Heavy snow and difficult travel expected again, heaviest snow in southern Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A central Minnesota sheriff who worked to solve the decades-old kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling is hanging up his badge.

Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner announced his retirement Tuesday.
Sanner has worked for the sheriff's office for nearly 33 years and has been sheriff for the last 14.

In the Dark

Sanner was among investigators who worked to find out who abducted Jacob from near his St. Joseph home in October 1989. Authorities decided to take a new look at the cold case as the 25th anniversary approached. Danny Heinrich eventually confessed to abducting, sexually assaulting and killing the 11-year-old boy, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a child pornography count.

 Sanner's retirement takes effect April 17. The County Board will choose someone to fill out his term.

Crime, Law and Justice

The Jacob Wetterling abduction

The Associated Press

Author

Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner announced his retirement Tuesday.
Sanner has worked for the sheriff's office for nearly 33 years and has been sheriff for the last 14.


Sheriff who investigated Wetterling abduction to retire

Go Deeper.

Like this?