On Dec. 31, 2010, Wheeler's body was discovered as a garbage truck was being emptied at the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. 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. On December 31, 2010 the body of John "Jack" Wheeler III was . 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. 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. This would seem to be the most logicalscenario given Wheeler's employment history and status as a Washington DC insider with a high-level security clearance. Here's everything we know about who killed Jack Wheeler, plus details on the White House aide and exclusive intel from series co-creator and executive producer Terry Meurer. },false) The discovery prompted an investigation into his mysterious death and the investigation unearthed some bizarre circumstances surrounding the days before his death. The theory of him being in the dumpster and getting compacted makes sense. He was beaten and thrown around in such a way that he had several severe injuries all over his body. In the garage surveillance footage, Wheeler seemed distressed and agitated. 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. 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. To make matters even more confusing, Wheeler's phone was found by the police at the construction site across the street from his home after his death, as they were investigating the possible arson attempt. If you have information about Wheeler's death, visit unsolved.com. 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. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. But Jack didnt inform the police or his wife about any of this. SkyFOX was over the scene where a body of a toddler was found Thursday. 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. 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. Inside the kitchen area, Dill found the door ajar, a plant tipped over, spices and cleaning supplies knocked onto the floor and broken dishes in the sink. One Jack Wheeler theory was assassinated by the U.S. government before he could talk. Press J to jump to the feed. Then the compactor made it worse when it crushed the body further. But the question still remains as to why Jack was in Newark or a dumpster. The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recastagain. 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. 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. } At least one shoe didnt agree with him. However, Jack was entirely in the wrong parking lot. 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. 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. hitType: 'event', 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. Heres how it works. It was possible that Wheeler had some mental breakdown due to his disorder or he was being physically attacked. 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. 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. He seemed in a lot of distress at the parking garage. At least, not directly. } However there is still the question of his stolen work ID badge. He didn't seem panicked at all to us, maybe senile or in a confused manic state which would explain losing his possessions. Investigators said his body was disposed of in a dumpster. Delaware Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of subjects responsible for the death of the victim. Even weirder was the presence of Wheeler's ceremonial West Point sword and shield on the floor, covered in spilled cleaning supplies. These Are the 30 Best True Crime Podcasts, bipolar disorder could have predispositioned. Proponents of this theory point to the fact that Wheeler's briefcase has never been recovered and that he contacted his employer about the theft but not the police an action he would presumably avoid if he were fearful that classified information had been stolen from his home. ga('ads.send', { He oversaw Jacks property, so when he noticed that a second-floor window was open, he decided to check it out. Also, Jack was wearing only one shoe, carrying the other in his hand, and repeatedly telling the personnel there that his briefcase was stolen. 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. The autopsy of JFK, President John f Kennedy was conducted By: Related: Everything Unsolved Mysteries Leaves Out About The Oslo Plaza Woman. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ The strangest thing, though, was the state of his New Castle home and the evidence found near there. Reportedly he was rambling about how his briefcase had been stolen. 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. However, there have always been other theories about Wheeler's mysterious death. However, an autopsy report suggested that Jack had taken quite a beating. 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. ga('ads.send', { 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. Wheeler had been beaten severely and suffered a heart attack, according to the cops. No. Marie Claire is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. }); 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}} ", Related: How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix'sAmerican Murder: The Family Next Door: Her Brother Speaks Out. It was,apparently (opens in new tab), not the only office building he went to; he also visited a Mitre office. And thats when everything changed. It wouldnt have happened.. Dill also reported a bare footprint. 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.". I have a theory that Jack Wheeler was the victim of a gay bashing. He told the people in the parking garage that his briefcase had been stolen. Wheeler was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors in April of 2011. (This theory shares some similarities to anotherUnsolved Mysteriesdeath Rey Rivera, who some believe died as a result of his own delusions.) 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. 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. Everything is 20% off (and we've broken down our picks by dress code, naturally). Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel" Dobbs, remains missing. He is dressed differently from the day before. On December 28, 1010, smoke bombs were set in the aforementioned home construction, and Wheeler's phone was found at the scene. eventAction: 'click_adunit' 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. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Jack Wheeler was a 66-year-old former Pentagon official. ga('ads.send', { 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. }); On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. It's also believed that a professional assassin would have shot Wheeler from a distance, rather than beating him to death physically. .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'? Episode One of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries Volume Two details the death of a former Pentagon official and presidential aide. UNSOLVED Mysteries viewers have raged at a 'major oversight in CCTV footage' from missing Jack Wheeler's case. 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. 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. That reward was worth $25,000 just for information, for the record. 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. He also, interestingly, asked for train fare, despite refusing the offer of a cab from parking attendants the night before. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 examined the curious death of Jack Wheeler. Jack wandered around Delaware disoriented and unable to contact anyone for help. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. "What's important now is to establish the location of the crime.". What Happened to Xavier Dupont de Ligonns? 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. hitType: 'event', This is the last known sighting of Wheeler, who in the footage, seems to be walking in the opposite direction of his home. Some investigators theorized he might have died after seeking refuge in the dumpster, but. Days before his death, Wheeler had filed a lawsuit attempting to halt the construction of a house across the street from his home in New Castle. Looking for a new Netflix series to binge or the best movies to watch on Amazon Prime? Wheeler also spoke about an interest in hacking to people he knew, in relation to an informal investigation he was making into corruption of Delaware public officials. Titled "Washington Insider Murder," the episode details the bizarre circumstances of Wheeler's death. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. By the way, whenever I need a ride somewhere I always go to the pharmacy and ask someone to take me. In addition, Wheeler's Rolex watch, West Point ring, and wallet with money were all left on him. The autopsy lists a number of severe injuries, including a collapsed lung, broken ribs, swollen lips, and external neck injury, lacerations, and more. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Jack served in the Vietnam War and after he came back he began planning a memorial for all who fought and died there. More:Why Unsolved Mysteries On Netflix Doesn't Have A Host. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He may also have been seen in a cab. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 'But Jack was a really brilliant guy, and Igave him a reading list.' Another theory is that Wheeler's strange behavior wasn't related to his bipolar at all. Wheeler was wearing black pants and a white shirt. eventAction: 'load' #UnsolvedMysteries. Wheeler had notified Mitre his phone was missing but didn't tell his wife or the police. 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 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. Bush and George W. Bush. The injuries are too significant to be rolling in a dumpster. Since he was the caretaker of Jacks house, he went into the house and saw the house was in disarray. Still, his murder remains an utter mystery, and it is unclear whether the property dispute is related to Wheeler's death. Katherines a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestylefrom Clueless to Everlane to news about Lizzo. Family, friends, and investigators express in the episode their hope that someone has information about what happened to Wheeler in his final days. At around 7:15 P.M., EST. 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. Also whats up with the sword and shield on his kitchen floor powdered with comet or something? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Netflix owes us answers after that ending. And since the trash surrounding his body was determined to be from there as well, it is plausible that it happened. Got there and didnt recognize anything since he was already terrible with directions and was quite possibly in the middle of a mental break. 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. They were close to him when, and if, he had a psychotic break. THE JOHN F KENNEDY, JFK ASSASSINATION AUTOPSY: The Naval Ambulance arrived at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. }); 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. These Are the 30 Best True Crime Podcasts. 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. Unsolved Mysteries executive producer Terry Dunn Muerer is hoping, with this season, to change that. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of A person of interest in Murphy's murder and Dobb's disappearance was located in Missouri. 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. Volk is right. So, Which Band Inspired 'Daisy Jones & The Six'? 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. Curious to know all the details? MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. You can follow his adventures on Twitter, @senseistarman. Someone attempted to set the house across the street from Wheelers residence on fire that night. Nevertheless, some people believe that his murder was the direct result of a professional hit job, considering all the evidence, or the lack thereof. Nordstrom has been the go-to destination for fashion editors alike, and this season is no different. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 explored the mysterious and violent death of Washington insider Jack Wheeler, which most believe was murder. And what about the people that drove him from the pharmacy to the garage? A one-year old is missing in Wheeling, following the murder of her mother. That just sounds like a pro to me.. pg.acq.push(function() { That in and of itself seemed strange lol. 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. Visit our corporate site. The footage clearly shows that he was distressed and agitated, looking over his shoulders and into corners every few seconds as if he was scared that somebody would jump out. 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. The mystery surrounding Wheeler's death was never solved. It is possible, however, that the stress of his briefcase and phone disappearing may have triggered a manic episode. 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. He then served in Vietnam, and upon his return, co-founded the organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He had left his car in the city before he went home for Christmas, so it seemed as if he just wanted it back. Wheeler filed suit to halt the construction, which partially blocked his view of the river. 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. hitType: 'event', 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. John Wheeler: Decade after White House aide's body was found in dumpster, agencies still clueless about murder. On December 31, 2010, at 9:56 a.m., Jack Wheelers 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. How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix's, Love True Crime? His family confirmed that Jack was directionally challenged, and his behavior could have been due to his Bipolar disorder. Investigators were back at the landfill today, scouring for leads. Jack Wheeler was a 66-year-old former Pentagon official. ", Klyce believes that Wheeler was in the midst of a bipolar episodebut also says she believes her husband was targeted for some reason. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, An hour later, Wheeler shows up in security footage at a parking garage. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ "We have no suspects at this time," Lt. Mark Farrall of the Newark police told ABC News. A ring stood out as no ring that I had ever seen before. It was a West Pont Military Academy ring, class of 1966. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Wheeler's autopsy result concluded he died from blunt force trauma but as of today, his. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), interesting that the documentary didnt mention anything further about the footprints found in the kitchen. But they also pointed out that he was diligent with his medication, so it wasnt likely. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 centers on the murder of Jack Wheeler, a Washington insider and former aide to . 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. Who Is Hasnat Khan, Princess Dianas Boyfriend on Season 5 of The Crown. 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. That same night, a smoke bomb went off in the house that was under construction right across from his place. Clueless and 8 Mile star Brittany Murphy was only 32 years old when she passed away from what her autopsy declared was pneumonia. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. eventAction: 'render' Internet theories surrounding Jacks case range from a random downtown mugging to a secret government assassination plot. He was happily married to Katherine "Kathy" Klyce; they each had two children. ga('ads.send', { He left the Harlem home that he shared with his wife, Katherine Klyce, after Christmas, on December 28, 2010, but never made it back alive. I still like season 2 but it kinda feels like the detective work is lacking a bit. 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. Any ridge detail? Getty Images. "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.. We are one of the worlds fastest growing According to the Delaware state medical examiner's office, Jack's official cause of death was blunt force trauma. In 1982, as we were building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he provided the overall strategy, guidance, was the chairman of the board. Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel . New York, 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. 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. He reached his destination, worked for the day, and then left to go to New Castle, his second home, for the night. According to an operations report originally obtained by The Daily Beast, a K-9 unit consisting of one bloodhound and . Therefore, the authorities decided to retrace his last few days alive, which was initially thought to be relatively easy, since Jack rarely went anywhere without his cellphone and briefcase in hand. 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 victim had very strong ties to the government which could be understood by merely glancing at his career. He spoke about a stolen briefcase. Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries is back again with Volume 2, and it is as intriguing and bone-chilling as ever. "But it is just one aspect, it's not the focus of our investigation.". 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. That was seemingly forgotten on the show. He is carrying one shoe. 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.