When he entered the house, though, he saw that the whole place had been overturned and thrashed, with things scattered on the floor and cutlery broken in the sink, and so he dialed 911. Looking for a new Netflix series to binge or the best movies to watch on Amazon Prime? 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. More:Why Unsolved Mysteries On Netflix Doesn't Have A Host. Yes, he did have a second home in New Castle, Delaware, but Wilmington was a completely different area. Was Wheeler's a tragic death related to a bipolar episode, a government-sanctioned assassination plot, or as others believe, a random downtown mugging gone wrong? Klyce maintains Wheeler's death was a hired hit. The actress opens up about the surreal process of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel. let gads_event; pg.acq.push(function() { Murphy's 1-year-old daughter, Jacklyn "Angel . He may also have been seen in a cab. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 examined the curious death of Jack Wheeler. . However, no concrete motive or evidence has ever surfaced in the decade since the dedicated public servant was killed. 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. But the circumstances of his death are a mystery. 8:30 p.m. Surveillance video captures Wheeler wandering through the Nemours Building at 10th and Orange streets. I think your theory is right, some kind of mental break/psychosis. Nevertheless, some people believe that his murder was the direct result of a professional hit job, considering all the evidence, or the lack thereof. 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. He was happily married to Katherine "Kathy" Klyce; they each had two children. That same night, a smoke bomb went off in the house that was under construction right across from his place. All the dance numbers! "He left the pharmacy, and there was a couple there, a man and a woman, and he asked them if they could give him a ride to Wilmington, and they did, and they dropped him off there. Given Wheeler's connections at the Pentagon and his background in biological warfare and cybersecurity, it's possible that he could have been the Edward Snowden before Edward Snowden had he discovered something illegal. 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. While this theory would explain Wheeler's behavior and injuries and the results of his autopsy, it does have one major flaw; Wheeler's body still had money, jewelry and an expensive watch when it was found in the Wilmington landfill. There is also the question of why he would have been beaten to death when it would have been far simpler to stage a home invasion gone wrong or some other scenario in which Wheeler could be shot to death. 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. Lets find out. On the morning his body was discovered, his neighbor called the police to report a burglary at his place. The discovery prompted an investigation into his mysterious death and the investigation unearthed some bizarre circumstances surrounding the days before his death. The person had a relationship with Murphy, and was last seen with her on Monday, around the time her family last had contact with her, according to Wheeling police. 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. Jack served in the Vietnam War and after he came back he began planning a memorial for all who fought and died there. Also whats up with the sword and shield on his kitchen floor powdered with comet or something? So, Which Band Inspired 'Daisy Jones & The Six'? Cops say they don't know who killed Jack Wheeler or why they did it. Jack Wheeler's death is the focus of an Unsolved Mysteries episode Credit: YouTube 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. These Are the 30 Best True Crime Podcasts. I mean this guy was extremely bright. Theories about Jack Wheeler's mysterious death run the gamut. However, Jack was entirely in the wrong parking lot. Most states require a written request for the autopsy report. When the dumpster was picked up by a truck, the body ended up at the Cherry Hill landfill, where it was found December 31 (six miles from his home) shortly after the truck dumped out its contents. 3. 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. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. They left his watch, they left his money," Meurer tells Parade.com. 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. 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. In the end, nothing about who could have possibly wanted to harm Jack in such a way was found. It's also believed that a professional assassin would have shot Wheeler from a distance, rather than beating him to death physically. Unsolved Mysteries executive producer Terry Dunn Muerer is hoping, with this season, to change that. "Jack's murder has all these facts around it that just naturally confound," investigative journalist Steve Volk says in the episode entitled "Washington Insider Murder. We are one of the worlds fastest growing Despite having Bipolar disorder, John Jack Parsons Wheeler III, had built an unprecedented resume in 66 years. },false) Yes, he did have a second home in New Castle, Delaware, but Wilmington was a completely different area. 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. He's also the subject of anUnsolved Mysteriesepisode. 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. Bush and George W. Bush. This mirrors the recent Unsolved Mysteries episode on Jack Wheeler, which aired last October. An hour later, Wheeler shows up in security footage at a parking garage. },false) In 2011, Kathy Klyce told Slate that she suspects the murder was a hired hit. "I think he might have pissed someone offand I think his movements reflected that. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Yeah, I mean everytime they dump something new in the dumpster things are going to get pressed against him. He was then seen asking for a ride to Wilmington, DE, searching unsuccessfully for his car in the wrong parking garage. He is dressed differently from the day before. 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. } Investigators believe he must have left DC and went home to New Castle the same day as the smoke bomb incident. But the question still remains as to why Jack was in Newark or a dumpster. Another theory is that Wheeler, either confused or making an effort to throw off his pursuers, sought shelter in a dumpster in Newark. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ 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. Jack said No, thanks,'. Lets not oversimplify. Family members say that he could have periods of manic energy and depressionbut that it fueled his energy and drive, and that his disorder was well-controlled. Wheeler was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors in April of 2011. Somebody didnt want his body to be found. As heard in episode one of Unsolved Mysteries, Jack Wheeler was murdered on December 30, 2010. }); Terry added: We were not able to speak to that couple. Its not mentioned in episode. Fallows wrote a tribute to Wheeler in the Atlantic Magazine online, saying, "I feel terrible for his family and hope they will eventually find comfort in knowing how many important things he achieved. Surveillance footage showed him visiting a local pharmacy at night on December 29 looking for a ride to Wilmington, where he had left his car in a garage. The puzzling death of former White House aide Jack Wheeler is explored in a new episode of "Unsolved Mysteries." By Gina Tron. The first episode of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 centers on the murder of Jack Wheeler, a Washington insider and former aide to . }); An autopsy found that he was a victim of homicide, but police are not releasing any details of the medical report. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. 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. Related: Everything Unsolved Mysteries Leaves Out About The Oslo Plaza Woman. Wheeler's autopsy also revealed that he had suffered a heart attack, but still listed the cause of his death as blunt force trauma. One Jack Wheeler theory was assassinated by the U.S. government before he could talk. 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. Matt Morrison has been writing about comics since before the word "blogging" was coined. "And they transported his body. According to Today, the coroner's report said Murphy . } 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. On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. Jack WAS a patriot. Related:Unsolved Mysteries: What To Expect From Volume 3. Murphy was a 2018 graduate of Stevenson High School and lived with her daughter at the apartment building, Wheeling police said. On 31st December 2010, the body of John P. Wheeler III (also known as Jack) was found in the Cherry Island Landfill in Delaware. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Dis friends have said she referred to the doctor as the love of her life.. Murphy was discovered during a well-being check by Wheeling police after she failed to report to work on Tuesday. Wheeler's erratic behavior before his death and his avoiding his home and cabs in favor of hitchhiking and traveling on foot could be taken as signs that he feared he was being stalked and that the thieves were hunting him to cover their tracks. eventAction: 'view' hitType: 'event', Jack Wheeler's death is the focus of an Unsolved Mysteries episode Credit: YouTube Jack's body was found in a Delaware landfill one day after his disappearance in December 2010, having last. 3:30 p.m. Wheeler is spotted in the area of 10th and Orange streets in Wilmington. In the garage surveillance footage, Wheeler seemed distressed and agitated. And thats when everything changed. But the latter part of this gets thrown away when his autopsy and injuries are looked into. A well-educated man, not used to being homeless would not jump in a dumpster night 1 on the streets. 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. Several people approach him because he appears disoriented or confused. He moved easily among Washington's elite, working most recently as a military consultant. Jack's autopsy was performed the day he was found. But Meurer says this is not the case. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Shes been afreelancerfor 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. Wheeler was last seen alive on surveillance video inside the Nemours. He made it to Newark, crawled into the Dumpster to keep warm, and was crushed by the trash compactor. He was beaten and thrown around in such a way that he had several severe injuries all over his body. 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. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. He appeared to be cautious of his surroundings as if he was scared that he was being stalked. }); This does seem most plausible. Curiously, Wheeler did not call the police regarding the break-in or the theft. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), How Shanann Watts' Family Feels About Netflix's, Love True Crime? He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him.". eventAction: 'click_ads' Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. Jacqueline and Robert Kennedy were escorted to the VIP suites on the seventeenth floor and the autopsy began at 7:35 P.M. interesting that the documentary didnt mention anything further about the footprints found in the kitchen. On December 28, he left his home in the morning, telling his wife that he had to go to Washington D.C. for some important work, not unusual considering how busy he liked to keep himself. Wheeler was wearing black pants and a white shirt. Clueless and 8 Mile star Brittany Murphy was only 32 years old when she passed away from what her autopsy declared was pneumonia. However there is still the question of his stolen work ID badge. Jack was working in the area of cybersecurity. At least one shoe didnt agree with him. 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. Although at least 10 different agencies, federal, state and local got involved in the murder case, including the FBI, ATF and DEA, running down every possible lead, the murderer was never found, making it one of the more high-profile cold cases which were never solved. The theory of him being in the dumpster and getting compacted makes sense. "We have no suspects at this time," Lt. Mark Farrall of the Newark police told ABC News. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. "But it is just one aspect, it's not the focus of our investigation.". Some conspiracy theorists have connected Wheeler's death to various theories regarding government corruption in Washington DC. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He seemed in a lot of distress at the parking garage. Police ultimately ruled his death a homicide caused. This content is imported from youTube. If it was a psychotic break, I am not sure how this fits in. That just sounds like a pro to me.. Also, Jack had some cash on him when his body was found, had his Rolex and West Point ring. One theory is that Jack Wheeler was experiencing a bipolar episode, which caused his erratic behavior. He served three presidents -- Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Per the crime scene, Wheeler's body had ended up there because it had been in a dumpster in Newark, DEmiles away from Wilmington. BTW, whose footprint was that on the floor? 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." 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. }); 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. "So we do know who that was, and they did not have anything to do with his disappearance.. Revolve's Sale Has Every Single Wedding Guest You Need For Wedding Season, We're InspiredCrisp Suiting and Bold Beauty is All We Can Currently Think About, Revolve Is Having a Huge One-Day-Only Saleand You Can Get $100 Off These Legendary Gucci Sunglasses, The 75 Best K-Dramas You'll Be Completely Hooked On, Selena Gomez Revealed Meryl Streep Is Joining 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3, The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals, Sophia Brown on Joining the World of The Witcher: Blood Origin, 'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know, The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide. Although the injuries don't add up, my guess was that he had had a mental break. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Also, Jack was wearing only one shoe, carrying the other in his hand, and repeatedly telling the personnel there that his briefcase was stolen. One of the to-do lists Wheeler left behind, dated Dec. 5, mentions hacking a target associated with the construction dispute. Unsolved Mysteries is available on Netflix now. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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. However, there are two main schools of thought regarding that his death was somehow related to his bipolar disorder. THE JOHN F KENNEDY, JFK ASSASSINATION AUTOPSY: The Naval Ambulance arrived at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. However, the "fire bombs" used in the incident were later determined to be simple smoke bombs used by exterminators for flushing out rodents. 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}} He saw a therapist and took medication. Footage shows the pharmacist offering to call Wheeler a cab and then Wheeler declining. 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. 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. 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.". A one-year old is missing in Wheeling, following the murder of her mother. The strangest thing, though, was the state of his New Castle home and the evidence found near there. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. He was trying to stay out of sight because someone might have been following him.. SkyFOX was over the scene where a body of a toddler was found Thursday. He feared somebody had broken in. Never even addressed this and the journalist thought those minutes were the biggest mystery. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Some Redditors in the mainUnsolved Mysteriesthread believe Wheeler was exhibiting symptoms of early onset dementia, a disease that Wheeler's bipolar disorder could have predispositioned him to.