Geez. But they also pointed out that he was diligent with his medication, so it wasnt likely. Who Is Hasnat Khan, Princess Dianas Boyfriend on Season 5 of The Crown. 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. By the way, whenever I need a ride somewhere I always go to the pharmacy and ask someone to take me. }) One particular theory is a bit far-fetchedsome Redditors believe he may have been killed by Russian agents because he knew too much. But that chilling scene is only the beginning of a sprawling unsolved murder of a former Pentagon official and presidential aide. The strangest thing, though, was the state of his New Castle home and the evidence found near there. The second season of Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries' opens with this case as it interviews detectives and expert witnesses involved in it and also talks to the victim's family to help decode what might have happened to John Wheeler, who was referred by most as simply "Jack." Lets find out. Nordstrom has been the go-to destination for fashion editors alike, and this season is no different. But Jack didnt inform the police or his wife about any of this. }); He served three presidents -- Ronald Reagan, George H.W. 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. UNSOLVED Mysteries viewers have raged at a 'major oversight in CCTV footage' from missing Jack Wheeler's case. He then served in Vietnam, and upon his return, co-founded the organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Wheeler's autopsy also revealed that he had suffered a heart attack, but still listed the cause of his death as blunt force trauma. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Additionally, it seems unlikely that Wheeler would have gone to ground without making some kind of effort to make sure his wife and children were protected if he thought he was being targeted by assassins as the result of a long-term investigation into government corruption. I thought I was the only one to think of this. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Wheeler shows up on security footage later in the night. That was seemingly forgotten on the show. However it happened, some theorize is that a confused Wheeler may have been mugged on the streets of Wilmington or Newark and suffered a heart attack as a result of the stress of the encounter (the Unsolved Mysteriesepisode leaves out that Wheeler's bodyshowed signs of cardiac arrest). He also considered it a sacrilege to the memory of the soldiers to whom the park was dedicated. In 2017, Wheeler's wife Kathy Klyce toldWashington Post she believed he messed with the wrong person. "Whats puzzling about that case is it wasnt just a random assault or street mugging. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He feared somebody had broken in. Jan. 3, 2011 -- John Wheeler fought for dignity and honor for the fallen of the Vietnam War. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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. The autopsy of JFK, President John f Kennedy was conducted By: However, an autopsy report suggested that Jack had taken quite a beating. A one-year old is missing in Wheeling, following the murder of her mother. But the question still remains as to why Jack was in Newark or a dumpster. Yes, he did have a second home in New Castle, Delaware, but Wilmington was a completely different area. ga('ads.send', { 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. In this footage, he appears frenetic and confused. ga('ads.send', { 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. hitType: 'event', According to Today, the coroner's report said Murphy . Jack served in the Vietnam War and after he came back he began planning a memorial for all who fought and died there. ", Another added: "Why is no one curious about the people who gave Jack a ride to the parking garage?! An autopsy found that he was a victim of homicide, but police are not releasing any details of the medical report. In fact, he didnt communicate with either of them for the rest of his time alive. Scenario One: Wheeler Was Killed By An Outside Agency ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); ga('ads.send', { Reportedly he was rambling about how his briefcase had been stolen. There wasnt much damage but police found a cell phone at the scene and when they examined it, discovered it was Wheelers. He may also have been seen in a cab. 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. Episode One of Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries Volume Two details the death of a former Pentagon official and presidential aide. John Wheeler, an attorney and businessman, touches the name of a friend engraved in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, May 17, 1994. . He was the chairman in charge of strategy guidance for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and served as a senior planner for Amtrak. I don't deny he suffered from from a manic episode, but both him and Lam got murdered. However, those who knew Wheeler best say this wasn't too out of character; he was constantly getting lost and forgetting things, and apparently had a terrible sense of direction. },false) It was possible that Wheeler had some mental breakdown due to his disorder or he was being physically attacked. 'But Jack was a really brilliant guy, and Igave him a reading list.' It is unclear how Wheeler wound up in that dumpster and if he was alive or dead at the time. Wheeler's death has saddened many of his close friends, including former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and author James Fallows. SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES FROM FOX 32 NEWS. The injuries Wheeler sustained simply could not have been the result of his being harmed by a trash truck. ga('ads.send', { Roughly forty minutes later, Wheeler was seen on another security camera in a Wilmington parking garage, looking disheveled and holding one of his shoes. On the morning his body was discovered, his neighbor called the police to report a burglary at his place. During his mental break, he might have made a pass at one or both of the guys who was . 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. At around 7:15 P.M., EST. 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. This does seem most plausible. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", Related: How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix'sAmerican Murder: The Family Next Door: Her Brother Speaks Out. Wheeler was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors in April of 2011. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 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. Sources tell FOX 32 News that authorities are investigating to see if there is a connection between the toddler and Dobbs. 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. }); And thats when everything changed. In the garage surveillance footage, Wheeler seemed distressed and agitated. He got his start writing for the legendary DC Comics digital fanzine Fanzing, before receiving his own column, The Mount. hitType: 'event', 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. 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. Maybe the suitcase was lost elsewhere or thrown away. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { pg.acq.push(function() { On Dec. 31, 2010, Wheeler's body was discovered as a garbage truck was being emptied at the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware. THE JOHN F KENNEDY, JFK ASSASSINATION AUTOPSY: The Naval Ambulance arrived at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. So, who killed Jack Wheeler? Lets not oversimplify. (More on that later). Bush and George W. Bush. Around that same time, he sent an e-mail to Mitre, telling them that there had been a break-in in his home and that his Mitre badge, wallet, key fob, briefcase, and cellphone had been taken. His wife claimed that he had been independently investigating the construction project and might have stumbled across a secret worth killing for as part of the investigation. I think he might have pissed someone off, his wife Kathy told the Washington Post in 2017, and I think his movements reflected that. Wheeler had notified Mitre his phone was missing but didn't tell his wife or the police. Jacqueline and Robert Kennedy were escorted to the VIP suites on the seventeenth floor and the autopsy began at 7:35 P.M. "I think he might have pissed someone offand I think his movements reflected that. :) Yeah. 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. "It was definitely homicide," she says. He told the people in the parking garage that his briefcase had been stolen. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. His entire life had been dedicated to public service, even as he personally battled depression and bipolar disorder. A witness did come forward to state that they shared a cab with Jack at around 11 p.m. that night, which Jack had climbed into after hearing that it was headed to Newark. At least, not directly. Wheeler had bipolar disorder and was on medication for his condition, but he was usually good about taking his medicine. (Featured Image Credit: Netflix). Jack Wheeler was a 66-year-old former Pentagon official. Fell asleep in the dumpster. 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. Police ultimately ruled his death a homicide caused. 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. The actress opens up about the surreal process of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel. This also assumes that Wheeler would ever consider committing a crime. 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. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. Jack's autopsy was performed the day he was found. An autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office determined Ja'Nya Murphy died as a result of asphyxiation due to strangulation. Murphy was discovered during a well-being check by Wheeling police after she failed to report to work on Tuesday. 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. Another theory is that Wheeler's strange behavior wasn't related to his bipolar at all. #UnsolvedMysteries. Subsequently, all the dumpsters in Newark were examined, and a partial DNA match with Jack from inside one of them was found. Its I go to dinner, not Her huge ego, but she responds to both. Without Jacks phone, all the investigators had was video surveillance to track him. NY 10036. Jack was devoted to causes that were for the great benefit of the country such as being executive director of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial," Bayard Marin, Wheelers attorney, said. Wheeler next appeared on surveillance camera in the Nemours building in downtown Wilmington the following day, on December 30. Because he was such a well known figure people just dont want to accept that its not a conspiracy theory. If there was a robbery, it was never reported and doesnt quite fit into a psychotic break. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Klyce maintains Wheeler's death was a hired hit. The second school of thought regarding a potential bipolar episode is that Wheeler was met with foul play. Wheelerwho was also diagnosed with bipolar disorderwas found dead in a landfill after a night of . hitType: 'event', 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. 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 way they disposed of his body, its a miracle anybody ever found it. Same size as his? His family confirmed that Jack was directionally challenged, and his behavior could have been due to his Bipolar disorder. 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. ", Klyce believes that Wheeler was in the midst of a bipolar episodebut also says she believes her husband was targeted for some reason. 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. I mean this guy was extremely bright. Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel" Dobbs, remains missing. Delaware Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of subjects responsible for the death of the victim. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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. We're at the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington, Delaware where on December 31, 2010 landfill employees discovered a body of a man dumped there. Another theory is that Wheeler, either confused or making an effort to throw off his pursuers, sought shelter in a dumpster in Newark. Some investigators theorized he might have died after seeking refuge in the dumpster, but his brutal wounds are inconsistent with thatWheeler was pretty badly beaten, according to the report. Seems the simplest explanation is he had a mental break. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? His once orderly life seemed to be unraveling in his last days, which has further befuddled. One Jack Wheeler theory was assassinated by the U.S. government before he could talk. } Still, his murder remains an utter mystery, and it is unclear whether the property dispute is related to Wheeler's death. } He had one shoe off and the other shoe in his hand. 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. As shown in the Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2episode, police were eventually able to trace Wheeler's body to a particular garbage truck and found his DNA in a dumpster in Newark, Delaware; a city nearly 15 miles southwest of where Wheeler was last seen alive and roughly the same distance from where his body was found. In the garage surveillance footage, Wheeler seemed distressed and agitated. 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. 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. eventAction: 'load' The footage shows him walking toward Rodney Square at around 8:40 p.m. But his many public accomplishments were considered even more impressive when considering his personal plights: Wheeler was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder. 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. Bush and George W. Bush, for whom he was a special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. }); He didn't seem panicked at all to us, maybe senile or in a confused manic state which would explain losing his possessions. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 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. eventAction: 'click_ads' Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. },false) No. "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.. 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. },false) ga('ads.send', { eventAction: 'click_adunit' 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. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 centers on the murder of Jack Wheeler, a Washington insider and former aide to . 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. A neighbor, Robert Dill, reported the potential burglary when he noticed the second floor window of Jack's house was open. But the circumstances of his death are a mystery. 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. #unsolvedmysteries.". "The pharmacist couldnt leave the shop, so he offered to call Jack a cab. Episode One of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries Volume Two details the death of a former Pentagon official and presidential aide. Murphy was a 2018 graduate of Stevenson High School and lived with her daughter at the apartment building, Wheeling police said. It was,apparently (opens in new tab), not the only office building he went to; he also visited a Mitre office. 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. Their belief is that Wheeler was on the verge of revealing something big and was killed to keep him quiet. He was last seen alive on 10th Street and Orange in. Investigators believe he must have left DC and went home to New Castle the same day as the smoke bomb incident. Bush, and George W. Bush. If it was a psychotic break, I am not sure how this fits in. Related: Unsolved Mysteries: Every Jack Wheeler Death Theory, Explained. The puzzling death of former White House aide Jack Wheeler is explored in a new episode of "Unsolved Mysteries." By Gina Tron. In the end, nothing about who could have possibly wanted to harm Jack in such a way was found. He didn't, however, have a strong sense of direction and was often losing his car. One of the to-do lists Wheeler left behind, dated Dec. 5, mentions hacking a target associated with the construction dispute. Wheeler was, at the time, embroiled in a legal battle against the houses construction, and his cell phone was found there after his death. He made it to Newark, crawled into the Dumpster to keep warm, and was crushed by the trash compactor. New York, Some type of black garment covered his upper torso area. 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. He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him.". Somebody didnt want his body to be found. Her death was ruled a homicide. 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. All the show tunes! let gads_event; 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. 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 presidencies: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. However there is still the question of his stolen work ID badge. 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. Curiously, Wheeler did not call the police regarding the break-in or the theft. Jack was working in the area of cybersecurity. Nevertheless, some people believe that his murder was the direct result of a professional hit job, considering all the evidence, or the lack thereof. Later on, Jack worked as the special assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, Mike Wynne, and was a national security consultant to the defense firm Mitre Corporation in the cybersecurity area. On the night before he died, security footage filmed Wheeler at a New Castle pharmacy. I feel like when it was said he heard the cab was traveling to Newark maybe he thought they said New York. You can follow his adventures on Twitter, @senseistarman. 1. As listed in his report, a few of them are hemorrhage, contusion, punctured lungs, broken ribs, aspiration of blood, external neck injury, bruises to the face and orbital bones, and laceration. 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 . Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries is back again with Volume 2, and it is as intriguing and bone-chilling as ever. According to the Delaware state medical examiner's office, Jack's official cause of death was blunt force trauma.