Caroline's Crime Scene

It was 20 years ago today that 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted by a masked gunman as he and his brother and best friend biked home from a convenience store in rural St. Joseph, Minn. He hasn't been seen since.

Last Saturday night, I drove up to St. Joseph to attend a children's concert in Jacob's honor. I didn't go to cover the event but to be there to personally try to find a place to put this tough anniversary. I have watched many of our stories and read news articles over and over again, looking for a clue that might give some answers to what might have happened to Jacob.


An age-progression picture showing what Jacob Wetterling would look like at age 29.

My own children were 5 and 2 when Jacob was abducted. Like so many parents of young children back then, it affected how I viewed the world and raised my kids. As a crime reporter, I know stranger abductions are extremely rare and that most of these crimes involve someone known to the victim. But seeing a young boy snatched by a stranger in rural St. Joseph penetrated the sense of safety for all our kids.

Over the years, I have posted many stories about Jacob's unsolved kidnapping on our Cold Case page. I would love to be able to write a final chapter on what happened to Jacob before another anniversary comes around. I wish it for his family and for all of us who raised our kids wondering who snatched a child on a Sunday night so close to his home.

As the Twins play their final games in the Metrodome, a lot of us in the WCCO newsroom have so many memories of highlights from covering the two World Series won by the Minnesota Twins.

One of my favorite "scoops" happened outside the Dome on Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. I had lobbied hard with our managers for photojournalist Nancy Soo Hoo and me not to be assigned to a specific story that night and be allowed to "roam" until we found something big.

We soon struck gold. We were the only news crew waiting, with our camera rolling, at a VIP entrance to the Dome when actress Jane Fonda and her then-husband, Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner, showed up.

At the time, there had been criticism and even protests by Native Americans about the Braves fans doing a "tomahawk chop" to show their support for the team.

In the middle of the controversy, Jane Fonda said she would stop doing the "chop" but was then seen doing what some people thought was "the chop" in support of the Braves. As she and Turner entered the Dome, I asked Fonda about the "chop." She agreed to demonstrate for me, on camera, her hand motion supporting the team, insisting it was not a chop.

Fonda described it as more of a "patty cake" motion. I also asked her if she planned to ask her husband to consider changing the name of the team since many Native American protesters were also offended by it. She basically said it was up to Ted what he called his team. (Eighteen years later, Fonda and Turner have moved on with their lives and the Atlanta team is still called the Braves.)

Fonda's hand demonstration and interview got picked up nationally. It was fun looking at the video today (which I hadn't viewed in about 18 years!). I was kind of surprised to see me sort of push Turner out of the way to get to his wife! You can check it out here.

My good friend Kevyn Burger and I were having coffee outside Java Jack's on Sunday when she spotted movie director Joel Coen and his wife, actress Frances McDormand, coming in for coffee with their son. It's not every day you see a couple of Academy Award winners at your South Minneapolis neighborhood coffee shop!

At Kevyn's request I grabbed my camera from my purse and took a couple of photos. Never even left our table! Kevyn is a big fan and now she's telling everyone we had coffee with Joel Coen and Frances McDormand!

In just the past week, I have covered two separate stories regarding murder-suicides involving women taking steps to end their relationships.  In both cases, the men had previously threatened suicide and police had removed guns from their homes.

The most recent case, in Chisago County, was witnessed by an 8-year-old girl who called 911 for help.  These tragedies are devastating for the families involved, especially when young children lose both their parents.

With the economy still in the tank, a lot of families are living with tension these days. Counselors hope people will pay attention to possible warning signs. 

If you or someone you know is in a violent relationship, please pass on these numbers and links.

They can provide resources and information on the red flags to watch out for before another family is torn apart by deadly domestic violence.

Domestic Abuse Project
Video: Warning Signs For Domestic Abuse
Video:  Community Shocked By Apparent Murder-Suicide
Domestic Abuse Hot Line: 1-866-223-1111

It's hard to believe it's been a year since former 'CCO producer Julie Kramer's first crime novel, "Stalking Susan", was released. Her sequel, "Missing Mark", was launched last night at the Once Upon A Crime book store to a packed audience.

If you are looking for another great summer thriller, set here in Minneapolis and featuring a downtown newsroom, check out Julie's latest novel. If you missed the award-winning first one, you can now pick up "Stalking Susan" in paperback. The first book was inspired by two unsolved murders Julie and I reported on several years ago involving victims both named Susan who were killed on the same date two years apart.

Julie will be all over the Twin Cities media this week, and signing her book at local stores. For details, go to Julie's Web site at juliekramerbooks.com or read Amy Carlson Gustafson's great piece on Julie's book in Monday's Pioneer Press.

If you like Julie's first two novels, more good news: Julie's publisher has given the green-light for two more sequels featuring Twin Cities TV reporter Riley Spartz! I am so proud of Julie and will keep you posted on her writing.

Link: Cold Case: The 2 Susans In Highland Park

It has been a tough week on the crime beat. I have spent a lot time talking with parents and children who live in the block where Patricia Becht allegedly plotted a suicide pact with her two young children, 10-year-old "Mikey" and 11-year-old Erica.

As I talked with moms and dads trying to make sense of such an incomprehensible act, kids stopped by a memorial to Mikey, dropping off teddy bears, notes and even a basketball so Mikey could play with it in heaven. None of the neighbors I talked with saw any warning signs. The couple closest to Patricia Becht spent the Fourth of July in Becht's backyard, shooting off fireworks with their kids.

It is hard to reconcile this image with the disturbing details in the criminal complaint filed today that includes a "to-do" list allegedly written by Becht the next day as she carried out her plans to use pills to kill herself and two young children. It also says she discussed going to a place similar to Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch, comparing it to heaven, as part of her plan.

We have heard a lot in recent months about similar crimes elsewhere, some speculating that depression over the economy is a factor. Whatever the reasons, there are resources in our community for families in stress.

If you know parents who seems overwhelmed, please refer them to Crisis Connection at 612-379-6363 or toll-free at 866-379-6363.

See the criminal complaint by clicking here.

Previous Stories:
Mom Charged With Murdering Son Claims Suicide Pact

Mother Arrested In Son's Murder, Charges Coming

Tonight at 10, Don Shelby takes a look back at 60 years WCCO-TV has been on the air in the Twin Cities.

I hope you will check out the story on-air and the extra video and information that will be posted online. Should be a real treat watching some of the award-winning stories and hearing from people who are such a part of 'CCO's legacy!

I have been here for 32 of those 60 years (how did that happen?) and blogged about it in March. Hope you will watch at 10!

Link: A Crime Reporter's Reflection On 30 Years At WCCO

WCCO At 60
Tonight, we took an in-depth look back at WCCO-TV as it celebrates 60 years of broadcasting in the Twin Cities. Want more? Here are some Web-exclusive retrospectives on the occasion of Channel 4's anniversary.
Slideshow: Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Photos
Slideshow: WCCO Alumni
Video: Excerpts From The Archives
Video: Bud Kraehling's Groundhog Buddy

If you like true crime stories, you will love CBS's new crime blog that just went online this week. It's called Crimesider and it is run by the folks at 48 Hours Mystery. TV crime reporters from around the country will contribute to the site. Beside 911 calls and on-camera police interviews, they will also post cold case stories and "dumbest criminal" stories.

CBS producers hope it will become the "ultimate blog for true-crime stories of the day." In the months ahead, plans call for expert analysis from the country's top true-crime authors along with interviews with detectives and investigators.

I am looking forward to participating in this new crime news venture and suggest you check it today!

Watching the squad video of the great-grandma getting Tasered in Texas made me cringe. She appears to be challenging the deputy constable who stopped her for speeding in a construction zone to zap her with his Taser.



Watching the woman moan and hit the ground after getting the Taser jolt brought back memories of my own decision to be Tasered by St. Paul police several years ago.



It was part of a story on their new tools for dealing with people who don't want to cooperate when they are being arrested. The experience has helped me cover Taser-related stories on my beat -- and convinced me never to volunteer to be zapped again!

While people may debate whether the Texas officer should have Tasered the elderly driver, no one will debate getting Tasered really hurts. I have seen other videos from police cameras showing people taunting officers to Taser them. It totally baffles me why anyone would let them get themselves into that kind of confrontation with an officer and demand a "ride" on a Taser. (In at least one case, alcohol appeared to have clouded the guy's reasoning!)

In any case, if you want to see what it feels like to get a shot from the Taser you can check out my experience and some of the videos the Minneapolis Police department captured on their Taser cams. Once you watch them, I can't imagine you'll challenge an officer to use a Taser on you!

Twelve years ago, Minneapolis Police Officer David Loeffler lost his leg to a drunk driver when he got out of his patrol car to help a drunk pedestrian. Last week, Loeffler lost his life. He was only 36 years old.



Loeffler's police family, friends and relatives packed a church in Richfield today to say their final farewell to the former officer. He had a full police funeral with an Honor Guard, headed by MPD Lt. Bill Whisney. Loeffler's mourners also included Officer Peter Hafstad who was on patrol with Loeffler that horrible night back in March of 1997.

It was heartbreaking to see all the photos of David Loeffler, whose dreams of being an officer were cut so brutally short. But it was also inspiring to see how he continued a career of public service by earning a law degree, working in the MN Attorney General's office and, most recently, working as a prosecutor in Aitkin County.



He did all that despite living with deep pain that never went away since the day he was hit. I ran into him several times at the Minnesota State Fair when he visited a friend who works at the SF Police Department. He also seemed upbeat and friendly.

Some of David Loeffler's friends hope someday to get his name included on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. I will keep track of how the process goes and post any developments.

Video: Funeral For Officer Who Lost Leg 1997
File Video: Officer Loses Leg In 1997 Crash
Officer Who Lost Leg In 1997 Crash Dies At 36
Video: Honor Guard Carries Loeffler's Casket
Video: Former Partner Talks About Loeffler
Video: Honor Guard On Loeffler Funeral
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial