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Person of interest in 1989 abduction to appear in court

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, shows Daniel Heinrich. Patty Wetterling, the mother of Jacob Wetterling, missing since 1989, said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Heinrich, who authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges. (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office via AP )
FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, shows Daniel Heinrich. Patty Wetterling, the mother of Jacob Wetterling, missing since 1989, said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Heinrich, who authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges. (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office via AP ) FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, shows Daniel Heinrich. Patty Wetterling, the mother of Jacob Wetterling, missing since 1989, said Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 that his remains have been found. Heinrich, who authorities have called a person of interest in the 1989 kidnapping, denied any involvement and was not charged with that crime. But he has pleaded not guilty to several federal child pornography charges. (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office via AP )

By Associated Press 3 min read

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minnesota man who led authorities to the remains of an 11-year-old boy who was abducted in 1989 is expected to appear in federal court Tuesday in a child pornography case.

Danny Heinrich’s status conference is set for 1 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

Last year, authorities named Heinrich as a person of interest in the abduction of Jacob Wetterling, who was snatched from a rural road in central Minnesota on Oct. 22, 1989. Jacob was riding his bicycle with his brother and a friend near his home in St. Joseph when a masked gunman abducted him. Authorities said the man held on to Jacob and told the other boys to run. Jacob was not seen alive again, despite extensive searches, tens of thousands of leads and offers of a monetary reward.

No one has been arrested or charged in Jacob’s abduction, including Heinrich. But the 53-year-old man did lead authorities to Jacob’s remains last week, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing case.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said Jacob’s remains were identified Saturday and additional DNA testing was being conducted. Authorities expect to provide more details this week.