Two more incidents
Posted by joy.the.curious on Jun 8, 2014 in Jacob | 25 comments
After a much needed break, I’m back in the saddle again. I think by now I have received close to 100 comments, tips, and private messages since our story about the 1986-87 Paynesville incidents first aired on Twin Cities news stations three weeks ago. It was a full time job just trying to field all the comments, pass the information along to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, and follow up with people as time allowed.
Again, I’d like to thank everyone for caring and getting involved. I can’t say enough how kind and accommodating the people of Paynesville have been in helping unravel this mystery. Most are amazed they had never heard about it before, but here’s the thing. The grown-ups may not remember these incidents, but if you were a kid living in Paynesville during that time, you can bet they remember it.
The kids called this guy “Chester the Molestor.” They may not have known the exact details of the attacks, nor even the boys involved… but they knew this. There was a guy who was dressed in black, hiding in the bushes, jumping out, and molesting kids after dark. And they were terrified.
Just to back up for a second… the original newspaper article described five attacks in Paynesville during 1986-1987. According to the article, the attacks happened in the following locations:
By the river
In the hockey rink area
Downtown Ben Franklin area
Middle school playground
Alley between the middle school and the hospital
Here’s the map again, so you can see where these incidents took place.
View Paynesville Incidents, 1986-1987 on Google Maps
In my last article about these incidents, “The 1986-87 Paynesville incidents – an update,” we had found the victims involved in the attacks that took place by the hockey rink, Ben Franklin, and the alley. (We also found a new one altogether that occurred at 111 Lyndall Ave.) However, we were still missing two… the one that took place by the river, and the one that took place at the middle school playground. We believe we have now found the people involved in the attack that took place at the playground, and another group of young men who were involved in an incident that took place by the river.
Here are their stories.
Middle School Playground
This is most likely the first of the reported attacks and took place during mid-June, 1986. It was “Town and Country Days” in Paynesville, and two boys, ages 12 and 13, were hanging out at the middle school playground with another girl their age. The young man I spoke to remembers that his older sister was coming to pick them up at 10pm, so he figures it must have been around 9:30pm when this incident happened.
The three kids were playing “ghost” which is a game like hide-and-seek. They were all three hiding when suddenly one of the boys started to yell for help. He was hiding behind a “triangle piece of playground equipment” that was located by a side door of the school.
The other two kids went running over to help their friend. When they got there, a guy who was dressed in all black took off running. He was wearing a coat, but they couldn’t say exactly what kind. According to the boy who had yelled for help, this man had snuck up from behind, grabbed him, and shoved his hands into the boy’s front pockets.
The kids were really scared and afraid to walk anywhere in the dark, so they decided to just stay together under a street light and wait for the older sister to pick them up.
The mother of one of the boys took them both to the police station to file a police report. The boys met with two officers, but neither felt like they were believed or taken seriously. The general takeaway from the meeting was that the boys shouldn’t have been out after dark, and the guy was probably just trying to steal the kid’s wallet.
By the River
We’re not entirely sure on the date of this attack, but the young man who relayed the information to me believes it was the summer of 1987, which would mean it took place after the article was published in May 1987. If that’s the case, this would… again… be another incident altogether.
There were at least 4-5 boys who went camping that day. The group was camping on the northeast side of the railroad bridge next to AMPI (Associated Milk Producers, Inc.) They hung out there a lot… it was across the railroad tracks, and if you forged through the trees, you came out to a clearing where the river curved a bit and made a shallow sandbar.
They all knew about “Chester the Molestor” at this point, and one of the boys had even been involved in one of the previous attacks (he was the one who had been riding his bike with his friend and went for help when the guy came running out of the pine trees by the hockey rink).
(Note, they are the first to admit this wasn’t the smartest decision they had ever made. However, they were young, rebellious, and feeling invincible. They felt they had strength in numbers and were willing to take the risk.)
It was after dark when one of the boys decided to head back up the hill toward AMPI to grab a can of pop from the pop machine. As he went to jump over a log, he lost his balance and grabbed on to a stump to steady himself.
It wasn’t a stump.
It was a guy… dressed in black… who had been spying on the group.
The boy ran all the way back to the camp site to warn the others. They were terrified, but even worse, they were trapped. The camp was surrounded by water on three sides, and there was only one way out… back up the hill. They decided their best defense was to stay together as a group, so that’s what they did. They sat in a circle with their backs to each other, holding their pocket knives… all night long.
The mother of the boy involved in this incident did bring him into the police station to file a report. However, like most of the others, the report no longer exists due to the statute of limitations on the case. If you have any information regarding these or similar incidents around the Paynesville area during this time, please contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 259-3700. You may also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
Next time
Another incident and some exciting news…
25 Comments
Liz | June 8, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Joy
Is there any update on the men that police are looking into? Could you touch on that?Debra Johnson | June 8, 2014 at 11:02 pm
Glad you are back Joy! I have been obsessed with Jacob’s disappearance since the day after it happened. My own son was one and 1/2 at the time. I noticed that Jacob was a hockey player and his father “felt” Jacob was being watched that day. Was Jared a hockey player? If so, did they go to the same rink?
joy.the.curious | June 9, 2014 at 6:22 am
Liz, I assume you are talking about Delbert and Tim Huber. They were arrested in 2011 (and later convicted) for the murder of Tim Larson, a teacher from St. Michael Albertville. I don’t usually allow comments that name suspects, but because this was covered on the news after our story aired, I thought I would follow-up. Several tips came in about the Hubers, and I know those tips are being looked at very seriously. However, they are not the only ones, and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage people to contact them with information about any of these cases. The number again is (320) 259-3700.
joy.the.curious | June 9, 2014 at 6:33 am
Debra, you are correct. Jacob was a hockey player, and he had been at the hockey rink earlier in the day. There was a moment when his dad lost sight of him and he got an eerie feeling, but he doesn’t know whether he was being watched. Jared from Cold Spring was not a hockey player. On the day he was abducted, he had been ice skating with a big group of friends at an outdoor rink near his house. Later, they went to a downtown cafe, and he was walking home from there when he was abducted. Over the years, I’ve noticed several news reports that state Jared was walking home from hockey practice when he was abducted, but that’s not true. I’ve also heard several theories about a “hockey link,” but very few of the Paynesville victims were hockey players at that time.
Carol | June 9, 2014 at 7:24 am
Hi Joy, you wrote that one of the boys (in the 2nd story ‘camping’) ran up the hill to get something out of his car. So at least one of the boys was 16 then right? (he would of had to be, to have a drivers license) I was just curious, as I thought in all the other scenarios, the boys were of a younger age. Thank you for all the work you have done on these cases. Hopefully, some concrete answers will surface!
Liz | June 9, 2014 at 11:22 am
Thanks Joy
I was actually referring to any of the people the police are looking into….
To bring all this up again …it is nice to keep posted on the police findings and or progress…it keeps people motivated to find the people or know what is going on if it is continued to be talked about…
I know in the news it stated they were going to interview the Hubers again..do you know how that went …
LizJanet Grafenstein | June 9, 2014 at 11:57 am
Has anyone thought of church related. Were the boys all 1 denomination: i.e. Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran ? Did they go to the same church or have the same pastor/priest ? It seems that the molester knew each of the boys, maybe by stalking them unaware or maybe by being members of 1 church ?
Just a thought. I am praying you get results on this for all those who were victims or near victims, so they can put it to rest somehow.joy.the.curious | June 9, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Carol,
According to the newspaper article, the boys involved in these incidents were between the ages of 12-16. However, the boys involved in this particular incident were not old enough to drive. I had originally stated that the boy had gone up the hill to get something out of his car, but that was wrong. He went up the hill to buy a can of pop from the pop machine. Fixed now.
Jennifer | June 9, 2014 at 8:24 pm
Hi Joy, I’m curious, how close was the Huber farm to the attacks in Paynesville? I read in a couple of news reports that the Huber’s house and out-buildings were torn down at some point after their convictions; do you know if it was ordered to be demolished by the family or by the State? The first option would IMO point to a desire to destroy evidence of other crimes before they could be uncovered. As many others have written, I too hope the perpetrator(s) of the Paynesville incidents, Jared’s attack, and Jacob’s kidnapping are brought to justice soon.
Kathy Ebert | June 10, 2014 at 11:30 am
Joy, I just had to post this to you. It is interesting that Jodi Huisentruit’s hometown was not far away from Paynesville. Even though she was abducted in Iowa, there was a white Ford van involved. I just thought this was very interesting. I have been very interested in the Jacob case and have been following along in this case. I remember the Roberts, Wisconsin, incident that was around the same time and the sketch that came out at that time of the abductor that took a young boy there but he was found safe at a truck stop I believe.
Clarence Dee | June 10, 2014 at 1:29 pm
for Kathy Ebert or Joy: Is this one of the sketches that has been seen on the internet before or is this something completely new? Thanx.
Curious Also | June 12, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Mr. Huber has spoken to the media from prison. He does have a very distinctive voice. I’m assuming the paynesville victims have been exposed to his voice but if not here is the interview. http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/25742978/one-on-one-delbert-huber-discusses-wetterling-interview
He continues to wear his hair long which also covers his distinctly large ears. In the interview he claims his neighbors reported him to the police because he has a white van and because they were jealous of him. Pretty sure there is nothing about this man others would be jealous of. WOuld be interesting to know if Jared has anything to say about the Hubers.Liz | June 12, 2014 at 9:57 pm
http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auction_images/134/documents/Flyer.pdf
The house went into auctions I am sure that the people who bought it flattened the homes cause they wanted the land. The Huber did not live in that house when he shot the man for $50.Kathy E | June 12, 2014 at 10:16 pm
It was a previous sketch from years ago.
Kathy E | June 12, 2014 at 10:19 pm
What happened to Huber’s wife? Did she pass? It intrigues me she lived like that, or did she just up and leave. I would think if you want questions that side of the family may have things to say.
Liz | June 12, 2014 at 10:26 pm
His wife died
His sisters owned it when the farm went into auction http://www.agweek.com/event/auctionsDetail/id/3997/property_id/1/Jennifer | June 12, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Thank you Liz for the information on the auction. It is disappointing they didn’t list out the “various” vehicles. The news today of Delbert Huber’s death is unbelievably frustrating, I really hope it doesn’t slow law enforcement’s momentum in these cases.
Clarence Dee | June 13, 2014 at 11:40 am
Kathy E: 6/12/14 10:16PM. Still would be nice to see the old sketch! Kind of creepy Delbert Huber dying right after the interview 2 days ago.
Curious too | June 13, 2014 at 6:55 pm
With Delbert passing away, I’m thinking officials might be more forthcoming with information related to him as a suspect. Many of us are wondering whether Jared or the victims from the paynesville assaults think he might have been the one who assaulted them.
Im hoping you Joy or some tenacious reporter would find out from investigators what effect if any Delbert’s passing has on what they can say about him as a suspect. Since Jared heard his abductor speak several times I would think he would be able to say with some certainty whether it was Delbert who took him. I’m assuming they let Jared and those who were with Jacob hear Delbert’s voice back about the time Jacob was taken. That voice is pretty unique. Identifying Delbert’s voice might not have been enough evidence to bring charges or convict him but maybe Jared saw and heard enough to belive with some certainty he was the person who took him.
The sketch drawn from Jared’s description sure looks a lot like a younger Delbert Huber.
Curious Too | June 14, 2014 at 6:06 pm
Thank you Jared for your reply. Your pespective is very intresting to know.
Cathy | June 20, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Jared, I am in awe of your strength and courage. I believe with your efforts to help bring this information to light, that this case will indeed get solved.
Clarence Dee | June 20, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Cathy 6/20/14 2:07pm I am like you I think this case can be solved and like Jared said to keep it talking and moving. It feels good and the vibes say yes to it. Keep at it Jared you are Kool.
Bring Jacob Home | October 4, 2014 at 4:32 am
Hi Joy,
I truly believe the offender lived in the surrounding area of that river, within walking distance of where the first several attacks took place. If I’m reading this all correctly, it seems like many of the first attacks the offender was on foot, but once he got more comfortable, he ventured out and was using his car. Great work. I’m praying for Jacob and the family and truly feel God will bring closure and justice to the family.
Dave Kelley | October 15, 2014 at 4:45 am
Hi, I’m really happy to have found this page, I also just read ‘Jennifer’s Story’ that’s awesome; I plan to see whatever I can on the subject over time. Looks like all prior entries are from June; I’ve been working on a narrative of the subject, kind of on and off since I first saw “The Hunt” which I recorded and have watched several times. I’m extremely happy to see that Jared is active in this and has posted here; I’ve felt that he can be of most help. I don’t really have any specific questions or comments right now, but, did want to say Hi and encourage active participation in this matter. I believe it can and should be resolved. Let me make one comment that has occurred to me, especially since it is in regard to Jared. Going from all the information I could get from the Hunt, it appears that all the incidences that I noticed a date for, were on a Saturday or a Sunday, with the exception of Jared’s, which if I’ve done this right, was on a Friday. I can’t find my notes right now, but, I’m pretty sure I remember this right. If that’s the case, then, I’m thinking that the guy has/had a normal Monday – Friday work schedule, in that all other incidences were on a Saturday or a Sunday, which makes me wonder whether by chance, he was driving home from work on a Friday, when he just happened to spot Jared walking down the road and decided on impulse to take advantage of the situation; in which case, it could possibly give a possible tip as to where the guy worked. What time of day was it when Jared was approached by this guy?
LegendaryHeart | October 27, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Interesting. Maybe the assaults/abductions all happened on weekends because we’re talking about a guy from the cities who owned a cabin property. St. Joseph/Cold Spring/Paynesville could have been near, or along the way.