Quick Info
| Profession | Criminal (admitted kidnapper and murderer) |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 02/02/1963 |
| Age | 63 years |
| Birthplace | Paynesville, Minnesota |
Latest News about Danny Heinrich
17/07/2026
A 2026 ABC News report revisited the Jacob Wetterling case and noted that Heinrich remains imprisoned after his 2015 arrest led to a plea deal in which he confessed to Wetterling's murder. The report also highlighted renewed public attention on the case as investigators and survivors continue discussing its lasting impact.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Danny Heinrich is an American man who admitted to kidnapping and murdering 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling in 1989, a case that remained unsolved for nearly 27 years. He was initially arrested in 2015 on child pornography charges, which led to DNA evidence linking him to the abduction and sexual assault of another boy, Jared Scheierl, in 1989. In September 2016, he confessed in court to Wetterling's murder and Scheierl's assault, revealing the location of Wetterling's remains as part of a plea agreement. |
|---|---|
| Notable Case | Jacob Wetterling abduction and murder (1989) |
| Full Name | Danny James Heinrich |
Personal Life
| Early Life | Grew up in a modest household in Paynesville, Minnesota with a seemingly normal childhood prior to criminal activities. |
|---|---|
| Residence | Annandale, Minnesota |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. He was an early suspect in Jacob Wetterling's abduction but originally denied any connection to the case [1]. | |
| 2. DNA evidence linked him to the 1989 sexual assault of Jared Scheierl, another boy [5]. | |
| 3. He pointed authorities to Jacob Wetterling's remains, which were unearthed shortly before his court confession [1]. | |
| 4. He is currently incarcerated at FMC Devens in Massachusetts and scheduled for release in 2032 [7]. | |
| 5. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child pornography charges uncovered during the Wetterling investigation [6]. | |
| 6. He admitted to abducting and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy on January 13, 1989, in addition to the murder of Jacob Wetterling on October 22, 1989. | |
| 7. He possessed between 10 and 150 child pornography images, including images of prepubescent minors under the age of 12, portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct. |