Coverage prompts more tips on Wetterling case
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Stearns County authorities have received about 30 more tips in the Jacob Wetterling case in the past week or so as his family marked the 20th anniversary of his abduction.
Most of the tips were from people calling to say they had seen Wetterling, Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said. There were also some calls from people claiming to have information about the suspect, he said.
"Nobody is calling in with additional evidence that we didn't have," Sanner said.
But Sanner said most of the tips are worth checking out, which is what his department is doing now.
"A lot of times there's a reason that they call. They've thought about it for many, many years and something like the 20th anniversary jogs their memory," he said. "We don't mind getting those (calls). They think it's a bother for us but it's not, because they might be giving us information that's key to solving this."
Sanner attributed the increase in calls to the media coverage surrounding the 20th anniversary. He said authorities typically get 5 to 6 tips per month on the case.
Wetterling was abducted Oct. 22, 1989, not far from his home in St. Joseph. Wetterling, his brother and a friend were riding their bikes home when a masked man stopped them. He told the other two boys to run but took Jacob.
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