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. '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! 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 had notified Mitre his phone was missing but didn't tell his wife or the police. Their belief is that Wheeler was on the verge of revealing something big and was killed to keep him quiet. "The sensational aspects of Jack's murder were what first attracted me. However, the main problem with this theory is that Wheeler wasn't robbed: He still was wearing an expensive watch and his West Point ring when his body was found. The last footage of Wheeler was him wearing a dark hoodie, walking past the DuPont Hotel in downtown Wilmington. Investigators struggled to tie the murder, burglary, and the smoke bomb incident although they could not dispel it as mere coincidence. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. And how could it have happened without him? At 6 p.m. that day, he was seen on camera at a pharmacy near his New Castle home, where he asked the pharmacist and several patrons for a ride to Wilmington, as he had left his car there before Christmas. }); Then the compactor made it worse when it crushed the body further. Some investigators theorized he might have died after seeking refuge in the dumpster, but. A Washington insider with an exemplary career as a soldier and security expert, Wheeler's beaten and bruised body was found in a landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. Footage shows the pharmacist offering to call Wheeler a cab and then Wheeler declining. "The way they disposed of his body, its a miracle anybody ever found it. In the garage surveillance footage, Wheeler seemed distressed and agitated. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Wheeler filed suit to halt the construction, which partially blocked his view of the river. The discovery prompted an investigation into his mysterious death and the investigation unearthed some bizarre circumstances surrounding the days before his death. However, Jack was entirely in the wrong parking lot. No. eventAction: 'view' hitType: 'event', 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 . At 6:42 p.m., he was seen in a parking garage there. Looking for a new Netflix series to binge or the best movies to watch on Amazon Prime? The injuries Wheeler sustained simply could not have been the result of his being harmed by a trash truck. However, there have always been other theories about Wheeler's mysterious death. 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. Police have officially ruled Wheeler's death a homicide, though no killer is named or really even suspected. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Apparently, he spent the night and part of the day there. I bet they were wheelers. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. 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. 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. He didnt beat himself up.". He said his cell was stolen but it was across the street. But at this point, he said, police have no information about Wheeler's whereabouts that week. But the question still remains as to why Jack was in Newark or a dumpster. Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel" Dobbs, remains missing. let gads_event; Could be useful. According to an Associated Press report, Wheeler was seen on December 29, 2010, wearing a single shoe and . eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Jack Wheeler was a 66-year-old former Pentagon official. Related:Unsolved Mysteries: What To Expect From Volume 3. He served three presidents -- Ronald Reagan, George H.W. He spoke about a stolen briefcase. 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. Content warning: violence. Maybe the suitcase was lost elsewhere or thrown away. 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. How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix's, Love True Crime? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He was a graduate of West Point Academy, Yale and Harvard and was a special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force through three. eventAction: 'render' We have you covered Kim Kardashian shows off her real hips and butt in unedited new pics, Inside Josh Duggar's lonely 35th birthday in prison solitary confinement, Honey Boo Boo, 17, & boyfriend, 21, found with gun & drugs in car in arrest, Today's Hoda Kotb looks solemn on stroll with daughter amid show absence, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Jack Wheeler's death is the focus of an Unsolved Mysteries episode, Jack's body was found in a Delaware landfill in December 2010, CCTV footage shows Jack in his final hours but has lead to questions from viewers, Jack's behaviour changed from the pharmacy to being dropped off at a parking garage, Netflix releases trailer for Unsolved Mysteries new episodes, New on Netflix: The best series and films released every day, The best movies on Netflix to watch right now, The most terrifying horrors to watch on Netflix right now, The best documentaries to watch on Netflix right now, The best comedies to watch on Netflix right now, The best thrillers to watch on Netflix right now, The best kids' shows on Netflix to watch right now, The best true crime series to watch on Netflix. He was also limping, or maybe that was his normal gait, at the pharmacy. But the circumstances of his death are a mystery. Related: Unsolved Mysteries: Every Jack Wheeler Death Theory, Explained. Revolve's Sale Has Every Single Wedding Guest You Need For Wedding Season, We're InspiredCrisp Suiting and Bold Beauty is All We Can Currently Think About, Revolve Is Having a Huge One-Day-Only Saleand You Can Get $100 Off These Legendary Gucci Sunglasses, The 75 Best K-Dramas You'll Be Completely Hooked On, Selena Gomez Revealed Meryl Streep Is Joining 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3, The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals, Sophia Brown on Joining the World of The Witcher: Blood Origin, 'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know, The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide. These Are the 30 Best True Crime Podcasts. Scenario One: Wheeler Was Killed By An Outside Agency On December 28, he left his home in the morning, telling his wife that he had to go to Washington D.C. for some important work, not unusual considering how busy he liked to keep himself. Wheeler considered the construction "sacrilegious" and was in the process of filing legal challenges against the homeowners. Over the course of his travels to the dump, he could have had several dumpsters worth of trash compacted against him. It was,apparently (opens in new tab), not the only office building he went to; he also visited a Mitre office. 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. Marie Claire is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. On December 31, 2010 the body of John "Jack" Wheeler III was . Bush and George W. Bush. Farrall said that Wheeler, who who has homes in Washington, D.C., and in New Castle, Del., was scheduled to take a train from Washington to Wilmington on Dec. 28. 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. The person had a relationship with Murphy, and was last seen with her on Monday, around the time her family last had contact with her, according to Wheeling police. 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. 1. 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. Jack said No, thanks,'. Wheeler's death has saddened many of his close friends, including former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and author James Fallows. }); ga('ads.send', { He moved easily among Washington's elite, working most recently as a military consultant. Wheeler did not go to work the following day on December 29he emailed that his home had been broken into and that his cellphone, badge, and briefcase were missing. Wheeler was wearing black pants and a white shirt. Wheeler's body was later found in a landfill. According to the Delaware state medical examiner's office, Jack's official cause of death was blunt force trauma. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Next up, Chris Watts' confession letters reveal he planned his family's murder all along. 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. At around 7:15 P.M., EST. On December 31, 2010, at 9:56 a.m., Jack Wheeler's body was found dumped in the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware, a place where he had no business being at that point in time. Witnesses reported that Wheeler, who frequented the pharmacy for his bipolar disorder medications, was asking for a ride to Wilmington. After his body was secured and sent to the coroners office, the autopsy performed confirmed that he had died in the worst of ways. He told the people in the parking garage that his briefcase had been stolen. }); Its not mentioned in episode. Since then he has gone on to write for over a dozen websites, including 411 Mania, Comics Nexus and The Cult of Nobody. At the time of his death, Wheeler was a consultant for the Mitre Corporation, a not-for-profit organization in Virginia that manages federally-funded research and development centers that support various U.S. government agencies. 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. However, while this theory seems plausible on the surface, it does nothing to explain some of the odder aspects of the case, such as why Jack Wheeler's phone was found at the arson site across the street from his home. And why dont they ask more introspective and investigative questions to his wife about her husbands demeanor, mood, idiosyncrasies days before he died? The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 examined the curious death of Jack Wheeler. During his mental break, he might have made a pass at one or both of the guys who was . Investigators were back at the landfill today, scouring for leads. Still, his murder remains an utter mystery, and it is unclear whether the property dispute is related to Wheeler's death. 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. Sources tell FOX 32 News that authorities are investigating to see if there is a connection between the toddler and Dobbs. Wheeler's death was ruled a homicide. One of the more disturbing aspects of Wheeler's case was that he apparently had some kind of medical episode during the two days he was wandering the streets of Wilmington. 'But Jack was a really brilliant guy, and Igave him a reading list.' #unsolvedmysteries.". Nevertheless, some people believe that his murder was the direct result of a professional hit job, considering all the evidence, or the lack thereof. However, no concrete motive or evidence has ever surfaced in the decade since the dedicated public servant was killed. .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'? 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. "What's important now is to establish the location of the crime.". 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. On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. We are one of the worlds fastest growing The police have largely dismissed this idea, yet they have no explanation for how Wheeler's phone wound up at the arson site. Jack's autopsy was performed the day he was found. ", A third agreed, writing: "Who drove Jack from the pharmacy to the parking garage? It is possible, however, that the stress of his briefcase and phone disappearing may have triggered a manic episode. And if their wasnt, why does he tell work it is missing? This is the last known sighting of Wheeler, who in the footage, seems to be walking in the opposite direction of his home. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The footage shows him walking toward Rodney Square at around 8:40 p.m. Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: "@Unsolved did police interview the guys who gave Jack Wheeler a ride from the pharmacy to parking garage about what they talked about? The person driving the car panicked and hid the body in the nearest dumpster, that would explain the extreme injuries and that he wasn't robbed. Getty Images. The theory of him being in the dumpster and getting compacted makes sense. "'I thought it was a little odd,' says [a hacker he spoke to]. But they also pointed out that he was diligent with his medication, so it wasnt likely. And why wasnt the two guys he hitched with questioned?! An autopsy was performed that same day which determined that Jack had been murdered. Anyone with information can call Wheeling police at (847) 459-2632. Although at least 10 different agencies, federal, state and local got involved in the murder case, including the FBI, ATF and DEA, running down every possible lead, the murderer was never found, making it one of the more high-profile cold cases which were never solved. Katherines a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestylefrom Clueless to Everlane to news about Lizzo. 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 . Seems the simplest explanation is he had a mental break. Matt Morrison has been writing about comics since before the word "blogging" was coined. The strangest thing, though, was the state of his New Castle home and the evidence found near there. 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}}