1980 and 1990, the Hispanic population in Willmar grew by 750%.

So, how did the Willmar community adapt to this sudden demographic change? Not well. According to many local residents, “they’d heard” that a flyer was circulating throughout Texas telling migrant workers to come to Kandiyohi County because it had “the best welfare benefits in the country.” (The rumor was untrue and no such flyer was ever discovered.) But, the seed had been planted, and by the time the brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking newcomers arrived hoping to build a better life for their families, they were often eyed with suspicion and even outright racism.

Growing pains

As Jennie-O grew, so did the influx of migrants. By 1993, Hispanics made up 7.3% of Jennie-O’s workforce, compared to a countywide average of just 1.4%. To retain workers and develop future leaders, the company introduced ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to its Spanish speaking employees and began translating its policy manuals and in-house newsletter into Spanish.

A summer day camp named “Amigos de Cristo” brought together children from Anglo and Hispanic cultures for a week of play, singing, games, crafts, storytelling, and Bible study, all aimed at building an awareness of cultural diversity, cooperation, trust, and appreciation for each other’s differences.

Bilingual teaching aides were hired at each of Willmar’s public schools, and the development of a summer migrant school helped kids overcome the disruption of being pulled out of school early whenever their families moved north to work in the farm fields throughout the spring, summer and fall.

One caring counselor at the local technical college (who had spent many summers working the fields as a young migrant worker himself) helped increase the enrollments of Hispanic students, thanks in large part to his ongoing recruitment efforts and guidance.

And while all these efforts were commendable, Willmar as a whole was not keeping up. Fresh off the farm crisis of the 1980s, skyrocketing interest rates had led to a slowdown in new housing starts. So, when the construction industry finally began to rebound in in the early 1990s, the city found itself seriously behind the eight ball. New housing had failed to keep pace with Willmar’s growing population, especially for low-income families. This resulted in severe overcrowding and rising crime at the local trailer parks. And there was one trailer park in particular that was causing the majority of the problems—Elm Lane.

Elm Lane

In 1990, more than half of Willmar’s Hispanic population lived at Elm Lane Mobile Home Park. It was located at the entrance to the city along U.S. Highway 12, an ever-present eyesore and a constant thorn in the side of the popular hotels and restaurants on the other side of the small two-way highway.

In an effort to curb the growing problems at Elm Lane, the city of Willmar first updated their zoning ordinance in 1989 requiring all mobile home parks to meet minimum standards regarding overall density, driveway access, and fire lanes. While many of the new standards applied to future parks being built, the city also included specific language for existing parks:

“Each home lot within a park shall abut on and have access directly to a street. Streets shall be paved with concrete or bituminous, and be of similar construction to other City residential streets. The paved surface with concrete curb and gutter shall be at least thirty (30) feet in width from curb to curb. Access drives from streets to all parking spaces and home site shall be paved. Parking on one side only shall be permitted on thirty (30) foot wide streets; parking on both sides would be permitted if the street width is increased to forty (40) feet. All streets shall have curves/turns with adequate radii to accommodate emergency vehicles. Fire lanes shall be clearly indicated. Existing parks are exempt from the curb and gutter requirement. The minimum allowable width for streets within existing parks shall be twenty-two (22) feet.”

For existing parks, the ordinance also required that each lot be a minimum of 4200 square feet and 35 feet wide, have a clearance of 14 feet between homes, and a paved area of at least 10 feet by 20 feet to allow off-street parking space for at least two vehicles.

At first, the required updates came as welcome news for the 600 residents who now lived in the 130-unit park. But when city officials gave the owner of Elm Lane, William Begin, five years to bring the park into compliance, he refused and said he would close it before complying with the new standards.

Begin, a Minneapolis CPA and business partner at Arthur Andersen, had owned the park since 1979. In the fall of 1994, he agreed to pay a $15,000 fine after being investigated for sales fraud by the state’s attorney general’s office. Allegedly, he’d been selling trailers without proper licensing and not transferring the titles to the new owners.

The city worked to compromise with Begin, concentrating on safety matters like widening the streets, improving water and sewer lines and installing fire hydrants, but problems at the park persisted. Several shootings began to take place, and in August of 1994 a 31-year-old man named Jesus Puentes Molina was shot to death while trying to intervene in an argument between two other men.

In an attempt to curb the growing violence and the number of police calls, the Willmar police department even set up a substation at the entrance to the park. Everyone who entered or exited was required to check in or out, and while some residents welcomed the added safety measures, others saw it as oppression and overkill.

In October of 1994, William Begin announced that he would close Elm Lane on July 31, 1995. This decision resulted in a months-long scramble for hundreds of displaced residents now desperately in search of affordable housing. The panic and chaos soon made statewide news, with allegations of discrimination, litigation over who should pay relocation costs, and a HUD investigation for possible violations of federal fair-housing laws.

In the end, the city council agreed to pay nominal relocation costs for eligible residents; a one-million-dollar fund was established by charitable associations and private industry to help residents find housing; and the Community Activity Set Aside (CASA) Program provided qualifying residents with first mortgage loans at 4.8%.

When the city finally shut off the water on August 1, 1995, they breathed a sigh of relief and felt their problems were solved. But something else was brewing on the horizon, something they were in no way prepared for. Since the early 1990s, Willmar’s crime index had been steadily rising and was a measure of the number of “serious crimes” per 100,000 inhabitants. These serious crimes included: murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.

In 1993, Willmar’s crime index was 5,855. Two years later, by 1995, it had risen to 6,138 which was higher than all of Ramsey County combined, including St. Paul. What was going on?

Willmar had become a microcosm of a larger, statewide concern—gangs.

In 1998, the state created the Minnesota Gang Strike Force, aimed at investigating gang-related homicides, aggravated assaults, drive-by shootings, robberies, and criminal sexual assaults—all committed by gang members. Around the same time, Willmar also created its own Gang Enforcement Team, aimed at investigating the same gang-related offenses.

And while all of this was happening, a sea of unrest was building in the city. Drive-by shootings were becoming more frequent. Kids at the high school were wearing colors and flashing gang signs. Law enforcement began meeting with court officials to discuss what could be done to combat the problem.

So by the time a young 17 year old kid from Laredo, Texas named Angel Hernandez moved back to Willmar in 1996, things were just starting to heat up.

It turns out Elm Lane was just the beginning.

Next time: The rise of gang activity in Willmar, Minnesota

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope was released on October 17th, 2023 by MNHS Press. You can purchase it at your favorite bookseller, or ask for it at your local library.

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New here? Start from the beginning...

I first met Angel Hernandez and his wife, Lily, at a small Mexican restaurant about an hour’s drive from my home. It was a Monday—July 5, 2021—and Angel happened to have the day off from work since the Fourth of July fell on a Sunday that year, one day earlier. It was a cute and colorful restaurant right in the center of town, and with the strict COVID-19 restrictions lifted just a few months earlier, I was happy to see this small family business had survived.

When I walked in, I found Angel and Lily seated in a corner booth next to a large window. Angel stood to greet me and it was then I realized exactly how tall he was. At 6’4”, he had a commanding presence that, I assumed, would have played to his advantage back in the day. Back when he was “King Angel, head of the Latin Kings.”

“You must be Angel,” I said as I smiled and extended my hand to greet him.

“Yes, and this is my wife, Lily,” he added.

“Nice to meet you,” I said as I shook Lily’s hand and then settled into my spot across from them in the booth.

Trying not to appear nervous (which I totally was), I reached into my bag and pulled out a small digital recorder. I’d waffled over whether to even bring it, worried they might be put-off or intimidated by me wanting to record our conversation. On the other hand, I worried I might miss something if I didn’t.

“Do you mind if I record this?” I asked them. “That way I don’t have to scribble notes while we’re talking and eating.”

“Sure, that’s fine,” they graciously agreed.

As I fumbled around with the recorder trying to remember how to turn it on, I suddenly dropped the thing on the floor and had to go scrambling on my hands and knees under the table to go fetch it.

“Nice, Joy,” I thought to myself. “Real professional.”

A few months earlier, I’d been attending a Rotary meeting at The Oaks restaurant in Willmar and was seated next to Don Spilseth, a retired district judge. After 24 years on the bench, he’d retired as Chief Judge for the 8^th District of Minnesota in 2017, and though many knew him as “The Honorable Donald M. Spilseth,” I just knew him as Don.

Don is a member of our Willmar Rotary Club and the best “Fine Master” our club has ever seen. In that role, it was his responsibility to raise charity funds from unwitting club members by fining us one dollar for any number of ridiculous violations—like not eating all the vegetables on our plate, not knowing what year Rotary was founded, or not remembering the final score of the 1991 World Series. All the money went to good causes and we always enjoyed Don’s rapid fire delivery and razor sharp wit.

One day, I was sitting next to Don at Rotary and decided to ask him about a court case I’d recently begun researching. I knew very few details, but recalled it had taken place during the 1990s and involved a young gang member from Willmar who had threatened a store manager. But instead of going to jail, the judge had sentenced this kid to college. People were furious about it and the story went on to make national headlines.

I’d been wondering about this guy for years and had hoped to cover his story on my blog. Whatever happened to him? Did he graduate? Where is he now? How did it all work out for him? All I could remember was that the kid’s name was Angel—a tidbit that had stuck with me because I thought it was so ironic. How funny, a gangster named Angel. I tried Googling “Angel” and “sentenced to college” but got nowhere. When I asked around, people vaguely remembered the story but couldn’t remember any details.

So I asked Don, “Do you remember that case from back in the 90s about a kid who got sentenced to college?”

Don turned to look at me like I suddenly had corn sprouts growing out of my ears.

“That was me,” he said. “I was the one who sentenced him to college!”

A few weeks later, I met Don at his house in Spicer to talk about the case. Not only did he share more about what had led him to make such a monumental court decision, Don went a step further. Using the contact information I’d managed to find for Angel after learning his last name, Don offered to call him up, explain who I was, and ask if he’d be willing to share his story with me. Angel agreed.

And now, here I was. After all that dumb luck and good fortune, I found myself crawling around on my hands and knees under a table at Mi Mexico restaurant and wondering why any of these people would be willing to talk to me at all. Using my iPhone’s  flashlight, I finally spotted the recorder, grabbed it, and returned to my spot at the table.

“Sorry. Awkward.”

They laughed and I started again.

“I’d like to know more about the beginning part of your journey,” I prompted. “What was life like before all of this happened and your name was suddenly all over the headlines?”

Angel paused a moment before answering.

“At that time, I had only been back in Willmar for about… a year? Two years?” He glanced at Lily. She nodded.

“He was born in Grand Prairie, Texas, west of Dallas,” Lily said. “He was the oldest… there’s only two of them.”

It would go on like this for the next two hours—Angel answering my questions in his quiet, soft-spoken voice while Lily added details in her strong, confident voice that held little hint of an accent. As I listened and watched, I was mesmerized by the easy flow of their conversation. When one struggled to remember details, the other jumped in, and they continued to groove back and forth like this, often completing each other’s sentences without even realizing it. They were like a skilled relay team, passing the baton back and forth with mutual trust and respect.

It was then I began to realize I had stumbled upon something much deeper than an article about a landmark court case or the rise of gangs in rural Minnesota. At the heart of it all was a love story about a pair of high school sweethearts who still had each other’s backs. They had faced impossible odds throughout their young lives, but in spite of it all—the breaks, the setbacks, the brick walls, and the regrets—they were making it.

The oldest of two boys, Angel was born in Grand Prairie, Texas on April 30, 1980. Grand Prairie is a split suburb that sits midway between Dallas and Fort Worth and is situated in three different counties. With a population of 71,000 in 1980, it had traditional roots as a railroad and farming town, but was quickly growing and would have a population of 100,000 just ten years later (and over 210,000 today).

Angel doesn’t remember a lot from his early childhood. He knows that he and his family lived in the Houston area when he and his brother were both toddlers. After that, they moved back to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, a border town on the south bank of the Rio Grande. Laredo, Texas is on the north bank.

“Everything I remember is from third grade and up,” he told me. “I don’t remember much from back then.”

“When he came to Minnesota in third grade, he didn’t speak English,” Lily added.

Angel explained that he went to three different schools in third grade—one in Mexico, one in Texas, and one in Willmar. He started school in Mexico and attended there until his family decided to move to Texas when he was in third grade. He started again in Texas, then halfway through the year, his family moved to Minnesota. That’s when he started to learn English for the first time. He completed third grade in Willmar and by fourth grade he was just starting to pick up English when his family moved back to Texas again.

Angel explained that, back in Texas, kids don’t learn English because it’s not required. So, while the rest of his classmates were all being taught in English, his teachers would give him a book in Spanish. He started to wonder how—or if—he would ever learn English.

“Down there, everything is in Spanish,” Lily explained. “Everywhere you go, it’s Spanish.”

Angel nodded. “Our community was 97% Hispanic. The only white people down there were teachers or people in charge. Everything is in Spanish—radio, TV, news. Unless you’re listening to country music, that’s probably the only thing you’re going to get in English.”

That being the case, I asked him what he thought of Willmar when he first arrived. “Was it a huge culture shock?”

“Yes,” he said quietly.

Angel was a sophomore when they moved back to Willmar, and at that time, he guessed there were maybe 20-30 Hispanic kids at the high school. (With class sizes of approximately 300, that was less than 10%.) Before that, when he came in third grade, he guessed maybe 5-10 Hispanic kids at his elementary school.

“So yeah, it was way different… adapting.”

When he and his parents first moved to Willmar, they came to work in the farm fields. His father was an alcoholic at the time and on his way to becoming a heroin addict.

“For us, growing up, it’s not like growing up white, or growing up any other kind of race,” Lily said. “There are certain expectations that our parents have for us.”

“Not just expectations but limitations, as well,” Angel added.

“Education and going to college… those aren’t aspirations that our parents had for us. For us, it was just the bare minimum. My mom hated me going to school and let me ditch whenever I wanted to. She took my brother out of school when he was in fifth or sixth grade, and that’s the highest grade he finished.”

Neither of their parents graduated from high school. Angel guessed that his parents had quit school after seventh or eighth grade. For Lily’s parents, it was even earlier. She guessed third grade for her mom and first or second grade for her dad.

“As soon as they started working, there was no more school,” Angel explained.

“It’s just work,” Lily said. “You work, and you work, and you work, and you work. That’s all you do. And, you’re always supposed to respect your elders, even if they don’t respect you.”

I asked her what she meant.

“There’s no talking back,” Angel said.

“There’s no raising your voice,” Lily added. “Even when you’re 18, 20, 30. You’re always supposed to help your parents, even when they’re wrong. Even when they’re drug addicts.”

They glanced at each other.

“There are a lot of drugs in our culture,” Angel explained. “It’s like normal. That and domestic abuse. We grew up seeing domestic abuse all the time. My dad used to beat my mom and we would have to call the cops on him. They’d come and arrest him, then he’d be gone for a while and come back. They ended up putting him in treatment in Albert Lea and then it pretty much stopped.”

“It worked?” I asked him.

“Kind of,” he replied. “Better than what it was.”

“But, for other cultures, it’s like traumatizing for a child,” Lily explained. “What we go through growing up, that’s normal. Not having anything to eat, or hot water to take a shower.”

She went on to explain that whichever kid is the oldest—even if that kid is only seven years old—they are responsible for taking care of all the younger siblings.

“I was like eight years old,” Angel told me. “And I would have to stay home and watch my kid brother who was two years younger than me. And I couldn’t open the door because my parents weren’t home. So they taught us how to cook, at least an egg, so we could make food for ourselves.”

“And he was lucky that it was just him and his brother,” Lily added.

When Angel was just eight or nine years old, his mom pulled him out of school in the spring to help clear the rocks out of the fields before planting. In order to avoid any truancy questions, Angel’s mom would just tell the school they were moving back to Texas.

Angel picked weeds and rocks—everything the adults would do—and the farmers would show them how to do it.

Lily backed him up. “It wasn’t like they said to themselves, ‘Oh, he’s a kid so he’ll do half the work.’ We were expected to do the same work as an adult was expected to do in a day.”

Lily first met Angel in Willmar during the spring of 1996. She also grew up in Laredo and, ironically, was in the same class as Angel’s younger brother, but they never knew each other in Texas. Instead, Lily and Angel would meet years later in a town that was 1,400 miles away and foreign to both of them.

Each summer Lily and her mom would come to Willmar to visit Lily’s older sister and stay with her for a month or two. In 1996, Lily and her mom left for Willmar in March (a few months before the school year ended in Texas), so when they arrived in Minnesota, Lily’s mom enrolled her at Willmar Middle School so she could finish out her 8^th grade year. That’s when she met Angel.

Lily and Angel were both born in 1980, but since he had an April birthday and hers wasn’t until December, he was finishing 9^th grade at Willmar High School while she was finishing 8^th grade at the middle school. Before long, the two of them ran into each other while hanging out with friends and Angel asked her out on a date. He took her out to dinner at Happy Chef and soon they were inseparable. They went to the movies together, hung out at the arcade in the Kandi Mall, and went for rides in Angel’s 1987 Buick Somereset that he’d bought with his own money.

When summer came to an end that year, they kept in touch by sending 80-page spiral notebooks back and forth, filled with handwritten letters to each other.

“And we just kept corresponding like that,” Lily told me. “I would send him a notebook, and then he would send me a notebook back. He was a good boy when I met him. He worked and went to school. That’s all he did. He hung out with his friends, but he hadn’t been in any trouble at that point.”

They lost touch for a couple of years and it wasn’t until 1999, when Lily was in her senior year back in Texas, that she received a letter from Angel. He’d written to congratulate her because he knew she’d be graduating in a few months. And then, he shared some other news. Bad news.

Angel was in jail facing charges of attempted theft, 5^th degree assault, disorderly conduct, and making terroristic threats for the benefit of a gang. If convicted, he could be sentenced up to 2 ½ years in prison.

Lily was in shock. What had happened to the good boy she had been dating just a few years earlier? What exactly was going on up in Minnesota?

Next time: A look at Willmar from 1996 to 1999

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope was released on October 17th, 2023 by MNHS Press. You can purchase it at your favorite bookseller, or ask for it at your local library.

• Minnesota Historical Society bookstore

• Bookshop.org

• Barnes & Noble

• Target

• Amazon

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Truth be told, I’m actually in St. Petersburg, Florida right now, practicing to be a snowbird. My friend Jane and I rented a lovely AirBnb for the month of January and I’ve had a ball getting to know this new area of the Sunshine State that I’ve never visited before. I like to consider it the “J-Term” that I never took in college – a mental break so I can exhale, regroup, and focus on my writing.

For the past eight years (and especially the past four), my life has been consumed by the writing, editing, and publishing of Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope. It’s the long-awaited memoir of my amazing friend Patty Wetterling, which I was honored to co-write. (For more information about the book, its October 2023 launch, and photos from our author events, please visit DearJacobBook.com.)

As it turns out, writing, editing and publishing a book is hard work! The intensity of it left me with very little energy to do any additional writing, update my blog, or contemplate what’s next on my own writing journey.

So, what’s next?

Over the years, many have asked if I plan to write my own story about the Jacob Wetterling case. As most of you know, blogging about Jacob’s case was life-altering for me. It was big, emotional, impactful – and very much “a God thing.” I just don’t have any other words to explain it. Much of my journey was told “in between the lines” right here on joy.the.curious, and my handwritten journal entries from that time period tell more of the story. Maybe someday I’ll be brave enough to share them, but right now, I’m excited to move on to new stories, new channels, and new opportunities.

And speaking of new stories… hang tight. More on that below.

First though, you may have noticed that my blog has a new look and feel. After nearly 14 years, I’ve moved from Wordpress to Substack – and you’ve moved with me! You can still find my blog at joythecurious.com, and if you were a subscriber of joy.the.curious before, no worries. I was able to transfer all my previous subscribers from my old Wordpress blog to this new writing space, so welcome aboard!

What the heck is Substack?

Making the move to Substack was a big decision that took a lot of thought and consideration. It was incredibly tedious, and took far longer than I ever dreamed it would. But in the end, I’m glad I did it. Substack launched in 2017 and is a platform that was built specifically for writers. It’s gives writers the ability to share their work among other writers, to find and follow each other, to attract new subscribers, and – as an option – to charge for paid subscriptions.

It was that last part – “charge for paid subscriptions” – that ended up being a huge conundrum for me. My blog has always been free, so I really waffled over whether to turn on the option for paid subscriptions. After many discussions with people whose opinions I highly respect, I decided to at least make the option available. All free subscribers will still be able to access my public blog stories, but if you enjoy my writing and wish to support me on this journey to become a “real writer,” you will also have the option of subscribing for $5/month or $30/year.

You’ll also notice there is a third option for subscribers called the “Journey Supporter.” Basically, this is for people who think $30/year is not enough and would like to contribute more. If you choose this option, you will not only have my undying gratitude for the rest of my earthly life, I will also throw in a free, autographed copy of Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope, signed by both Patty and myself (includes free domestic shipping). Thanks in advance for your consideration.

(If you’d like to learn more about Substack, visit https://substack.com/about)

My new blog story

And now for the big news… I’m launching a new blog story! (Sheesh… talk about burying the lead. What kind of self-respecting journalist am I anyway?)

This is a case that I’ve been wondering about for 20 years, researching for 3 years, and am finally ready to share. In my usual joy.the.curious style, the story will be unraveling in real time, so you’ll be learning new information as I discover it myself. It’s a local story from 1999 that made national headlines, but it’s never been reported at this level with first hand interviews, behind-the-scenes details, and the ability for readers to leave comments, ask questions, and interact with the story as it unfolds. I can’t wait to share it with you!

Chapter 1 will be out soon, so please subscribe today and watch for it in your inbox! In the meantime, here’s a little preview.

Once again, a huge thanks to all of you for following me and supporting me on this amazing journey!

Angel

It was a landmark case that stirred up so much controversy in our quiet rural town, it infuriated the locals and went on to make national headlines.

And, it all started over a pair of pants.

Throughout the 1990s, Willmar, Minnesota had been slowly becoming less and less quiet. The once sleepy railroad town that sits 100 miles directly west of Minneapolis had begun to experience a steady change in demographics that none of the locals were prepared for. “The Mexicans” who came to hoe weeds in the soybean fields each summer suddenly began to take up roots. They found full time work at the local turkey processing plant, moved into the local trailer park, enrolled their kids in the local school district, and stayed.

The blue-eyed Scandinavians were a bit surprised at first, perhaps even shook. But, eventually, they grew downright concerned. What was becoming of their Willmar – home of Coffee Fest, Wednesday night church, and meat raffles at the American Legion? These Mexicans were dangerous, with their gangs and drugs and guns.

They weren’t altogether wrong. In fact, in 1999, the three district judges in Willmar met at the local Holiday Inn with other public safety personnel. Gang activity in the county was now a major concern, and recent drive-by shootings at the Elm Lane trailer park had made state news. What was happening in Willmar?

Around this same time, Willmar started its own Gang Enforcement Task Force that would extend east to Meeker County and all the way west to the South Dakota border. Their goal was to stop the surge of drugs entering the region and curb the ensuing gang activity, primarily influenced by the Latin Kings.

Also brewing during this perfect storm, a modification to Minnesota state law that said if a crime was committed for the purpose of furthering gang activity, these crimes could be added as separate charges – in effect, doubling the severity of a criminal sentence.

And, in the middle of all this controversy, was an 18-year old Mexican immigrant named… of all things… Angel.

In the summer of 2000, he and two buddies had made plans to go to a dance in nearby Hutchinson. They wanted to buy some new jeans, but didn’t have any money, so they stopped into the JC Penney store at the mall and decided to steal some.

Angel is tall – well over six feet – and is hard to miss. The store manager started following him around and finally confronted him. But, Angel hadn’t taken anything.

“Check your security cameras,” Angel told the manager.

He and his buddies left the store, but when they reached the parking lot, the store manager stopped them again. This time, he had two security guards with him.

What happened next is controversial. The store manager and the two guards claimed that Angel told them he was “the head of the Latin Kings” and he could “do whatever he wants.” Kick their ass. Beat them up. Kill them. Angel denies he ever said this, but the damage was done. Those words were printed in all the local papers, and Angel’s life as he knew it was over.

The trial lasted one day, and it took two hours for the jury to convict him. After that, it was up to the judge to decide Angel’s fate. Two months later, Angel came before Judge Spilseth in Kandiyohi County, prepared to spend many years in jail because of the trumped-up charges for gang activity.

But, something else happened that day. Judge Spilseth imposed an alternative sentence… one that he had been contemplating for a long time.

Instead of sentencing Angel to prison, he sentenced him to college.

Read next: Sentenced to College – Chapter 1

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope was released on October 17th, 2023 by MNHS Press. You can purchase it at your favorite bookseller, or ask for it at your local library.

• Minnesota Historical Society bookstore

• Bookshop.org

• Barnes & Noble

• Target

• Amazon

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About joy.the.curious

In 2011, I did something a little crazy. I took a leap of faith, quit my job, and started calling myself a writer. A real one.

I started a blog called joy.the.curious and wrote about a weather-beaten beach house on Longboat Key, Florida. I fell in love with the interactivity of blogging and the back-and-forth feedback I received that allowed me to unravel the mystery of Villa am Meer.

When that story started to come to a close, I wondered what to write about next. I chose to take a look at the 1989 case of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy who was abducted at gunpoint while biking home from a convenience story with his friend and younger brother. It was a news story that stopped every Minnesotan in their tracks, and we all prayed for a happy ending. Twenty-one years later, they were still searching.

I wrote about the case for three weeks, then set it aside until I was contacted by the newly named “person of interest” in the case. He asked if I wanted to know his side of the story, so we met and I listened. That meeting set me on a new path that would change my life forever. In 2016, Jacob’s remains would finally be found, in part because of key information I helped uncover that was never fully investigated.

In October 2023, Patty Wetterling (Jacob’s mom and a well-known national advocate for children’s safety) was published with me as co-author. Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope tells our combined story and is available now at booksellers, major retailers, and local libraries.

Why subscribe?

Seriously, you don’t have to subscribe. No worries. But if you do, every new post I write goes directly to your inbox and you don’t have to try and remember how to get back to this Substack. That’s it. Nothing else to see here.

Subscribe now

Patty Wetterling’s memoir—the one that she and I have been working on together for the past 7 1/2 years—is now available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Bookshop.org.

What??

It’s true. And for those of you who have followed me on this blog since I started it in 2010, you know what a big deal this is for me. I was 43 years old back then and trying so hard to figure out how to become a real writer. Thirteen years later, here I am—a real writer—and a co-author with the amazing Patty Wetterling.

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope tells the emotional story of Patty’s 27 year search for her son, Jacob. On October 22, 1989, 11-year-old Jacob was abducted by a masked gunman while riding his bike home from a convenience store with his younger brother and best friend. It happened in the small town of St. Joseph, Minnesota and this heart-stopping crime forever changed the landscape of our state and the way we raise our kids. A dark sense of fear swept over us as the search went on for days, weeks, months, and then years. Something in us changed—because if a kid like Jacob could get kidnapped, then any of our kids could get kidnapped. From anywhere, at any time, and for no apparent reason. The fear was paralyzing.

And then, from the ashes of our despair, rose a small powerhouse of a woman who dared to hope. It was Jacob’s mom, Patty Wetterling. And rather than crumble into a heap, we watched and listened as she vowed to fight for the world we all knew before Jacob was kidnapped. This world would never be all sunshine and lollipops anymore, but at least we could return to a world that was safer for our kids—one with tighter laws and better tools for fighting child predators and sexual offenders. Patty led the charge, and we gladly followed her into battle.

She did make our kids safer. The Jacob Wetterling Act of 1994 established the nation’s first sex offender registry. She was also instrumental in establishing Minnesota’s Amber Alert before it even became a national program, and she has participated in hundreds of law enforcement trainings over the years that teach investigators how to respond to child abductions and how to work with victim families.

When Patty asked me to help her write this book back in the spring of 2015, we envisioned it to be a legacy to Jacob. There was so much ground to cover, it was hard to know where to start. Slowly, we started to get organized, and I convinced her to “just write.” I wanted to get a better idea of who she was—where she grew up, what she was like as a child, where she went to high school and college, etc. I explained there were other moms who had lost a child or who had missing children, but none had actually marched up Capitol Hill, caught the attention of lawmakers, and created new laws to protect our children. Who was she? What made her tick?

Of course, Patty and I had barely gotten started writing this book when everything came to a screeching halt. In October 2015, Danny Heinrich was arrested as a person of interest in Jacob’s case. Less than a year later, he would confess, accept a plea deal, and lead authorities to Jacob’s remains. It was all so devastating and gut-wrenching, we put the book project on hold indefinitely. Two years later, when we finally came back to it, we realized we had a whole new story to write. The thought of starting over was overwhelming, but word by word, chapter by chapter, we did it.

And now, here we are. For me, it’s been an honor and a privilege to get to know Patty and see what makes her tick. She is a true hero and a true friend… one who was willing to believe in a 40-something year old blogger who was just muddling along and trying to find her own purpose in life.

After 13 years, I do feel like this was it.

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope will be released on October 17, 2023. Pre-order today from your favorite bookseller.

• Barnes & Noble

• Amazon

• Target

• Bookshop.org (Purchases support independent bookstores)

P.S. If you’re on Facebook, you can follow Patty Wetterling on her page at https://www.facebook.com/hopeologist

21 Comments

1. Heidi Baker | February 23, 2023 at 2:40 pm

   This is awesome news!

2. Annette Benson | February 23, 2023 at 3:03 pm

   Exciting! I’ve placed my pre-order and look forward to reading the book.

3. Brenda Schroeder Miller | February 23, 2023 at 3:17 pm

   Amazing news! I can feel the energy you have both put into this work of love,

4. Mabyn Armstrong | February 23, 2023 at 3:30 pm

   Congratulations on the completion of a work from the heart. I am relieved to think that Jacob’s story will be made available to the world. A story of much love and immeasurable pain that had to be told in the hope that these atrocities will diminish with compassion knowledge and understanding. Jacob’s story changed laws and sensitized the public to use their compassion to make a difference in this world. A difference for the good, for the better side of mankind.
   Patty’s courage cannot be measured in worldly terms. Words just cannot impart. I thank her with all my being for her generosity of spirit, for her unfathomable compassion, for her steadfast commitment to bring closure to an unimaginable horror. Thank you Patty for allowing us to share Jacob’s journey to keep hope alive for all humanity.
   Thank you ‘Joy the Curious’ for your curiosity to have looked into Jacob’s story all those years ago and for being instrumental in giving Jacob’s story closure.
   Thank you both for keeping hope alive.

5. Mary E VanderBeek | February 23, 2023 at 4:00 pm

   Amazing! The grace, patience and everlasting village of hope the family endured. Thank you for all you both have done, and thank you for sharing.

6. Jerry W | February 23, 2023 at 4:20 pm

   Congrats Joy, well done. Important story.

7. Mary Kay Knox | February 23, 2023 at 4:52 pm

   Excited for the book!

8. Amy L | February 23, 2023 at 5:27 pm

   Congrats Joy!

9. Susan Dressel | February 23, 2023 at 5:43 pm

   Congratulations on the publishing of Patty’s and your book. So exciting!

10. Shelly Berg | February 23, 2023 at 8:47 pm

    I am so proud of you both! My book is ordered!!!

11. Nancy Drach | February 23, 2023 at 9:22 pm

    I know we all wish Jacob not been kidnapped and murdered. My oldest son was just a little over one year old when this happened, and as a newish mom, I felt so much pain for the Wetterlings. I am so appreciative of how they (and then also you), took a deep breath, then dove in to do so much, not just out of hope for Jacob, but for so many kids and families. No one is perfect, but when they can have hope and grace, it is such a bright light. I look forward to this memoir.

12. Shannon Koshiol | February 23, 2023 at 10:38 pm

    Congrats! What a feat!

13. Matt Olson | February 23, 2023 at 11:46 pm

    Congrats Joy!

14. Sue | February 24, 2023 at 11:35 am

    You have always been an amazing writer Joy. Now the world will get to enjoy it. Congratulations to you both. What an accomplishment!!

15. Tina M Walsh | February 24, 2023 at 8:50 pm

    I am so proud of you both for writing this book and for you effort, time and energy to bring this to us all that have shared the journey. Patty and Joy, we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

16. cathie | February 24, 2023 at 9:23 pm

    Congratulations on the completion of this book! How exciting for you both to share this important story!

17. Jettie Ditmarson | February 25, 2023 at 12:40 am

    I so remember the day Jacob went missing, our daughter was a patient at the U of M children’s hospitals, and as we walked through the tunnels to her room, there was this broadcast of what had happened, it just didn’t seem possible that someone from our area would be abducted. We live in New London some 30 miles away. But Jacob has always been in our hearts and prayers!

18. Kathy Garrett | February 25, 2023 at 5:13 pm

    Awesome work Joy!

19. Sharlene Martin | February 26, 2023 at 8:54 pm

    Thank you for trusting Martin Literary Management with selling your book! We are honored.

20. Deb Dressel | February 28, 2023 at 7:46 pm

    Truly a special moment for the both of you! I’m excited to read the book!

21. Ale Luya | March 16, 2023 at 4:17 pm

    Congratulation! Jared should also write a book.

After much ado (and blood, and sweat and tears) we finally have some exciting news to report.

We have a book deal!!

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope is Patty Wetterling’s much anticipated memoir, due out in the fall of 2023 and co-written by ME! Here’s the official announcement as it appeared on Publisher’s Marketplace over the weekend.

We have been so excited to share this news, and now that it’s officially official, we are finally able to share in full force. Both Patty and I are also especially grateful to our smart, talented, and warm-hearted agent, Delia Berrigan at Martin Literary Press for her ongoing support and guidance. After a slew of submissions, Delia actually found four publishers interested in publishing our story, then allowed us to “go with our gut” and pick the one we felt was the best fit. Without a doubt, we knew the one we wanted and couldn’t be happier with the place we landed.

Of course, we realize we still have a lot of work ahead of us. The editing process will soon begin in earnest with Ann Regan, our MNHS Press editor. But, Patty and I are both raring to go so we can turn this labor of love into something we are both proud to share with the world.

As you can imagine, writing a memoir is not easy, and this one in particular was especially challenging. Jacob’s kidnapping was so shocking, so frightening, and so overwhelming, it changed the way we raised our kids forever, as well as the way our kids grew up. Suddenly, there was a real fear that paralyzed us all, something we had never even considered before (or at least chosen not to believe). On that night in October 1989, we learned there really were strangers who hid in the dark, carried guns, and kidnapped innocent children. Equally shocking, we learned it could happen anywhere at any time… even to a nice, normal family who lived in a small, quiet town.

That was our perspective as Minnesotans. But, what about the mom’s perspective? How does a mom survive this most unimaginable terror? And, how deep does she have to dig within herself to not only survive, but to search for flaws within the system, advocate for change, and help pass laws that protect the rights and safety of all our children?

That’s Patty Wetterling. At five feet tall, she’s a tiny powerhouse of a mom that the rest of us look up to in awe and wonder. She is our Super Mom, even though she doesn’t see it that way at all. In fact, so many times as we were writing this book, I had to pause and remind her that she’s a pretty big deal.

“You know, Patty, there are other moms who have missing children,” I would tell her. “But they didn’t find the strength to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, march their way up Capitol Hill, and gain the attention of the President and Congress. YOU did that.”

“Hmm,” she replied. “I guess I did.”

And that, also, is Patty Wetterling. Humble. Raw. Real. And, pretty dang funny, too.

In 2015, when Patty first asked me to help her write this book, I signed up for a memoir class to help me learn more about the genre. Between theme, story structure, plot points, conflict, container, emotional beats, and inner monologue, I definitely learned a lot. But, the thing that stuck with me more than anything else was when the instructor said it takes most authors an average of seven years to write a memoir. Seven years! That seemed a lifetime away at the time. And yet, here we are, seven years down the road, with another year still to go.

Of course, the book we started out to write is not the book this story eventually became. Little did we know in early 2015 that a longtime suspect in Jacob’s case would be arrested in October, and less than a year later, that same suspect would lead authorities to Jacob’s remains. It was Labor Day weekend of 2016 and the whole world stopped at that point… not just for the Wetterling family, but for all of us. Because, after 27 years of hoping, praying, and wondering, Jacob had become our son, too.

It took two more years before we would start up again. For Patty, the grieving, confusion, anger, and self-doubt were paralyzing. After so many years of focus and purpose, she was suddenly faced with the agonizing question… “Who am I now?” It took both time and strength to refocus her efforts and continue the narrative.

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope tells the whole story. It’s as raw and real as it gets, told from the heart of one amazing mom.

Patty, it’s been an honor and a privilege to work with you on this book. Thank you for your friendship, your trust, and your encouragement.

Now, let’s finish this thing.

Next time

This is really happening

25 Comments

1. Karen Pelligra | November 7, 2022 at 4:59 pm

   So so proud of you Joy ! Sending love from Buffalo

2. Kurt Rolling | November 7, 2022 at 5:03 pm

   Congratulations on your contract! I can’t wait to read

3. Tamara Lacroix | November 7, 2022 at 5:11 pm

   Congratulations on writing and finishing this book, I very much look forward to reading it!

4. Vicki | November 7, 2022 at 5:14 pm

   Can’t wait to buy the book! Very excited.
   Congratulations!

5. Bonnie West | November 7, 2022 at 5:16 pm

   I love this. You are the best. and Patty is amazing and I will surely buy the book.

6. Karen | November 7, 2022 at 5:24 pm

   Please let us know when we can order copies!

7. Sheila Joan Foss | November 7, 2022 at 5:51 pm

   Congratulations !!!

8. Julie | November 7, 2022 at 5:55 pm

   It’s been an emotional journey, Joy. You have so much to be proud of – Congratulations!

9. Jan Redman | November 7, 2022 at 6:38 pm

   Joy, this is so exciting and awesome! Thank you for caring and advocating like you do!!!

10. Shelly Berg | November 7, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Joy and Patty, I am so dang proud of both of you! I know this book was written with so much love and tears! I am beaming with pride for my BFF. Congratulations!!

11. Ellen Jackelen | November 7, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    Can’t wait to read this. I credit Joy and Patty for solving this crime when law enforcement fell short. My son was the same age as Jacob and we lived in a small town in Minnesota, so the case riveted so many of us for so many years.

12. Julie Deiley Wierzbinski | November 7, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    Can’t wait to read it Joy. What a wonderful thing you are doing or I should say have done for so many years.

13. Lisa Reyant | November 7, 2022 at 8:25 pm

    Congratulations, I can’t wait to read it! An incredible accomplishment.

14. Darci | November 7, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    So great to hear! I felt like a part of everything when you first told me what you were doing… When you asked if I knew who Jacob Wetterling was….ummm yes. Curious… Definitely. Congrats!

15. Cathie Marty | November 7, 2022 at 9:51 pm

    How exciting! I know you’ll write a wonderful book that I can’t wait to read!

16. Annette Benson | November 8, 2022 at 1:06 am

    Incredible! Congratulations on this continuing journey. You all are amazing and inspiring.

17. Mabyn Armstrong | November 8, 2022 at 8:54 am

    I can’t imagine the emotion of giving Jacob’s story of unbridled hope and perseverance a culmination after so many years.
    I am so grateful to you Joy for having been instrumental is bringing this journey to closure. There are not any words to describe Patty’s unwavering tenacity over those 27 years. I only wish I could have carried more of that burden for her.
    I believe the memoir will bring peace and integrity to counterbalance the heinous ending of Jacob’s story.
    My heart is with you both.
    Mabyn Armstrong

18. Maribeth Williamson | November 8, 2022 at 11:18 am

    Congratulations! I am so excited for you both – I shared the news with my book club this morning! We will put it on our schedule for next year.

19. Mary Waters | November 10, 2022 at 1:35 pm

    I anxioulsy wait for the release.

20. Laurie | November 10, 2022 at 1:43 pm

    Bless you both for having the courage and fortitude to press on with this important book!

21. Kathy Garrett | November 10, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    Congratulations Joy and Pattty! I’m sure there are tons of emotions with this news! Can’t wait till it’s printed!

22. Cindy Scott | November 11, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    Congratulations and I look forward to the book!It is a story that needs to be told! Thanks!

23. Leanna (Fahlin) Zimmerman | November 12, 2022 at 10:57 am

    Congratulations Joy! Will look forward to reading it!

24. P.M. | December 6, 2022 at 10:11 pm

    I miss your writing Joy!! I look forward to buying the book.

25. Kristi Montoya | April 13, 2023 at 11:59 am

    Joy, Thank you for your hard work & determination! You were instrumental in bringing closure to this saga… I have recommended your blog to so many people! Waiting patiently for the book! Kudos

August 1, 2022 marked 20 years since 18-year-old Danny Newville left a party house near downtown New London and was never seen again.

In the weeks leading up to the 20 year anniversary of Danny’s disappearance, I posted the following six updates on the Find Danny Newville Facebook page. I encouraged people to share these posts and turn in anything they knew in a coordinated attempt to solve this 20 year mystery. Much of this information had not been shared before.

Danny’s family is still pleading for answers. Please continue to share.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PART 1

June 24, 2022 – Eighteen-year-old Danny Newville disappeared from New London Minnesota after leaving a party during the early morning hours of August 1, 2002. 

Less than 18 hours earlier, Danny had just been released from the Kandiyohi County Jail after serving 37 days for a probation violation. The violation was likely for something minor (like missing an appointment with his parole officer), but the reason Danny had been on probation in the first place was because, a year earlier, he and a friend had stolen a van and gone joyriding. He'd been 17 at the time.

Danny turned 18 on May 7, 2002, just a few months before he went missing. Up to that point, he'd been under the guardianship of his aunt and uncle who lived in nearby Spicer. After turning 18, Danny decided to move out and go live with his grandfather who lived on Henderson Lake, just a few blocks away. 

On Wednesday, July 31, 2002, Danny was released from the Kandiyohi County jail. He called his dad, Russ, and asked if he would leave his fishing pole out for him so he could swing by and pick it up later that day. Russ said sure and left it leaning against the garage door before leaving for work.

A friend picked Danny up from jail. At some point, he stopped by his grandfather's house to change clothes, then headed to the so-called “party." It was at a known "party house" where kids would often gather to hang-out, drink, and do drugs. These weren't the "popular kids" or the "rich kids." These kids came from tough backgrounds. They looked out for each other and they all had each other's backs.

But, something happened to Danny Newville that night. No one had his back.

According to partygoers, it was late when Danny left to walk to a friend’s house in the Peaceful Hills neighborhood. It was about a mile away and he should have been able to make it in 15-20 minutes or so.

He never made it

...............................

If you have information about Danny Newville’s disappearance, please contact Detective Robbie Braness at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Robbie Braness
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 320-214-6700, x3312
Email: robbie.braness@kcmn.us

Facebook Messenger:
https://www.facebook.com/Kandiyohi-County-Sheriffs-Office-471311649587923

You may also mail anonymous tips to:
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
2201 NE 23rd St, Suite 101
Willmar, MN 56201

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PART 2

July 2, 2022 – When Danny still hadn’t shown up to pick up his fishing pole after a few days, his dad, Russ, started asking questions. He called a few of Danny’s friends, but they all had the same basic answer. They hadn’t seen Danny since the party on July 31st.

Next, Russ called his father, Red, to ask if he’d seen Danny. He hadn’t. After turning 18, Danny had gone to live with his grandpa Red at his house on Henderson Lake in Spicer. But, as a legal adult, Danny was doing his own thing and it wasn’t unusual for him to be gone for long stretches of time. He didn’t have a car and had to rely on other people for rides, so he often just stayed over at his friend’s house in New London.

Russ first contacted the Willmar Police Department within 10 days of Danny going missing. But, it was a county matter, not a city matter, so an official report wasn’t signed at that time.

Officials at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office first learned of Danny’s disappearance when he failed to contact his probation officer in mid-August. By then, he’d been missing for two weeks, but because he was 18, law enforcement could only issue an “Attempt to Locate” bulletin versus an official “Missing Person” bulletin.
An ATL is simply a request that law enforcement try to locate the missing person, confirm their identity, location, and well-being, and respond back to the agency that originated the request. It is often used when the missing person is not believed to be in any danger.

But, that all changed abruptly on September 24, 2002. Fifty-four days after Danny had last been seen, Kandiyohi County Dispatch received an anonymous phone call from someone who said Danny Newville’s body had been dumped near his grandfather’s property in Spicer.

Law enforcement immediately started investigating the lead and got a signed missing person’s report from Danny’s parents. They began interviewing partygoers, giving polygraphs and searching the area with cadaver dogs and air searches, but found nothing.

So, what was happening during those first 54 days after Danny went missing? Why didn’t anyone say anything? What happened to Danny Newville?

…………………………

If you have information about Danny Newville’s disappearance, please contact Detective Robbie Braness at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Robbie Braness
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 320-214-6700, x3312
Email: robbie.braness@kcmn.us

Facebook Messenger:
https://www.facebook.com/Kandiyohi-County-Sheriffs-Office-471311649587923

You may also mail anonymous tips to:
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
2201 NE 23rd St, Suite 101
Willmar, MN 56201

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PART 3

Just 38 days before he went missing, Danny Newville was booked into the Kandiyohi County Jail to serve out a stayed sentence for a minor crime he’d committed as a juvenile. At 17 years old, he had his driver’s license but no money for a car. So one day, he and a friend stole a van from their friend’s grandma and took it out joyriding. The judge ordered that his sentence be stayed, as long as Danny remained law-abiding and stuck to the rules of his probation.

He didn’t. That was unfortunate for Danny because, earlier that summer, another friend had asked Danny to move to Florida with him. He was about three years older than Danny and as young teens, they’d spent their days biking around town, fishing, swimming in Green Lake, and doing odd jobs here and there.

Now, about a month into adulthood, Danny was excited about the prospect of moving to Florida and getting the heck out of Dodge. By then, he and his friend had both been in-and-out of juvenile treatment facilities for alcohol and drug addiction, and both were ready for a change of scenery. But, there was a problem. Danny had missed a probation appointment (or some other minor infraction) and now had to serve out his time in jail. His friend packed his Ford Tempo and left for Florida without him.

On June 24, 2002, Russ Newville attended Danny’s court hearing and spoke to him briefly before Danny was escorted to the county jail to begin serving his 60 day sentence. It would be the last time Russ ever saw his son.

Another inmate, who was in jail at the same time as Danny, had a startling story to share. One day, he overheard Danny talking to some other people about ripping-off a known dealer. This fellow inmate was concerned for Danny, so he took him aside and said, “Hey, I wouldn’t be saying stuff like that if I were you. That guy is crazy.”

Was Danny Newville killed because he owed someone money? Did this known dealer front drugs for Danny, expecting to be paid back, but never was? Is that why Danny returned to the party house so soon after he got out of jail? To make amends? To negotiate a payback plan?

In his booking photo, Danny appears neat and clean-shaven, his hair cut short and styled. His bright blue eyes and long lashes make it easy to see why he had so many girls calling him on the phone at night. And, though it appears he was trying to look tough in his official booking photo, a hint of teenage acne reveals what is so sadly and painfully obvious. He was just a kid, a scared kid, who was facing his first night in the adult jail.

This booking photo is the last known photo that was ever taken of Danny Newville.

Or was it?

..............................

If you have information about Danny Newville’s disappearance, please contact Detective Robbie Braness at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Robbie Braness
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 320-214-6700, x3312
Email: robbie.braness@kcmn.us

Facebook Messenger:
https://www.facebook.com/Kandiyohi-County-Sheriffs-Office-471311649587923

You may also mail anonymous tips to:
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
2201 NE 23rd St, Suite 101
Willmar, MN 56201

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PART 4

On the day Danny was released from the Kandiyohi County Jail, he called a friend to pick him up. Her car wasn’t working at the time, so Danny tried another friend. Unfortunately, that friend didn’t have a valid driver’s license, but his sister did. She agreed to come pick Danny up.

She took Danny back to the party house where he hung out for several hours. Then, sometime between 2-3 PM, Danny phoned another friend who remembers Danny sounding “very high-energy” at the time. He speculated Danny was probably getting high at the party house.

Danny left the party house around 3:30 PM and took the “snake trail” (a shortcut through the woods) over to his friend’s house who lived in the Peaceful Hills trailer park. Danny often stayed over at this friend’s house since he didn’t have a car to get back to his grandpa’s place in Spicer.

Once Danny arrived at his friend’s place, they hung out and chatted in the front yard for a while. Then (according to the friend), two girls arrived in a car and took Danny with them. It’s assumed they drove him back to his grandpa’s place where he changed clothes and called his dad, Russ, about the fishing pole.

At some point, Danny made his way back to the party house, but it’s still unclear how he got there. Perhaps the same two girls drove him. Many hours passed without another witness account. Then, sometime around 5 AM, Danny called his friend in the Peaceful Hills neighborhood to ask for a ride, but the friend wasn't able to go pick him up. To this day, Danny’s friend berates himself for not going to get him.

What happened next gets murky. Several people said they saw Danny walk out the back door of the party house and cut across a couple of back yards, heading in the direction of Peaceful Hills. After that, no one ever saw or heard from Danny again.

Those closest to the situation speculate that someone – or maybe more than one – jumped Danny on his way to the trailer park. But, for 54 days, no one said a word. Why?

This might be why. It’s been rumored that a photo began circulating among this small group of party-house-regulars that showed Danny deceased. Those who were shown the photo may also have been threatened.

It stands to reason that people were scared, shocked, or even traumatized after seeing that photo. But, the simple fact is, if such a photo existed, it is key evidence.

These "party house regulars" from 2002 are now in their late 30s and early 40s. Many are married with kids of their own. Many wish they could help, but don’t know how.

Here’s how. If you were one of the people who was shown that photo, investigators are very interested in speaking with you, and they will guarantee your anonymity.

Also, if you were one of the two girls who picked Danny up from his friend’s house at Peacefull Hills that day, investigators would also like to talk to you.

Please. Make the call. Send the email. Write the letter.

Danny’s family deserves to know.

..............................

If you have information about Danny Newville’s disappearance, please contact Detective Robbie Braness at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Robbie Braness
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 320-214-6700, x3312
Email: robbie.braness@kcmn.us

Facebook Messenger:
https://www.facebook.com/Kandiyohi-County-Sheriffs-Office-471311649587923

You may also mail anonymous tips to:
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
2201 NE 23rd St, Suite 101
Willmar, MN 56201

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PART 5

They say most murders are solved when somebody eventually “cracks.” They either can’t take the stress, they develop a moral conscience, or they get caught doing something else and cut a plea deal to make things easier on themselves.

But, for 20 years, no one has cracked in the tiny town of New London, Minnesota.

Or have they?

One tip that continues to surface year after year is that Danny Newville’s body was placed either inside or underneath the septic tank of a new home that was being built in the area. Tipsters have offered several possibilities over the years, and investigators have followed-up to determine if these homes were built within the correct timeframe of Danny’s disappearance. They’ve also interviewed homeowners to determine whether there was evidence to corroborate that a septic tank had been buried under unusual circumstances, like in the middle of the night, or on a day when other contractors weren’t working. However, there was never enough evidence to warrant tearing up someone’s yard (or lives) over a simple hunch.

Yet, why does this tip continue to surface? Is it possible it could be true? And, if so, is it possible that human remains could even survive in a septic tank after 20 years?

Apparently, it’s possible. In 2004, a young woman in her early 20s went missing from Hidalgo County in South Texas. Thirteen years later, her remains were found nearby when a man discovered that human bones were clogging his septic tank.

Across the pond, in Kempsey, Britain, workers were draining a septic tank for routine maintenance when they made a grim discovery. They discovered bones inside a bag that belonged to a woman who had been missing for 37 years. Her 89-year-old husband was convicted of her murder just earlier this week, on July 20, 2022.

So, if it’s true that Danny’s body was buried inside a septic tank, who did it? Why do so many people claim to have knowledge of it? Sure, rumors persist, but does anyone actually know if it’s true?

Please share what you know.

..............................

If you have information about Danny Newville’s disappearance, please contact Detective Robbie Braness at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Robbie Braness
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 320-214-6700, x3312
Email: robbie.braness@kcmn.us

Facebook Messenger:
https://www.facebook.com/Kandiyohi-County-Sheriffs-Office-471311649587923

You may also mail anonymous tips to:
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
2201 NE 23rd St, Suite 101
Willmar, MN 56201

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PART 6

July 25, 2022 – The past five posts have been difficult to read, and, sometimes, even too disturbing for Facebook to publish. But, these posts have been intentional in nature… to get the facts out there, to lay any rumors to rest, and to finally get to the truth about what really happened to Danny Newville 20 years ago, on August 1st, 2002.

For Danny’s dad, the posts have been especially hard to read. While he desperately wants to know the truth, he doesn’t want people to think less of Danny. Yes… he struggled with addiction. Yes… he went joyriding in a stolen van as a juvenile. Yes… he ended up going to jail for not meeting the requirements of his probation.

But, Danny was no thug. He wasn’t a career criminal who was destined for a life of drugs and disappointment. He was trying to do better, to get well, and move on.

“I know you have to bring up all the drug stuff because you’re trying to piece it together,” one of Danny’s friends shared back in 2018. “But mostly, he got in trouble because he was trying to show off to a few friends. I guarantee you, Danny would have grown up to be a pretty good guy.”

Another friend of Danny’s agrees 100%. Linda was in her late 40s back in 2002, perhaps an unlikely friend, but she was someone that Danny felt comfortable talking to and confiding in whenever he was at Prairie Lakes Juvenile Detention Center (or "juvey" as most people called it).

Sometimes when Danny couldn’t sleep at Prairie Lakes, he would ask for permission to speak to Linda. For 15-30 minute stretches, they would talk deeply about things that really mattered to him – family, friends, relationships. He talked about how hard it was to be one of the “poor kids” at school, and how hard it was to fit in with the jocks and the popular kids when they’d already labeled him a “druggie.” When he started hanging out with the party-house-regulars more often, things got even worse.

During the summer of 2002, Danny was picked up for breaking his violation after a minor infraction and brought back to Prairie Lakes. He'd just turned 18 a month earlier and was now a legal adult, but because he was so young, they first booked him into juvey.

When Linda saw Danny’s name on the intake board, she remembers shaking her head in disappointment. She had so badly wanted him to make it and to never see his name on that board again. She stopped by the cell where Danny had been placed for his customary 24-hour-hold and was surprised at his appearance. He looked pale, drawn, tired, and she wondered if the acne on his face was being exacerbated by his continuing drug use.

“What the hell, Danny?” she asked him. “You look like shit.”

“I know,” he said, looking at her with deep, soulful eyes that seemed to say, “Here’s one more person I’ve disappointed.”

And then, Danny put his face in his hands and started to sob.

Linda told him she’d stop by and check on him later, but she never got the chance. When she returned for her next shift, he’d already been transferred to the adult jail. It was the last time she ever saw him.

A year earlier, Linda shared that Danny had been in treatment at a facility in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. While there, he wrote two letters to her that spoke volumes about the kind of person he was and where he was going with his life.

Just recently, Linda shared those letters with Danny’s dad, Russ. And with his permission, we are sharing them with you. (See below.)

Danny Newville was trying to get better. He was ready to move on and move forward with his life, but he never got a chance.

This Saturday, July 30th at 10 AM, there will be a Memorial Walk for Danny Newville in New London. It will start in the parking lot of Peace Lutheran Church, and end at Old Gray Park, where a tree was planted in his honor nine years ago at the first Memorial Walk.

Please join us in supporting Danny’s family and their ongoing search for answers. Here's the event link with more details.

https://fb.me/e/3o9HnhOXP

If you have information about Danny Newville’s disappearance, please contact Detective Robbie Braness at the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Robbie Braness
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 320-214-6700, x3312
Email: robbie.braness@kcmn.us

Facebook Messenger:
https://www.facebook.com/Kandiyohi-County-Sheriffs-Office-471311649587923

You may also mail anonymous tips to:
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office
2201 NE 23rd St, Suite 101
Willmar, MN 56201

I received the following comment on my blog about six weeks ago.

Joy,
I hope things are going OK for you. You haven’t made a post in a long time and I hope you’re OK.

Wow, it HAS been a long time, hasn’t it? I looked back and noticed it’s been two years and four months since my last blog post. Two years and four months!

It’s almost hard to remember that far back since 2019 seems like a world almost foreign to us now… the “pre-COVID” world. Who knew at the time we’d soon be thrust into an international crisis, a forced lockdown, and a whole new way of life that included quarantining, face masks, social distancing, and supply shortages.

Did that really happen?

Oh yes, that happened.

Fortunately, our family fared pretty well. We did get COVID, but nothing was severe. Some of us had symptoms, some didn’t, but we were lucky and I’m so grateful.

So, in answer to the question, “Are you OK?,” my answer is yes, Mark, and thank you so much for asking. I’m absolutely fine, but just so incredibly busy.

Here’s why.

Besides work and life, I’ve had the great fortune to be involved in a long term writing project that has kept me incredibly busy for the past two years and four months. Finally, I’d like to share what I’ve been up to during this time.

Most of you who follow my blog already know my story. When I started “Joy the Curious” back in 2010, it was simply a tool to get me writing again. It all started with a story about a rundown beach house on Longboat Key, Florida – Villa am Meer. Somewhere in that process… of starting a blog, registering my own domain name, creating my own email account, and receiving ongoing, positive feedback on my blog story, something started to change in me. I began to feel like… well… a writer.

When my Villa am Meer story began to wind down, I started looking for a new “mystery” to write about and chose a local missing person case. In 1989, an 11-year-old boy had been kidnapped from a small town not far from mine. His name was Jacob Wetterling.

Just like the COVID pandemic, it’s almost hard for me to remember what my life was like pre-Jacob. The little blog story I started writing about him in 2010 launched my life onto such a new trajectory, I am forever stunned by the magnitude of it all. Truly, it was life changing.

It’s not just that Jacob was found. That, in itself, is such a miracle I still find it hard to believe. But, the bonds of deep friendship, loyalty, and trust that I built with people along the way are the unexpected blessings I could have never anticipated before my journey began.

And that’s what brings me back to the past two years and four months. During this time, I’ve been working with Patty Wetterling – Jacob’s mom – to write her memoir.

When Patty first broached the question almost six years ago, I wasn’t sure I could do it. In fact, I was QUITE sure I couldn’t do it. Who was I after all? A blogger, a copywriter, a marketing manager. What did I know about writing a memoir? But, we dove in. She made me some chocolate chip cookies and sent me home with boxes and bins full of STUFF. There were photos, video tapes, newspapers, phone logs, and important documents related to the investigation. There were copies of the Torchbearer newsletter, sent to those who had been chosen to carry the 1996 Olympic torch from Athens to Atlanta. There was a Christmas card from the Clintons tossed in among many others from family and friends. And, most moving all, were the mementos of Jacob’s – a handwritten journal from 6th grade, homemade cards for his mom and dad, and school artwork that went all the way back to kindergarten.

I bought some new watertight bins from the Container Store, labeled them by category, and started organizing the stuff. I can do this part, I thought. Organizing was something I could at least wrap my head around.

And so, it began. I started sifting through all the newspaper articles, case documents, and other memorabilia, then I started making a timeline. Next, I took on the arduous task of converting the VHS tapes to DVDs. I watched all those grave and dire newscasts from the early days of Jacob’s disappearance and was always struck by the abrupt transition of whatever came next… an episode of Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, or a Minnesota Vikings football game. The before and after of their lives was so apparent and stark.

Next step… the actual writing. At first I was a cheerleader who encouraged Patty to “just write.” While I made scene cards, researched newspaper archives, and kept adding to my timeline, Patty started writing pages of her life. We created a system. She’d send me a draft, I’d type comments in the margins and mark places where I wanted to know more. We plugged along and started to catch our groove.

Then, all hell broke loose. On October 28, 2015, Danny Heinrich was arrested and named a person of interest in Jacob’s kidnapping. Ten months after that, Heinrich accepted a plea deal and led authorities to Jacob’s remains.

As you can imagine, Patty’s memoir was put on the back burner for a long while as she and her family struggled to make sense of the past 27 years. It was all so horrible. But, with time and love, Patty started to get her bearings again. And so, we got back to writing.

The only problem was, now we had a much bigger story to tell. The autobiographical memoir of Patty’s life that we originally set out to write no longer seemed relevant. We needed to add the story of how Jacob was found, on top of Patty’s life and legacy. We were overwhelmed by the enormity of it all and not even sure how to start.

So, we got going again with a renewed determination, a new story structure, and a whole new set of sticky notes.

That was about two years and four months ago. Now, after a lot of sweat and tears, we finally have a completed first draft. Earlier this summer we sent it out to four very smart beta readers, and using their feedback and suggestions, we are now diligently working on a second draft. If all goes as planned, we hope to have a final draft that is ready for querying in the very near future.

You may have noticed I’m using the word “we” a lot here. To clarify, this is still Patty’s memoir, written in first person. However, over this very long process, I have moved steadily from cheerleader, to writing coach, to editor, to ghostwriter, and now… to co-author. I’m so grateful to this amazing woman for believing in me. Thank you, Patty.

I promise to share more about our progress and I’ll try not to make you wait so long between blog posts. As it turns out, a lot can happen over two years and four months.

Finally, one more update. Many have asked for a status update on Chris Newberry’s Jacob Wetterling documentary (which is the last post I wrote two years and four months ago). Chris recently sent some exciting news in his newsletter about a new deal with a London-based production company. You can read all about it (and sign up for the newsletter) here:

Chris Newberry Productions – August 12, 2021 newsletter

Thanks to everyone who’s checked in on me at joy.the.curious over the past two years and four months. Stay healthy and stay tuned!

Next time

Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope

24 Comments

1. Julie Plante | August 23, 2021 at 8:58 pm

   Dear Joy,
   It is wonderful to hear what’s new. Congratulations to you and Patty for the courage, commitment, friendship, and trust to get words onto paper. I will be excited to own a copy of the book.
   Julie

2. Kathleen Magrew | August 23, 2021 at 9:08 pm

   It was such a joy to get your update email. What a wonderful project. The Wetterling family will always have a place in my heart–I donate to Zero Abuse monthly now. I will patiently await the next update. Oh, and by the way, I love the large print labels on the bins. I, too, am organizing all my photos and correspondence of a lifetime. Once the items are scanned, I will choose photos and write stories about them — my memories.

3. Rosie Peterson | August 23, 2021 at 9:13 pm

   I absolutely am so proud of both of you lovely ladies!! Your friendship, talent of writing and focusing on the end result is amazing. Hugs to two beautiful women!

   Rosie Peterson

4. Jan Redman | August 23, 2021 at 9:14 pm

   Wow, Joy!!! This is such an exciting path you’ve been on these past two years and four months! You are incredible!!!

5. Marlene Dehne | August 23, 2021 at 9:14 pm

   Wow you are amazing! I am so glad you decided to take this on with Patty.
   Can’t wait to read it.

6. Sharon Ryba | August 23, 2021 at 9:18 pm

   I’ve thought about what you were doing so often. So glad to hear you are well and that you are working together with Patty on this incredible project. Wishing you the best!!

7. Joy’s mom | August 23, 2021 at 9:31 pm

   So proud of your tenacity and heart, and Patty for her strength and courage. You are both loved

8. Annette Benson | August 23, 2021 at 9:34 pm

   Thanks for the update! I look forward to reading this!

9. Ruth McDonnell | August 23, 2021 at 9:38 pm

   You are both amazing and inspiring. So wonderful your journey has progressed so far. God bless you and give you peace.

10. Mabyn Armstrong | August 23, 2021 at 10:06 pm

    My heart is with both you and Patty as you write Jacob’s story. Patty’s courage is unsurpassed. Her tenacity, grace and magnitude of heart is the foundation of Jacob’s story. I am so grateful to you Joy for bringing closure to his story. I remember in a presentation at a law enforcement conference, Patty recounted an experience she had where she received a letter from a young girl who told Patty she must never give up hope because if she was Jacob, she would not want to come home if her Mom had given up hope.
    When I heard Patty tell this story, My heart swelled because I realized the reality of what I imagined Patty was living every day. Hope can be a torturous curse. Every day you wake up with hope believing that this day might be the day that a miracle will happen and Jacob will be found. Then you go to bed with the despair that it was not. Torture because of the constant exposure to two extremes – hope and despair. I cannot fathom the courage it takes to live those extremes for years and years on a daily basis. I wish I could have carried some of the burden of that. I am grateful to you joy for bringing an end to that torturous cycle.
    It was not the end anyone would have wanted but it ended the cycle of hope and despair. I cannot think about Jacob’s story without thinking of that story.
    I wish I could have carried just part of that burden of hope.
    Love to you both.
    Mabyn

11. P.M. | August 23, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    So happy to read your post. I’ve missed you! Looking forward to the book you are both working on.

12. Shannon Koshiol | August 23, 2021 at 10:52 pm

    Wow. That’s incredible. Best wishes to you both. It’s an amazing story to share.

13. Jean | August 23, 2021 at 10:55 pm

    It is so great to hear from you! I am looking forward to this new book.

14. Amy | August 23, 2021 at 11:28 pm

    Thank you for the update, I look forward to reading the book!

15. Claudia Hopkins | August 24, 2021 at 4:53 am

    Joy I have always loved your posts and look forward to more!

16. Janet Strandlie | August 24, 2021 at 8:04 am

    I am Jennifer’s (the college girl at the convenience store) mom, and I have been following this story all these years. I will definitely be buying the book — several copies! My praises to you both…

17. Stephanie | August 24, 2021 at 10:15 am

    Joy and Patty,

    I began crying when I read this paragraph, “It’s not just that Jacob was found. That, in itself, is such a miracle I still find it hard to believe. But, the bonds of deep friendship, loyalty, and trust that I built with people along the way are the unexpected blessings I could have never anticipated before my journey began”, and I’m still crying. Your story, Patty’s story, Jacob’s story…has touched me deeply. Thank you for sharing it. I wish I could hug you both. Believe me, I’m sending hugs through my written word.

    I wish you all good health, and may your writing continue with effortless grace. I look forward to reading more posts and this book.

    Stephanie

    P.S what is a beta reader, and how does one become one?

18. Vicki | August 24, 2021 at 10:29 am

    So happy to read your post! Excited to read the book,

19. Beth R | August 24, 2021 at 1:10 pm

    What a wonderful update, and so timely! Yesterday directly behind the old Villa Am Meer on the beach I looked up your blog for the weekend caretaker, a young man who was interested in the history of the place he was working. I have been inside the now refurbished Villa, it is beautiful. Your writing and blog on Jacobs story have been amazing. I cannot wait to read Patty’s book. As someone who lives full time on Longboat Key but used to live in St. Cloud, MN, I have read each entry with much interest and especially Jacobs since that was such a gut punch. Thanks for the update, can’t wait to hear what you write about next!

20. Karen | August 30, 2021 at 9:35 am

    It was great to get a notification of a new post from you. I’ll be looking forward to more. Thanks, Joy.

21. Joan | September 19, 2021 at 9:18 pm

    Thank you for the update. I am old enough to remember the news of Jacob when it happened. I am so appreciative that you helped other victims know they were not alone. Finally to have some closure. I was hoping the legislature would have followed up on more accountability of local county Sheriff’s with the BCA or Department of public safety as Stearns county sheriff let so many people down. I look forward to the memoir.

22. Wendy Graves | September 21, 2021 at 4:30 pm

    All I can say is “WOW”, what an unimaginable nightmare that turned into a loving friendship between two unbelievable women!

23. Kat | October 8, 2022 at 8:07 pm

    Hi Joy. I heard about this case shortly after moving to Minnesota years ago after an acquaintance mentioned they were covering this case on the In the Dark podcast. I didn’t come across your blog until after the first season had finished, and I was astonished how much work you and Jared Scheirl did to connect all the dots. Did In the Dark ever contact you to be on the podcast? I thought it was strange they talked to Jared but not to you. Take care!

24. joy.the.curious | October 10, 2022 at 10:12 am

    Hi Kat. Thanks for your message. Actually, Madeleine Baran did interview me for the podcast, so I’m not sure why it wasn’t included. There was a short clip that they used in their promotional trailer, but that was it. I do have to admit, I was a little surprised and disappointed not to be included at all, but I know they did a lot of last minute scrambling and rewriting since Jacob’s remains were found the same week the podcast came out.

Back in August of 2015, just weeks before Danny Heinrich was arrested as a suspect in Jacob Wetterling’s kidnapping, a local filmmaker approached Patty Wetterling with the idea of making a documentary about Jacob’s story. His name was Chris Newberry and they were just in the early talking phases at that point. After a few more conversations, the Wetterlings agreed to let Chris begin filming later that fall.

That’s when all hell broke loose.

From the very first day Chris began filming, he was right there in the thick of it, recording and watching history unfold as the mystery of Jacob’s 27-year-old disappearance came to a painful and dramatic conclusion.

Now, three and a half years later, Chris Newberry is finally nearing the completion of his documentary film. While filming for the “Jacob Wetterling Documentary” (a working title) is starting to wrap up, Chris and his team will soon begin the arduous process of editing together hundreds of hours of video footage in order to prepare a rough cut for potential distributors.

That takes time. And money.

Chris and his team just launched a fundraising campaign this week with a goal of raising $60,000 to help complete the film. It has been a labor of love – a legacy project for Jacob – and many of us have poured our hearts out onscreen trying to explain how Jacob’s disappearance not only changed the world, but also changed us.

For those of you who have followed Jacob’s story on my blog, this is your chance to support the film and contribute to Jacob Wetterling’s ongoing legacy. I promise I have no financial interest in this film, nor do the Wetterlings, nor anyone else for that matter. It’s simply a story that needs to be told, and with our help, Chris Newberry and his team can enter the final phase of production to get it done.

When Chris told me he was going to launch a crowdsourcing campaign to help fund the film, I admit I was apprehensive. I know very little about the film industry or how these things work, so I had a lot of questions. He graciously took the time to answer all of them for me and asked for nothing in return. He is a kind, caring, honest person who has put much of his own heart and soul into this project.

I thought long and hard before deciding to write this article. I hate asking people for money, but I want to see this film get done… and get done right. I also figured if I had a lot of questions, others would, too, so I asked Chris if he would mind if I interviewed him for an article on my blog. Again, he graciously agreed.

This seems like a huge story with a lot of interest. Why do you need funding? Is this common?

We’re an independent filmmaking team based in Minnesota, so we’re not a Hollywood entity coming in from out of town trying to tell a story from the heartland. This is a hometown story for us because we live here. Jacob is one of us.

Being an independent documentary crew, our resources are very minimal. We’ve been working on this project for three and a half years, and, to date, it’s mostly been through blood, sweat, and tears.  We received a little bit of funding early on from the Minnesota State Arts Board, but that was spent long ago.

We believe in Jacob’s story, and we hope that someday it’s going to find a bigger audience on a national platform. We can’t depend on that though. For an independent documentary of such a large scale, it’s pretty common to claw your way to this point and then have to pause and start fundraising when the expenses start to mount.

Our hope is that once we get a rough cut edited, we…ll get to a stage where resources will be easier to come by, once broadcasters and funders can see the vision. There are so many true crime stories out there right now, the field can be very competitive. However, so many of them focus their attention on the more sensational films and series. What we’re trying to do is something with integrity.

Assuming you reach your fundraising goal, how will the funds be used?

We are putting together a high quality film that we want everyone to be proud of once it’s done. That takes a lot of experience, plus the tools to do it, and that’s where the expenses come in. 

Our first step will be to hire an experienced film editor who can help us pull everything together to make this the best possible film it can be.

Why crowdfunding?

From previous experience raising money for films, it takes a multi-faceted approach with many different options for support. Crowdfunding is just one of them. We know Jacob’s story has touched so many people, especially in Minnesota, so it seemed like a natural fit. Many Minnesotans have sort of “adopted” Jacob after following his story for so many years. This is their chance to show their support. We wanted to giving everybody a chance to have a part in the making of this film.

Starting in May, we’ll also be hosting a series of Trailer Release Parties to help raise additional funds for the film. Each event will feature an exclusive sneak peek of the new film, as well as speakers from the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center (or other local child advocacy groups) and a conversation with the filmmakers.

Are contributions tax deductible?

For those who wish to make a larger donation and get a tax deduction, we are set up to do that. Larger donors can make their contribution through FilmNorth, our fiscal sponsor. They are a 501(c)(3). More information is available on the Contribute page of our website.

Why do you feel you are the right person to tell this story?

I’m a Minnesota kid, born and raised here. I currently live in Minneapolis with my wife and two daughters. I was 14 when Jacob was abducted, and I remember it well. I watched the whole thing unfold on the news back in 1989, and it really affected me. The mystery of what happened to Jacob was always with me, just like it was for most Minnesotans. 

I’d like to believe I have the compassion and sensitivity to navigate the telling of the story. My first contact was Alison Feigh at the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. There was a billboard campaign back in the fall of 2014 surrounding the 25 year anniversary of Jacob’s disappearance. I researched his case for almost a year before I finally got up the nerve in August of 2015 to send a cold email to Alison. Bless her soul, she got back to me within a half hour, and five days later, I was sitting down with Patty and Alison in Minneapolis and having a “getting to know you” meeting.

What do you think it is about Jacob’s story that made people have the way they did? Why has it resonated all these years?

Many people told me it had a lot to do with Jacob’s photo… his electric, magnetic smile. That school photo of him in his gold sweater is such a recognizable image, it helped form a connection for the wider public and made us all empathize for Jacob and his family. We all wanted to find out what happened to this boy.

Another factor is the circumstances of the case. Sadly, there are thousands of missing children in the U.S., but very few of their stories involve such chilling details as Jacob’s. He was kidnapped by a stranger, a masked gunman who came out of the shadows and stole Jacob away right off his own street. His younger brother and best friend were with him when it happened, so we knew it was real because there were eyewitness accounts. If you wrote it in a novel, it almost sounds too far-fetched, but it really happened, right here in small town Minnesota.

And, of course, the other key resonating factor is Patty. The story of how this unassuming person rose up and became this national advocate for missing and exploited children may have just as much to do with the public’s attachment to this story as Jacob himself.

Are the Wetterlings supportive of this project?

Yes. It was really important to me, right from the beginning, to get the Wetterlings’ blessing. It was also important to me to hear the story in Patty and Jerry’s own words, and I feel really fortunate that this journey has allowed me to spend many, many hours on several different occasions speaking one-on-one with them. At this point, we’ve formed a pretty substantial bond that’s built on trust. I feel like I have an incredible responsibility to several people in the film who’ve given up their time, and also shared their deeply emotional feelings with me. I feel very honored to have been given all this access.

When will the film be completed?

We hope to have a rough cut completed by the end of the year, with the final version available in mid 2020. We’re doing our best to get it done as soon as possible, and that’s where the community’s support comes in.

Anything else you’d like to add?

When I first started this project, I always considered Jacob Wetterling a household name because it is here in Minnesota. But, when I started interacting with people around the country, I started to realize Jacob’s story wasn’t as familiar to people outside the state. Even though it’s been almost 30 years, this is a story that is still in need of a national platform. It needs to be told.

There are all these inspiring people at the center of the story, none moreso than Patty herself, but there are also all these others who are doing good work in Jacob’s name. They are Minnesota treasures, and people across the country don’t know their stories. So, to me, I want to share Jacob’s story with the world, but also to raise up the profiles of some of these other people so Americans can be inspired by the examples they’ve set. 

You can show your support for this film by making a contribution of any amount to Chris Newberry’s GoFundMe campaign…

Next time

Two years and four months

6 Comments

1. Karen | April 24, 2019 at 8:58 pm

   Will the documentary be shown on a TV channel people will be able to see even if you don’t have cable,or be in theatres?

2. joy.the.curious | April 24, 2019 at 9:02 pm

   Karen,

   Possibly, but it just depends who picks up the film. It could be a network broadcaster, a streaming service, or who knows.

3. M. Shirley Chong | April 24, 2019 at 11:07 pm

   Has Dan Rassier been given an opportunity to clear his name and to express the mental trauma he and his family were put through due to the poor quality of the initial investigation?

4. joy.the.curious | April 25, 2019 at 5:59 am

   M. Shirley Chong,

   Not long after the resolution of Jacob’s case, Dan Rassier filed a lawsuit against the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. Litigation is still ongoing.

5. Linda Rolf | April 25, 2019 at 6:44 am

   Maybe one of our local news channels would tell their audience that this documentary is being made and they have launched a fundraiser to keep the project moving. I think it would be a good way to get attention for the film and raise money. This is a very important story for most Minnesotans.

6. Mark | July 8, 2021 at 12:54 am

   Joy, I hope things are going OK for you. You haven’t made a post in a long time and I hope you’re OK.