Wetterling “Person of Interest” to be held on Child Porn Charges

A judge has found enough probable cause to hold the man labeled a “person of interest” in Jacob Wetterling’s abduction behind bars on child porn charges. 

52-year-old Daniel Heinrich was arrested and charged last week with multiple counts of possessing and receiving child pornography. 

The charges came after authorities searched his Annandale home in July for evidence related to Wetterling’s disappearance and a sexual assault case in Cold Spring, Minnesota that occurred 10 months before Wetterling was abducted. 

During the search, police recovered nineteen 3-ring binders full of pornographic images of young boys, and VHS tapes showing hours of boys playing on playgrounds or riding bikes.

Magistrate Judge Tony Leung said Wednesday that the amount of child pornography found in Heinrich’s home and evidence of a longstanding fixation on boys justified keeping him behind bars. 

Heinrich has not been charged in the Wetterling case, but has been named a person of interest. 

He has denied any involvement in Wetterling’s disappearance.