Patty Wetterling

Mother of Jacob Wetterling and child-safety advocate, author of Dear Jacob

Patty Wetterling (Mother of Jacob Wetterling and child-safety advocate, author of Dear Jacob) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Abduction of Jacob Wetterling, Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope, Dan Rassier investigation.

In their words

Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.

Abduction of Jacob Wetterling

  • Patty Wetterling says she refused to let Jacob's abductor take her marriage, her other children, or a world of childhood innocence.

    “I refused to let the man who took Jacob take away anything more. You can't have my marriage. You can't have my kids”

    20/20: Where Are You Jacob? (Jul 18, 2026) · Listen from 1:26:54

  • Patty Wetterling says the public began reporting Jerry as a suspect because they disliked how he appeared on television.

    “People started turning in Jerry as a suspect. And it's like, they didn't like the way he looked on TV. He wasn't sad enough”

    20/20: Where Are You Jacob? (Jul 18, 2026) · Listen from 29:55

Patty Wetterling on Abduction of Jacob Wetterling →

Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope

  • Patty Wetterling says she wrote her book to share what kept the family going in hopes of helping other families.

    “Part of me wanted to write to share some of what kept us going if it could help another family”

    20/20: Where Are You Jacob? (Jul 18, 2026) · Listen from 1:25:40

Patty Wetterling on Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope →

Dan Rassier investigation

  • Patty Wetterling says that after her wired conversation with Rassier she told the FBI he was either innocent or a psychopath.

    “I told the FBI as I'm tearing off the microphone, he's either innocent or a psychopath”

    20/20: Where Are You Jacob? (Jul 18, 2026) · Listen from 46:54

Patty Wetterling on Dan Rassier investigation →

Appearances

  • Where Are You Jacob?

    20/20 · Jul 18, 2026 · 1 h 27 min

    Deborah Roberts revisits the 1989 abduction of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling with his parents, survivor Jared Scheierl, blogger Joy Baker and investigators who ultimately identified Danny Heinrich.

Often appears with