The confessed killer of Jacob Wetterling was sentenced to 20 years behind bars not for the murder of the child but for child pornography possession. Jacob Wetterling's punishment is part of a plea deal as he admitted to killing the boy and showed where his body was buried.
NPR reported that the killer, identified as 53-year-old Danny Heinrich, admitted to killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling earlier this year. The admission came three decades after Jacob Wetterling went missing crushing the hopes of the child's parents that he is still alive.
Due to the plea deal, Danny Heinrich will never face murder charges. He has to serve only the sentence handed down regarding the federal child pornography charge.
During the sentencing, Danny Heinrich said that he is sorry for his evil acts that he has done against the victims and their families, as well as the shame that he has brought to his own family. He added, "The suffering and pain they have spoken today I will always remember. Mr. and Mrs. Wetterling: the heinous acts, the selfishness are unforgivable for what I have taken away from you."
The mother of Jacob Wetterling, Patty, said that Danny Heinrich did not have to kill Jacob Wetterling because all her son wanted to do was to go home. Danny Heinrich said in his story that the boy asked him if he could go home after he was sexually assaulted.
Nearly 30 years ago, Danny Heinrich abducted Jacob Wetterling, sexually assaulted him and killed him with a gun. Heinrich said earlier this year that he heard the siren coming from a police car and he panicked so he killed Jacob Wetterling while he was facing away from him.
Another boy was sexually assaulted by Danny Heinrich but that boy was let go. Heinrich will not face charges regarding the other sexual assault, USA Today reported.
It is possible that after Danny Heinrich completes his 20-year sentence, he might be subject to civil commitment as a sex offender. Judge John Tunheim calls the killing of Jacob Wetterling as one of the most horrible crimes he has seen.
