How Danny Heinrich is linked to Jacob Wetterling as his remains are found

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (KMSP) - Stunning developments overnight in the nearly three decade search for Jacob Wetterling. The 11-year-old boy's remains apparently found on a Stearns County farm.

According to media reports, investigators were led to the site by the man named a person of interest in the case last Fall, Danny Heinrich. Heinrich has been in jail for months on federal child porn charges.

Authorities have reported that Heinrich's DNA matched DNA found on clothing of a young boy kidnapped and raped in nearby Cold Spring right around the time of Jacob's disappearance. Those cases always thought to be linked..

On Saturday afternoon, we tracked down Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner at his office. He refused to comment.

As for Heinrich and the timing of this, it remains a mystery. The now 53-year-old was first interviewed by Wetterling investigators just months after Jacob disappeared.

His likeness closely resembling the suspect sketch at the time. Also, his car tires and shoe prints appeared to match evidence at the Wetterling crime scene.

"Obviously it does bring closure. Badly need closure for the family. I just think God can bring something good out of everything. I think while I feel so terribly for the loss suffered today, I do believe Jacob's life was not lost in vain,” Stearns County resident Pat Guenin said.