On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. While this theory would explain Wheeler's behavior and injuries and the results of his autopsy, it does have one major flaw; Wheeler's body still had money, jewelry and an expensive watch when it was found in the Wilmington landfill. Terry added: We were not able to speak to that couple. Unsolved Mysteries is back and more haunting than ever.The first episode of the season's second volume explores what happened to John "Jack" Wheeler. The autopsy lists a number of severe injuries, including a collapsed lung, broken ribs, swollen lips, and external neck injury, lacerations, and more. On December 31, 2010 the body of John "Jack" Wheeler III was . In 2017, Wheeler's wife Kathy Klyce toldWashington Post she believed he messed with the wrong person. All the dance numbers! SkyFOX was over the scene where a body of a toddler was found Thursday. Never even addressed this and the journalist thought those minutes were the biggest mystery. It was,apparently (opens in new tab), not the only office building he went to; he also visited a Mitre office. A one-year old is missing in Wheeling, following the murder of her mother. During his mental break, he might have made a pass at one or both of the guys who was . 1. A ring stood out as no ring that I had ever seen before. It was a West Pont Military Academy ring, class of 1966. Subsequently, all the dumpsters in Newark were examined, and a partial DNA match with Jack from inside one of them was found. In addition, Wheeler's Rolex watch, West Point ring, and wallet with money were all left on him. On the one hand, some people say, as the result of a bipolar episode, Wheeler could have been confused and disoriented, and therefore made a seemingly odd decisionsuch as climbing into a dumpster for warmth in the middle of the night. The footage shows him walking toward Rodney Square at around 8:40 p.m. But because there was video footage of Jack from days before his estimated date of death seemingly not acting himself, it brought more questions into the fray. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Lauren Kranc is the assistant content strategy editor at Esquire, where she runs the brands social media accounts and covers pop culture and television, with entirely too narrow an expertise on true crime shows. "But it is just one aspect, it's not the focus of our investigation.". Because of the way Jack Wheeler was found, it was evident that foul play was involved, so as soon as the investigators arrived, they secured the landfill and began combing through the tons and tons of trash for any evidence. He was responsible for the smoke bombs in the neighboring house, and for trashing his kitchen. The discovery prompted an investigation into his mysterious death and the investigation unearthed some bizarre circumstances surrounding the days before his death. If you have information about Wheeler's death, visit unsolved.com. Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries is back again with Volume 2, and it is as intriguing and bone-chilling as ever. His wife claimed that he had been independently investigating the construction project and might have stumbled across a secret worth killing for as part of the investigation. This was the last time anyone reported seeing him alive. Wheeler was, at the time, embroiled in a legal battle against the houses construction, and his cell phone was found there after his death. He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him.". Wheeler's contention was that it was illegal to use that land which had been part of the historic military site Battery Park for residential purposes. John Parsons Wheeler III (December 14, 1944 - c. December 30, 2010), known as Jack Wheeler, was an American businessman and former White House aide.Wheeler was chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, senior planner for Amtrak (1971-1972), official of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1978-1986), chief executive and CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, consultant to the . We were not able to do an interview with the Newark [Delaware] police department. The chief problem with this theory is that few believe Wheeler would have sought shelter in a garbage dumpster, even if he were afraid of being watched on the street, after spending most of his first night on the run in the basement of an office building. To add to the confusion, a couple of days before Wheelers body was found, somebody had set off smoke bombs at a construction site across the street from his house. This case is covered in the first episode of .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Volume Two of Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries reboot. He saw a therapist and took medication. An hour later, Wheeler shows up in security footage at a parking garage. ", Related: How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix'sAmerican Murder: The Family Next Door: Her Brother Speaks Out. "Whats puzzling about that case is it wasnt just a random assault or street mugging. According to Today, the coroner's report said Murphy . He was also seen on CCTV cameras at a parking garage, looking distressed as he claimed his briefcase had been stolen while he walked along in only one shoe. What robber is barefoot? Then, when the garbage truck came in the morning to dispose of the dumpster, the machinery man-handling him could have killed him, leaving him with wounds and contusions that resembled a beating. Wheeler was wearing black pants and a white shirt. True crime docuseries Unsolved Mysteries Volume Two, now available on Netflix, kicks off with a disturbing first episode. While Jack Wheeler was not a munitions expert, it still seems unlikely he would make such a rudimentary mistake given how meticulous he was in all other aspects of his work. According to the Delaware state medical examiner's office, Jack's official cause of death was blunt force trauma. It is possible, however, that the stress of his briefcase and phone disappearing may have triggered a manic episode. I agree. The second season of the hit Netflix series features a number of different cases, with one episode focusing on the mysterious 2010 disappearance of former presidential aide Jack Wheeler. According to aWashington Postarticle, Wheeler emailed his therapist after he emailed Mitre, saying after a fight with his wife he felt dazed, boxed in a corner. The office building he ended up spending the night at was one in which he had visited to request a consultation with a lawyer, although he left without getting counsel. Wheeler's death was ruled a homicide, due to the intensive damage dealt to his body, which included a punctured lung, broken ribs and a wound on his head. Investigators believe that Jack spent the night of December 29 and part of the day on December 30 in the basement of the office building, and the last known footage of Jack alive is of him leaving the building in the evening of December 30. Given the nature of his work and the circumstances of his death, there are no shortage of theories regarding who might have wanted to kill Jack Wheeler, though the evidence in the case is wildly contradictory in regards to the most-likely suspects. ga('ads.send', { His once orderly life seemed to be unraveling in his last days, which has further befuddled. His body was found in a landfill. Jack was devoted to causes that were for the great benefit of the country such as being executive director of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial," Bayard Marin, Wheelers attorney, said. I bet they were wheelers. But that chilling scene is only the beginning of a sprawling unsolved murder of a former Pentagon official and presidential aide. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. Next up, Chris Watts' confession letters reveal he planned his family's murder all along. This also assumes that Wheeler would ever consider committing a crime. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. I have a theory that Jack Wheeler was the victim of a gay bashing. After spending the day in Washington, he traveled to New Castle, Delaware, where he owned a house. Could be useful. 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted, Horror at Larchwood Care! ga('ads.send', { The injuries are too significant to be rolling in a dumpster. He was the chairman in charge of strategy guidance for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and served as a senior planner for Amtrak. Ultimately, his cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma, and his manner of death was ruled a homicide. Matt Morrison has been writing about comics since before the word "blogging" was coined. Delaware Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of subjects responsible for the death of the victim. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} In 1966, he graduated near the top of his class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and then went on to earn a business degree from Harvard and a law degree from Yale. hitType: 'event', While this theory might explain Wheeler going into hiding and the disappearance of his briefcase, it explains little else regarding the odd circumstances of his death. Jack said No, thanks,'. Was Wheeler's a tragic death related to a bipolar episode, a government-sanctioned assassination plot, or as others believe, a random downtown mugging gone wrong? That was seemingly forgotten on the show. After spending Christmas of 2010 in New York City with his family, Jack Wheeler returned to his second home in New Castle, Delaware alone in the evening of December 28 after a brief stop in Washington for work. As if the circumstances surrounding Wheeler's death weren't odd enough, by the time he was identified and the New Castle City Police Department was notified, an investigation of a potential burglary was already underway at his home in New Castle. An autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined Ja'Nya Murphy died as a result of asphyxiation due to strangulation. John P. Wheeler III, (opens in new tab)known as "Jack," was a graduate of prestigious military academy West Point with a long and impressive resum: presidential aide to Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush, a critical part of getting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial built, and eventually a consultant at Mitre working on classified information in cybersecurity. "He was beaten to death. 40 minutes later, he was captured on tape by a security camera at a parking garage in Wilmington, limping and carrying one of his shoes. Wheeler's erratic behavior before his death and his avoiding his home and cabs in favor of hitchhiking and traveling on foot could be taken as signs that he feared he was being stalked and that the thieves were hunting him to cover their tracks. The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recastagain. 3. .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}So, Which Band Inspired 'Daisy Jones & The Six'? It is unclear how Wheeler wound up in that dumpster and if he was alive or dead at the time. Jan. 3, 2011— -- John Wheeler fought for dignity and honor for the fallen of the Vietnam War. The actress opens up about the surreal process of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel. Another theory is that Wheeler's strange behavior wasn't related to his bipolar at all. According to the Washington Post, he also emailed his therapist that morning saying that he felt dazed, boxed in a corner regarding a fight with his wife, Kathy. ", A third agreed, writing: "Who drove Jack from the pharmacy to the parking garage? Another theory due to his status within the government is that he was killed by the Chinese, because of his knowledge of cyber-security secrets. Dill also reported a bare footprint. SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES FROM FOX 32 NEWS. Everything is 20% off (and we've broken down our picks by dress code, naturally). Bush, and George W. Bush. Wheeler reportedly was in a running dispute with a neighbor who was building a house across the street from his home in New Castle. But you could say I came for the murder and ended up staying for the man, right, because he lived a really fascinating life," Volk says. Wheeler worked in the cybersecurity division of Mitre Corp. Wheeler accomplished a lot in public service. 'But Jack was a really brilliant guy, and Igave him a reading list.' He was beaten and thrown around in such a way that he had several severe injuries all over his body. He also considered it a sacrilege to the memory of the soldiers to whom the park was dedicated. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Any ridge detail? Also, Jack was wearing only one shoe, carrying the other in his hand, and repeatedly telling the personnel there that his briefcase was stolen. He holds both an MS in Information Science from the University of North Texas and a BFA from the University of Texas at Arlington. I vote for him. Content warning: violence. He had one shoe off and the other shoe in his hand. There's also the fact that muggers who kill their victims usually don't bother with hiding the body, much less transporting it 15 miles out of their way to a dumpster in another city. Whatever the truth behind Jack Wheeler's death, it cannot be denied that Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 chose an incredibly intriguing case with which to open its new season. Wheeler's autopsy also revealed that he had suffered a heart attack, but still listed the cause of his death as blunt force trauma. The last footage of Wheeler was him wearing a dark hoodie, walking past the DuPont Hotel in downtown Wilmington. On Dec. 31, 2010, Wheeler's body was discovered as a garbage truck was being emptied at the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. John "Jack" Wheeler, a veterans' advocate and D.C. insider, went missing in 2010. He was several blocks from the parking garage where his car was located, and he appeared visibility distressed, repeatedly telling the attendant that his briefcase had been stolen. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Wheeler had been beaten severely and suffered a heart attack, according to the cops. Some of the things listed in the medical examiners report included aspiration of blood, contusion, rib fracture, lung collapse, soft tissue hemorrhage, external neck injury, swollen lips, laceration and injury to the mouth. The cause of death was blunt force trauma.". An autopsy found that he was a victim of homicide, but police are not releasing any details of the medical report. In his later years, Wheeler had become particularly focused on a house that was being built across the street from him in New Castle, DE, that had also been a battleground in the Revolutionary War. }); However, there are two main schools of thought regarding that his death was somehow related to his bipolar disorder. Surely he talked during that trip? Same size as his? That in and of itself seemed strange lol. Family members say that he could have periods of manic energy and depressionbut that it fueled his energy and drive, and that his disorder was well-controlled. #UnsolvedMysteries. Some also theorize that Wheeler might have been responsible for the arson attempt on the construction site, where his phone was found days after his death. Dis friends have said she referred to the doctor as the love of her life.. One theory is that Jack Wheeler was experiencing a bipolar episode, which caused his erratic behavior. In 2017, Wheelers wife Kathy Klyce told the Washington Post that she believed Jack set off the smoke bombs in the home across the street from theirs, and also that he was experiencing a bipolar episode at the time of his death. hitType: 'event', The investigation revealed several days of strange behavior leading up to Wheeler's death. He was also limping, or maybe that was his normal gait, at the pharmacy. When Michael Lawson contacted the New Castle Police Department after Wheelers body was found and identified on the same day, he was informed by one of the detectives that they were actually en route to Wheelers house to investigate a potential burglary. So theres been a theory of Jacks death that maybe he wanders out into the night, maybe he just gets cold and crawls into a dumpster to escape the winter, Volk said. eventAction: 'render' He told the people in the parking garage that his briefcase had been stolen. However, no concrete motive or evidence has ever surfaced in the decade since the dedicated public servant was killed. Jan Scruggs, founder, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, said, Jack was a very exceptional person, a graduate of West Point, a graduate of Harvard Business School, a graduate of Yale Law School. This would also explain the heart attack Wheeler suffered, as he could have either had it during the night of December 30th and been left too weak to leave the dumpster when it was picked up or had it while his body was being crushed by the compactor. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ But Jack didnt inform the police or his wife about any of this. He had one shoe off and the other shoe in his hand. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Visit our corporate site. I feel like when it was said he heard the cab was traveling to Newark maybe he thought they said New York. He got his start writing for the legendary DC Comics digital fanzine Fanzing, before receiving his own column, The Mount. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, murdered, and his body dumped with the garbage into a landfill, Wheeler's body was discovered New Year's Eve. Internet theories surrounding Jacks case range from a random downtown mugging to a secret government assassination plot. },false) A witness did come forward to state that they shared a cab with Jack at around 11 p.m. that night, which Jack had climbed into after hearing that it was headed to Newark. Its I go to dinner, not Her huge ego, but she responds to both. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. This does seem most plausible. According to an Associated Press report, Wheeler was seen on December 29, 2010, wearing a single shoe and . Theories about Jack Wheeler's mysterious death run the gamut. "We have no suspects at this time," Lt. Mark Farrall of the Newark police told ABC News. After Wheeler spent Christmas with his family in 2010, on December 28, he left New York to go back to Washington DC. On the evening of December 30, he was seen in the basement of an office complex in downtown Wilmington. His body was later crushed by the compactor of the garbage truck that picked up his dumpster, resulting in the blunt force trauma that caused his death. One Jack Wheeler theory was assassinated by the U.S. government before he could talk. Surveillance footage showed him visiting a local pharmacy at night on December 29 looking for a ride to Wilmington, where he had left his car in a garage. pg.acq.push(function() { However there is still the question of his stolen work ID badge. hitType: 'event', (Featured Image Credit: Netflix). And how could it have happened without him? The video footage and eye-witness accounts of encounters with Wheeler during his two days in downtown Wilmington would seem to confirm that something had happened to him, with some theorizing that he may have suffered a stroke or developed amnesia as a result of a traumatic encounter. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Days before his death, Wheeler exhibited some erratic behavior. Heres how it works. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. I think your theory is right, some kind of mental break/psychosis. The neighbor called the police to report a burglary in the Wheelers home, but the police had just before been notified of Jack Wheelers beaten bodystill endowed with his West Point ring and Rolexwhich had been discovered in a landfill by a truck driver. He didnt beat himself up.". These Are the 30 Best True Crime Podcasts. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. And thats when everything changed. Discussing Jack's final hours show's co-creator Terry Meurer told The Wrap: "Jack went into the pharmacy and he asked the pharmacist, who he knew, to give him a ride to Wilmington. He said his cell was stolen but it was across the street. John Wheeler, an attorney and businessman, touches the name of a friend engraved in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, May 17, 1994. . Police ultimately ruled his death a homicide caused. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He told the people in the parking garage that his briefcase had been stolen. The way they disposed of his body, its a miracle anybody ever found it. Wheeler filed suit to halt the construction, which partially blocked his view of the river. Although the injuries don't add up, my guess was that he had had a mental break. This mirrors the recent Unsolved Mysteries episode on Jack Wheeler, which aired last October. The police have largely dismissed this idea, yet they have no explanation for how Wheeler's phone wound up at the arson site. After spending the evening and most of the day of December 30 in the basement of the Nemours building in downtown Wilmington, Wheeler was captured on camera leaving the Nemours building at 8:30 pm and was last seen walking past the valet station at the Hotel du Pont at 8:41 pm. Investigator Joe Salerno said that since Jack had a very strong network with the government, "he may have been a target of a murder-for-hire type situation. Steve Volk, an investigative journalist, said, "What we know is that at the time of his death, he was working as a consultant for the Mitre Corporation, which is a defense contracting firm. The following morning, December 31, a neighbor noticed an open window in Jack and Kathys home, and went inside to make sure all was okay. Wheeler had bipolar disorder and was on medication for his condition, but he was usually good about taking his medicine. He spoke about a stolen briefcase. Ahead, we're showcasing the best fashion and beauty looks you can recreate now. 3:30 p.m. Wheeler is spotted in the area of 10th and Orange streets in Wilmington. Without Jacks phone, all the investigators had was video surveillance to track him. Curious to know all the details? John "Jack" Wheeler was known as a man of honor: a West Point graduate, a Vietnam veteran, and the man who was the driving force behind financing the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Jack served in the Vietnam War and after he came back he began planning a memorial for all who fought and died there. Wheeler had notified Mitre his phone was missing but didn't tell his wife or the police. Write a request for the autopsy report. Since then he has gone on to write for over a dozen websites, including 411 Mania, Comics Nexus and The Cult of Nobody. Getty Images. Witnesses reported that Wheeler, who frequented the pharmacy for his bipolar disorder medications, was asking for a ride to Wilmington. Somebody didnt want his body to be found. But Meurer says this is not the case. interesting that the documentary didnt mention anything further about the footprints found in the kitchen. He had left his car in the city before he went home for Christmas, so it seemed as if he just wanted it back. Jack Wheeler was last seen by his wife on December 28, 2010, as he left their home in Harlem by train to return to work in Washington DC. ga('ads.send', { On the morning of Dec. 30, Wheeler is believed to have boarded an Amtrak train in Washington, D.C., headed for Wilmington. That just sounds like a pro to me.". gads_event = event; As shown in the Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2episode, police were eventually able to trace Wheeler's body to a particular garbage truck and found his DNA in a dumpster in Newark, Delaware; a city nearly 15 miles southwest of where Wheeler was last seen alive and roughly the same distance from where his body was found. (This theory shares some similarities to anotherUnsolved Mysteriesdeath Rey Rivera, who some believe died as a result of his own delusions.) However, those who knew Wheeler best say this wasn't too out of character; he was constantly getting lost and forgetting things, and apparently had a terrible sense of direction. Wheelerwho was also diagnosed with bipolar disorderwas found dead in a landfill after a night of . And still wearing his West Point ring to boot? Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. It also covers everything from homicide to tales of lost ones to paranormal activities, all the while encouraging viewers to provide information that might help bring it to a close. Wheeler's body was discovered New Year's Eve as it was being dropped from a Newark, Del., city Dumpster into the Cherry Island landfill in Wilmington. WHEELING, Ill. - A 21-year-old mother who was found murdered in Wheeling this week was strangled to death, according to autopsy results released Thursday afternoon. Unsolved Mysteries executive producer Terry Dunn Muerer is hoping, with this season, to change that. }); Jack WAS a patriot. I am failing to understand why his injuries are not believed to be consistent with being crushed by the trash compactor. Murphy was discovered during a well-being check by Wheeling police after she failed to report to work on Tuesday. At 6.42 pm the same day, Wheeler was seen at a garage trying to find his car but he was at the wrong garage. With his background and long list of connections, it seems unlikely that there wouldn't be someone Wheeler could have turned to if he were about to become a whistleblower and was in fear for his life. Over the course of his travels to the dump, he could have had several dumpsters worth of trash compacted against him. His autopsy listed a rash of severe injuries, including a punctured lung, broken ribs, bleeding in the head, bruises to the face, orbital bones, temples . utah license verification to another state, shannon reilly luke kuechly wedding, why is duluth called the zenith city,