Man Wrongly Named Person of Interest in Wetterling Abduction Sues

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota man who was wrongly named a person of interested in the 1989 abduction of Jacob Wetterling is suing authorities.

Dan Rassier filed his federal lawsuit Wednesday. He was publicly named as a person of interested in 11-year-old Jacob’s abduction in 2010 after his central Minnesota farm was searched by authorities.

Rassier maintained his innocence but wasn’t cleared until last year after another man confessed and led authorities to Jacob’s remains. Danny Heinrich is serving a 20-year sentence on separate child pornography charges.

Rassier and his mother, Rita, are seeking more than $2 million in damages.

Among other things, the lawsuit against Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner and others alleges investigators obtained a search warrant for the farm illegally. A defense attorney didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.