Dear Jacob

By: Patty Wetterling, Joy Baker - contributor

Narrated by: Rebecca Stern

On October 22, 1989, in the small town of St. Joseph, Minnesota, eleven-year-old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped at gunpoint. Twenty-seven years later, Danny Heinrich led authorities to the boy’s remains. What lies between is the riveting story of the search for Jacob, told by his mother, Patty. With down-to-earth candor, she details the investigation as it unfolds, discusses her family’s struggles, and shows how she maintained her energy and optimism.

For her own survival, Patty chose to focus on hope. She became a speaker, trainer, and national advocate for missing children. Her lobbying work took her to Washington, DC, where in 1994 Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling Act, establishing a national sex offender registry. In 2013, the Wetterlings were joined on their quest for answers by two unlikely allies: local blogger Joy Baker and plumber Jared Scheierl. Baker convinced Scheierl to come forward and share his story about being kidnapped from a nearby town and sexually assaulted the same year as Jacob. Together, Baker and Scheierl uncovered a string of similar assaults that had never been fully investigated. The combined efforts of this foursome led to the breakthrough that solved the case.

Dear Jacob offers not only a behind-the-scenes account of one of America's most notorious crimes but also a historical account of what has been done in the years since to combat the problem of missing and exploited children.

©2023 Patty Wetterling and Joy Baker (P)2023 Dreamscape Media

Beautifully written.

Wow. Thank you Patty Wetterling for writing this book. I was eight years old when Jacob was kidnapped. I was at that same Tom Thumb just a couple weeks prior, on my friend’s bicycle as I was visiting them in Saint Joe.
I didn’t fully realize why I had so many kidnapping nightmares as a child, or why I to this day still have an instinctual urge to smile and wave, especially at police officers, and then an overlapping instinct telling me not to.
While listening to your story, I realized it was because everything had changed after Jacob was kidnapped. We were all warned not to smile and wave at strangers, for our own protection… I still remember a widespread alert of a blue sedan, suspected to be attempting to kidnap children in our area when I was around 9… ‘Be on the lookout’, we were warned.
I had no idea that you were the one that made the Sex Offender Registry an established thing. Or that it was because of you and the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center and all the people that you inspired, that we have all the child protection efforts that we do have now.
As a child growing up during this time, I wasn’t reading the newspapers, following your story closely. Rather, I was living the changes, not fully understanding their effects on me internally or fully grasping how fortunate I was to be just in the inner cusp of the changes of widespread awareness that helped me be safer in this world.
The cultural differences of ‘before’ and ‘after’ Jacob’s disappearance are etched into my being. I didn’t realize just how much until listening to your book. Thank you for writing this. It helped piece together some of my own personal make-up. And who knows how many countless others’ as well.
If you’re still wondering what (at least one) of the purposes of all of it is, I believe it was so that you would change the world. You certainly changed mine. I believe it was because of you that I wasn’t kidnapped myself – because there were 2 very distinct scary moments that I believe I came really close to it. Your message of awareness being so widespread in such a strong way, instilled in me some boundaries that I don’t think I would’ve otherwise had and wouldn’t have responded to the signs of danger without.
I also have no doubt that via this book and your published letters to Jacob, you clearly helped heal many many children’s hearts who didn’t feel that kind of compassionate, understanding, deep love and emotional support from their own parents, that you gave to your children. I was fortunate to have good parents in this way, but still I know that just witnessing that kind of love taps into our own souls, and heals us in ways we may or may not even realize.
Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for not giving up.
I’m so sorry for everything you and your family and Jacob went through. God bless you, Jacob and your whole family. May your souls be greatly rewarded in the afterlife. 🙏🏻💗

Thank you Patty, Joy, & Jared

Written from the heart. I remember the billboards with Jacob’s picture. They were in & around St. Cloud for years.

Touching

This was so hard to listen to, and I sobbed so many times throughout, but I am truly grateful to Patty for sharing get beloved Jacob with us all. I am forever changed.

A bittersweet story of hope

Fair warning: prepared to cry.
An amazing story of turning a horrific crime into hope for a better and brighter future for children.

A Must Read

A book that breaks your heart but fills you with hope at the same time.

A heartbreaking yet hope-filled journey

I had not heard of Jacob before this but am glad I have now. Thank you, Patty for sharing your story and for Jacob’s sustaining hope.

Narration is painfully slow

I couldn’t stand listening to this on regular speed - the narration is so slow it’s infuriating. Great story by Patty, loved hearing her perspective

Tearjerker

Such a great book. Looking forward to watch the documentary. The author makes it seem like you are right there during the series of events. Definitely recommend. I can't imagine what this family has gone through to seek justice for Jacob.

so a powerful story

So well written. I grew up in Minnesota and very vividly remember Jacob's story. I remember Patty talking at my school, I remember looking at every white cargo van. I remember when Jacob was found that labor day weekend.
it was hard to listen to but I'm so glad I did. The Wetterlings have done so many amazing things for all children.

Heart wrenching with Hope

We live in Minnesota and followed your story closely. This book is very well written. It brought a lot tears of pain you went through but also happy tears of the support and love around the country. If you are from Minnesota or just familiar with the case I highly recommend reading this book.