}); My wife suggested something that I thought fit the details given, maybe while he was meandering around Newark he wandered out into the street and was hit by a car, he was dressed in all black. Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel . I feel like when it was said he heard the cab was traveling to Newark maybe he thought they said New York. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. Lets not oversimplify. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), This was the last time anyone reported seeing him alive. Across the street from his house, an investigation concerning the setting off of smoke bombs established him as a suspect after his cell phone was found at the scene. It is possible, however, that the stress of his briefcase and phone disappearing may have triggered a manic episode. Seems the simplest explanation is he had a mental break. Cops say they don't know who killed Jack Wheeler or why they did it. Wheeler was wearing black pants and a white shirt. Could be useful. His death was ruled a homicide caused by assault and blunt force trauma, and his body was later traced to a dumpster in Newark, Del., more than 13 miles away from where he was last seen in Wilmington. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Wheeler's body was discovered December 31, 2010 in the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. Heres how it works. Without Jacks phone, all the investigators had was video surveillance to track him. 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. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. "I think he might have pissed someone offand I think his movements reflected that. He was blocks away from where he had actually left his car. I don't deny he suffered from from a manic episode, but both him and Lam got murdered. let gads_event; Because of a bipolar episode, Wheeler's guard might have been down, he was lost and couldn't find his car, and therefore, in the right terrible circumstance, someone might have taken advantage and killed him. He also maintains a personal blog called My Geeky Geeky Ways which hosts his extensive episode guide for the television series making up The Arrowverse as well as his comedic Lets Play videos. In light of the case getting attention again as part ofUnsolved Mysteries Volume Two, many have been sharing their theories online of what could have happened to Jack. "Whats puzzling about that case is it wasnt just a random assault or street mugging. Wheeler had bipolar disorder and was on medication for his condition, but he was usually good about taking his medicine. Investigators struggled to tie the murder, burglary, and the smoke bomb incident although they could not dispel it as mere coincidence. Yeah, I mean everytime they dump something new in the dumpster things are going to get pressed against him. After spending the day in Washington, he traveled to New Castle, Delaware, where he owned a house. As a high-ranking official who was well-connected, knew a lot of important information relating to cybersecurity and was suffering from a mental health disorder, he could have been seen as a liability. But alas, they found no pieces of clothing, no cell phone, no DNA/blood, or any other item that they could positively connect to his death. He also considered it a sacrilege to the memory of the soldiers to whom the park was dedicated. According to an operations report originally obtained by The Daily Beast, a K-9 unit consisting of one bloodhound and . Wheeler's autopsy result concluded he died from blunt force trauma but as of today, his. 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. Curious to know all the details? Wheeler was, at the time, embroiled in a legal battle against the houses construction, and his cell phone was found there after his death. According to the Delaware state medical examiner's office, Jack's official cause of death was blunt force trauma. He oversaw Jacks property, so when he noticed that a second-floor window was open, he decided to check it out. The next day, on December 29, Wheeler took a cab to theHotel du Pont in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, where he notified his employer by e-mail that his phone and briefcase had been stolen. Like those would be some of the first people I would talk to. Come morning, Katherine tried calling him, but he didnt pick up. At least one shoe didnt agree with him. You can follow his adventures on Twitter, @senseistarman. 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. Bush and George W. Bush. One of the to-do lists Wheeler left behind, dated Dec. 5, mentions hacking a target associated with the construction dispute. He also reported that his house had been broken into and claimed his briefcase had been stolen. Matt Morrison has been writing about comics since before the word "blogging" was coined. }); Jack was working in the area of cybersecurity. Where the Cast of 'Boy Meets World' Is Now, Don't Despair, But 'The Last of Us' Is Nearly Over, 'The Last of Us' Season 2 Might Start Filming Soon, Facts You Didn't Know About That '70s Show, The Cast of 'The Mandalorian' in Real Life, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3, Episode 1 Recap, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence. On December 31, 2010 the body of John "Jack" Wheeler III was . I vote for 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. One particular theory is a bit far-fetchedsome Redditors believe he may have been killed by Russian agents because he knew too much. This story didnt give me the eerie vibe because there are so many possible answers, and most of them arent that mysterious. Footage shows the pharmacist offering to call Wheeler a cab and then Wheeler declining. 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. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. 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. There is also some question as to whether or not the injuries Wheeler suffered could have been inflicted by a trash compactor and how he came to be in Newark in the first place, as the medical examiner believed the extent and nature of the injuries were more in line with a severe beating than being crushed. They were close to him when, and if, he had a psychotic break. ga('ads.send', { Jack Wheeler was a 66-year-old former Pentagon official. "He was beaten to death. He was bad at directions and orientation but he could have also been very agitated and that's why he couldn't figure out which parking garage he was in. Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 | Official Clip | No Evidence | Netflix, How Unsolved Mysteries Could Find Real Answers. A few days later, a neighbor noticed an open window and found Wheeler's New Castle home in disarray, with a copy ofThe Long Gray Line(in which Wheeler is featured) on the table. The way they disposed of his body, its a miracle anybody ever found it. There wasnt much damage but police found a cell phone at the scene and when they examined it, discovered it was Wheelers. He was stopped by police while driving a maroon 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan that was also sought by police, based on video reviewed by officers, authorities said. The body of John Wheeler III, also known as Jack Wheeler, was discovered . eventAction: 'click_ads' I thought I was the only one to think of this. "So some of those details they would have because they were the law enforcement that spoke to that couple, but we dont have any of those details.. Delaware Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of subjects responsible for the death of the victim. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries shows evidence photos of the house in a state of disarray: there was a tree indoors, spices and broken dishes in the kitchen, and white Comet powder and Jacks West Point sword and shield on the floor. '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! DOWNLOAD THE FOX 32 CHICAGO APP FOR BREAKING NEWS ALERTS. And if their wasnt, why does he tell work it is missing? He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him.". On the evening of December 29, Wheeler was seen at his local pharmacy in New Castle, where he asked several people if they could give him a ride to Wilmington. UNSOLVED Mysteries viewers have raged at a 'major oversight in CCTV footage' from missing Jack Wheeler's case. Write a request for the autopsy report. 8:30 p.m. Surveillance video captures Wheeler wandering through the Nemours Building at 10th and Orange streets. When you look at the autopsy and the degree to which he was beaten, its just not consistent with a fall from the dumpster. He also added that Jack could not have been mugged as street robbers leave the body where they attack and usually dont load it into dumpsters. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. Witnesses and family members say that Wheeler arrived at the wrong parking garage in Wilmington as his car was actually parked in a different garage. I still like season 2 but it kinda feels like the detective work is lacking a bit. Wheeler's death has saddened many of his close friends, including former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and author James Fallows. 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. 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. We know that the 66-year-old husband and father's body was discovered in a Delaware landfill on Dec. 31, one day after his disappearance. 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. 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. Unsolved Mysteries: Every Jack Wheeler Death Theory, Explained, Unsolved Mysteries: What To Expect From Volume 3, Everything Unsolved Mysteries Leaves Out About The Oslo Plaza Woman, Unsolved Mysteries: How The Original Series Is Still Solving Cases, Why Unsolved Mysteries On Netflix Doesn't Have A Host. In addition, Wheeler's Rolex watch, West Point ring, and wallet with money were all left on him. Since then he has gone on to write for over a dozen websites, including 411 Mania, Comics Nexus and The Cult of Nobody. Wheeler lived in Washington, D.C. and part-time in the historic district of New Castle, Delaware. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The screen is still black as we hear birds cry and then, the first image we see is tons of garbage. Reply Bing987 . Bush and George W. Bush, for whom he was a special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him," she said. On the morning of Dec. 30, Wheeler is believed to have boarded an Amtrak train in Washington, D.C., headed for Wilmington. Jack Wheeler was a graduate of Yale, Harvard, and West Point, a military consultant, and served as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. This mirrors the recent Unsolved Mysteries episode on Jack Wheeler, which aired last October. Wheeler considered the construction "sacrilegious" and was in the process of filing legal challenges against the homeowners. How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix's, Love True Crime? One Jack Wheeler theory was assassinated by the U.S. government before he could talk. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Phone records show that he worked in DC for only a day. John Wheeler, an attorney and businessman, touches the name of a friend engraved in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, May 17, 1994. . At the time of his death, Wheeler was employed by the Mitre Corporation, a cybersecurity firm, but he was also an authority on chemical and biological warfare. On Dec. 31, 2010, Wheeler's body was discovered as a garbage truck was being emptied at the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. Wheeler's autopsy also revealed that he had suffered a heart attack, but still listed the cause of his death as blunt force trauma. Yes, he did have a second home in New Castle, Delaware, but Wilmington was a completely different area. The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recastagain. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The autopsy of JFK, President John f Kennedy was conducted By: On December 28, 1010, smoke bombs were set in the aforementioned home construction, and Wheeler's phone was found at the scene. It was possible that Wheeler had some mental breakdown due to his disorder or he was being physically attacked. Wheeler had been beaten severely and suffered a heart attack, according to the cops. 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 think the episode didnt do much in the way of giving us any kind of good theories or leads, however. SkyFOX was over the scene where a body of a toddler was found Thursday. },false) Per the crime scene, Wheeler's body had ended up there because it had been in a dumpster in Newark, DEmiles away from Wilmington. He said his cell was stolen but it was across the street. An autopsy found that he was a victim of homicide, but police are not releasing any details of the medical report. That reward was worth $25,000 just for information, for the record. Unsolved Mysteries executive producer Terry Dunn Muerer is hoping, with this season, to change that. (opens in new tab)Wheeler's body was found on December 31, 2010, in a landfill, under mysterious circumstances. Unfortunately, right towards the end of 2010, he lost it all, and it was under the strangest of circumstances. }); 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. Since he was the caretaker of Jacks house, he went into the house and saw the house was in disarray. "We have no suspects at this time," Lt. Mark Farrall of the Newark police told ABC News. The body of an African-American female toddler was discovered Thursday afternoon in a pond off of Interstate 94 in Northwest Indiana. This does seem most plausible. Anyone with information can call Wheeling police at (847) 459-2632. A lot of people claim to be patriots. Police have officially ruled Wheeler's death a homicide, though no killer is named or really even suspected. I mean this guy was extremely bright. He reached his destination, worked for the day, and then left to go to New Castle, his second home, for the night. 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 . 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. Family, friends, and investigators express in the episode their hope that someone has information about what happened to Wheeler in his final days. It wouldnt have happened.. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Dill also reported a bare footprint. So either someone robbed him of it and set off the smoke bombs or he did it. Another theory (which is favored by Wheeler's wife) is that Wheeler was killed by a hitman in the employ of corrupt politicians in New Castle, whom Wheeler was close to exposing. All the dance numbers! Any ridge detail? According to Today, the coroner's report said Murphy . ", Related: How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix'sAmerican Murder: The Family Next Door: Her Brother Speaks Out. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' That's why it is so sad and ironic, his friends say, that he himself would be murdered, and his body dumped with the garbage into a landfill not far from his home. Apparently, he spent the night and part of the day there. pg.acq.push(function() { #UnsolvedMysteries. Wheeler had notified Mitre his phone was missing but didn't tell his wife or the police. Why would someone break into your house, destroy your spice rack and throw your Comet all around? Titled "Washington Insider Murder," the episode details the bizarre circumstances of Wheeler's death. Jack said No, thanks,'. 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. }); 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. On December 31, 2010 the body of John "Jack" Wheeler III was discovered in a Delaware landfill after it had come off of a dump truck. His once orderly life seemed to be unraveling in his last days, which has further befuddled. Some theories suggest that he was on the run from something or someone and had decided to climb into the dumpster himself to get some warmth for the night. Although the injuries don't add up, my guess was that he had had a mental break. What robber is barefoot? An hour later, Wheeler shows up in security footage at a parking garage. 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. That just sounds like a pro to me.". } He spoke about a stolen briefcase. Another theory is that Wheeler, either confused or making an effort to throw off his pursuers, sought shelter in a dumpster in Newark. ga('ads.send', { Unsolved Mysteries is available on Netflix now. Jack WAS a patriot. "His family was travelling, so no one reported him missing," Farrall said. 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. And thats when everything changed. }) } "I think he might have pissed someone off and I think his movements reflected that. Receipts indicate he had purchased black clothing and a full-face ski mask. The puzzling death of former White House aide Jack Wheeler is explored in a new episode of "Unsolved Mysteries." By Gina Tron. Jan. 3, 2011— -- John Wheeler fought for dignity and honor for the fallen of the Vietnam War. "But it is just one aspect, it's not the focus of our investigation.". Then the theory of mugging comes into play, yet even that seems next to impossible, mainly as Jack had been carefully disposed of, and he still had some cash, his West Point ring, and a Rolex on his being when he was recovered. However, Jack was entirely in the wrong parking lot. The high-profile murder of former White House aide Jack Wheeler is featured in Unsolved Mysteries, and while the 47-minute episode covers a lot of information, there are some details left out . Then the compactor made it worse when it crushed the body further. Despite having Bipolar disorder, John Jack Parsons Wheeler III, had built an unprecedented resume in 66 years. He served three presidents -- Ronald Reagan, George H.W. This December marks the 10th anniversary of Wheeler's death, and since the episode began airing, conspiracy theories regarding what happened to Jack Wheeler have flooded the internet. .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'? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), That in and of itself seemed strange lol. BTW, whose footprint was that on the floor? }); 'But Jack was a really brilliant guy, and Igave him a reading list.' Curiously, Wheeler did not call the police regarding the break-in or the theft. Most states require a written request for the autopsy report. "So we do know who that was, and they did not have anything to do with his disappearance.. But they also pointed out that he was diligent with his medication, so it wasnt likely. 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. In fact, he didnt communicate with either of them for the rest of his time alive. But that chilling scene is only the beginning of a sprawling unsolved murder of a former Pentagon official and presidential aide. He had left his car in the city before he went home for Christmas, so it seemed as if he just wanted it back. On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 examined the curious death of Jack Wheeler. Even weirder was the presence of Wheeler's ceremonial West Point sword and shield on the floor, covered in spilled cleaning supplies. After his body was secured and sent to the coroners office, the autopsy performed confirmed that he had died in the worst of ways. Same size as his? In 2017, Wheeler's wife Kathy Klyce toldWashington Post she believed he messed with the wrong person. Wheeler filed suit to halt the construction, which partially blocked his view of the river. "Jack's murder has all these facts around it that just naturally confound," investigative journalist Steve Volk says in the episode entitled "Washington Insider Murder. Wheeler's death was ruled a homicide. Some conspiracy theorists have connected Wheeler's death to various theories regarding government corruption in Washington DC. Katherines a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestylefrom Clueless to Everlane to news about Lizzo. At least, not directly. Klyce maintains Wheeler's death was a hired hit. Shes been afreelancerfor 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere.