True crime docuseries Unsolved Mysteries Volume Two, now available on Netflix, kicks off with a disturbing first episode. The consensus of homicide stems largely in part from severe injuries to Wheeler's body: blunt force trauma, broken ribs, and contusions on his face. Apparently, he spent the night and part of the day there. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. According to the Delaware state medical examiner's office, Jack's official cause of death was blunt force trauma. If you have information about Wheeler's death, visit unsolved.com. This story didnt give me the eerie vibe because there are so many possible answers, and most of them arent that mysterious. Press J to jump to the feed. Wheeler was wearing black pants and a white shirt. Unsolved Mysteries explored the Washington insider's 2010 death. },false) }); Known as a font of comic book history trivia, he has delivered lectures on the history of American Comic Books, Japanese Manga, Doctor Who, and Cosplay at over a dozen conventions and served as an Expert In-Residence for a course on Graphic Novels for Librarians at the University of North Texas. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Yes, he did have a second home in New Castle, Delaware, but Wilmington was a completely different area. Police said today they don't know where he was killed, why he was killed, or who may have killed him. 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. 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. Her death was ruled a homicide. #UnsolvedMysteries. He also reported that his house had been broken into and claimed his briefcase had been stolen. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SAT 8:00 PM CST until WED 4:30 AM CST, Newton County, until SUN 12:00 PM CST, Lake County, Kenosha County, from SAT 12:00 PM CST until WED 6:00 AM CST, Jasper County, from SUN 6:00 AM CST until MON 6:00 AM CST, Lake County, Newton County, is in effect, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, Porter County, Jasper County, Indiana State Police trooper killed after suspect fleeing from police strikes him with vehicle on I-69, 6 injured, 2 seriously in 3-car crash on Near West Side, Feds raid suburban Chicago home of businessman who ran for state office, Lightfoot loses re-election bid, this is the date she will leave office, Police investigate 4 smash-and-grabs in Chicago suburb, Man found shot to death in North Side home: police, Police Chase: Gunman waits for kids to cross street near Lakewood; Opens fire at several different locations, Chicago weather: Slushy, stormy conditions take hold Friday, Replay Lincoln Park transforms into iconic 'Paddy's Pub'. A one-year old is missing in Wheeling, following the murder of her mother. In 2017, Wheeler's wife Kathy Klyce toldWashington Post she believed he messed with the wrong person. Terry added: We were not able to speak to that couple. He feared somebody had broken in. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ "What's important now is to establish the location of the crime.". Lets find out. Investigators were back at the landfill today, scouring for leads. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He's also the subject of anUnsolved Mysteriesepisode. Still, his murder remains an utter mystery, and it is unclear whether the property dispute is related to Wheeler's 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! 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. Jack had been driven to the parking garage from a pharmacy, but it is not clear who took him between the two places. On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. John Wheeler: Decade after White House aide's body was found in dumpster, agencies still clueless about murder. These Are the 30 Best True Crime Podcasts. 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. 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. Plot details forUnsolved Mysteriesahead. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Then the compactor made it worse when it crushed the body further. I have a theory that Jack Wheeler was the victim of a gay bashing. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Wheeler had notified Mitre his phone was missing but didn't tell his wife or the police. Murphy was a 2018 graduate of Stevenson High School and lived with her daughter at the apartment building, Wheeling police said. 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. He left that place around 8:30 p.m., strangely wearing a hoodie, never to be seen again. In addition to his work for Screen Rant, Matt is currently the Editor In Chief of Kabooooom.com and writes reviews for No Flying, No Tights a graphic literature and anime review site aimed at teachers and librarians. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. He was last seen alive on 10th Street and Orange in. Ultimately, his cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma, and his manner of death was ruled a homicide. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. }); He is carrying one shoe. 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. He had one shoe off and the other shoe in his hand. Despite having Bipolar disorder, John Jack Parsons Wheeler III, had built an unprecedented resume in 66 years. pg.acq.push(function() { }); 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Although the injuries don't add up, my guess was that he had had a mental break. He served three presidents -- Ronald Reagan, George H.W. What you are about to read is not a news broadcast. But the circumstances of his death are a mystery. Somebody didnt want his body to be found. He then served in Vietnam, and upon his return, co-founded the organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 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. Scenario One: Wheeler Was Killed By An Outside Agency New York, The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recastagain. Sources tell FOX 32 News that authorities are investigating to see if there is a connection between the toddler and Dobbs. 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. Marie Claire is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. What robber is barefoot? The screen is still black as we hear birds cry and then, the first image we see is tons of garbage. The details on the request, as well as the address for the request and the request form, can be found on the website of your state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and/or coroner's office. Who Is Hasnat Khan, Princess Dianas Boyfriend on Season 5 of The Crown. 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. 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. The autopsy of JFK, President John f Kennedy was conducted By: Katherines a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestylefrom Clueless to Everlane to news about Lizzo. I dont see that, plus the ruling is homicide. eventAction: 'click_ads' Another theory is that Wheeler's strange behavior wasn't related to his bipolar at all. The mystery surrounding Wheeler's death was never solved. Trash car drivers told investigators that it was fairly common that people would climb into a dumpster to find some warmth in the winter. Related: Unsolved Mysteries: Every Jack Wheeler Death Theory, Explained. Unsolved Mysteries is available on Netflix now. An endangered missing person advisory issued Thursday did not say where in Missouri the person and van were located. In 1982, as we were building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he provided the overall strategy, guidance, was the chairman of the board. 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. Delaware Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of subjects responsible for the death of the victim. At least, not directly. And since the trash surrounding his body was determined to be from there as well, it is plausible that it happened. hitType: 'event', Seems the simplest explanation is he had a mental break. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 examined the curious death of Jack Wheeler. Theories about Jack Wheeler's mysterious death run the gamut. 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. After his body was secured and sent to the coroners office, the autopsy performed confirmed that he had died in the worst of ways. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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 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. 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. Surely he talked during that trip? "'I thought it was a little odd,' says [a hacker he spoke to]. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. Klyce maintains Wheeler's death was a hired hit. In this footage, he appears frenetic and confused. 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. John Wheeler, an attorney and businessman, touches the name of a friend engraved in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, May 17, 1994. . But the latter part of this gets thrown away when his autopsy and injuries are looked into. He didn't, however, have a strong sense of direction and was often losing his car. An autopsy found that he was a victim of homicide, but police are not releasing any details of the medical report. pg.acq.push(function() { He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him.". And still wearing his West Point ring to boot? He was blocks away from where he had actually left his car. 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. He got his start writing for the legendary DC Comics digital fanzine Fanzing, before receiving his own column, The Mount. Its not mentioned in episode. "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. hitType: 'event', He made it to Newark, crawled into the Dumpster to keep warm, and was crushed by the trash compactor. 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. Prior to the pharmacy, he emails his work saying his security badge was stolen, although never reports this to police. ga('ads.send', { Jack Wheeler was a 66-year-old former Pentagon official. He may also have been seen in a cab. 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 December 31, 2010, the body of John P Wheeler III, a former White House aide was found badly battered and bruised in the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. Titled "Washington Insider Murder," the episode details the bizarre circumstances of Wheeler's death. 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. Seems fairly obvious no? }) Bush and George W. Bush. pg.acq.push(function() { Wheeler's autopsy result concluded he died from blunt force trauma but as of today, his. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. John 'Jack' Wheeler's body was found in a landfill His body was found 14 hours later on December 31 in a landfill after being dumped from a trash truck. "But it is just one aspect, it's not the focus of our investigation.". }); "I think he might have pissed someone offand I think his movements reflected that. "And they transported his body. Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 explored the mysterious and violent death of Washington insider Jack Wheeler, which most believe was murder. At around 7:15 P.M., EST. A prominent figure and a strong advocate for veterans, Wheeler was known for his passion about the causes he supported. NY 10036. As mentioned in the episode, Wheeler's emotional distress and his death seem unconnected to each other. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Jack's body was found in a Delaware landfill one day after his disappearance in December 2010, having last been seen alive on a street in Wilmington. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { This mirrors the recent Unsolved Mysteries episode on Jack Wheeler, which aired last October. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All the dance numbers! eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The actress opens up about the surreal process of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel. When Wheeler's body was discovered and the circumstances of his death confirmed, many presumed that he had been assassinated by an enemy nation or a rival of his employer. Nordstrom has been the go-to destination for fashion editors alike, and this season is no different. An autopsy was performed that same day which determined that Jack had been murdered. The autopsy report doesn't correlate with someone getting crushed by a compactor. Why would someone break into your house, destroy your spice rack and throw your Comet all around? The way they disposed of his body, its a miracle anybody ever found it. What little spare time he has is devoted towards acting, role-playing, movie-riffing and sarcasm. ga('ads.send', { No. Wheeler's body was apparently dumped in a dumpster in Newark, Delaware, which was 14 kilometers from Wilmington. All the nudity of porn, but with the plot and storylines of mainstream film. But at this point, he said, police have no information about Wheeler's whereabouts that week. Could be useful. After spending the day in Washington, he traveled to New Castle, Delaware, where he owned a house. 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. And thats when everything changed. 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. During his mental break, he might have made a pass at one or both of the guys who was . Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 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. Investigators soon found Jacks phone, but it was in the under-construction house across the street, making them think that maybe Jack had set off those smoke bombs. It is unclear how Wheeler wound up in that dumpster and if he was alive or dead at the time. His once orderly life seemed to be unraveling in his last days, which has further befuddled. 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. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel" Dobbs, remains missing. Even weirder was the presence of Wheeler's ceremonial West Point sword and shield on the floor, covered in spilled cleaning supplies. All the show tunes! 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Days before his death, Wheeler exhibited some erratic behavior. 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. I mean this guy was extremely bright. However, Jack was entirely in the wrong parking lot. However there is still the question of his stolen work ID badge. Wheeler's body was discovered December 31, 2010 in the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. More:Why Unsolved Mysteries On Netflix Doesn't Have A Host. Fallows wrote a tribute to Wheeler in the Atlantic Magazine online, saying, "I feel terrible for his family and hope they will eventually find comfort in knowing how many important things he achieved. Also, Jack was wearing only one shoe, carrying the other in his hand, and repeatedly telling the personnel there that his briefcase was stolen. That was seemingly forgotten on the show. It wouldnt have happened.. 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? if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Curious to know all the details? 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. hitType: 'event', In 2011, Kathy Klyce told Slate that she suspects the murder was a hired hit. I bet they were wheelers. 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.