Year In Review: Jacob Wetterling’s Remains Found, Heinrich Sentenced [VIDEO]

ST. JOSEPH -- After almost three decades of wondering, the truth was finally revealed on what happened to Jacob Wetterling.

In September, Danny Heinrich admitted to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing Jacob on that night in 1989.

"We know what the Wetterling family and all of Minnesota has longed to know since that awful night. Danny Heinrich is no longer a person of interest, he is the confessed murder of Jacob Wetterling," says U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.

Jacob's remains were found in a farm field in Paynesville.

"Jacob I'm so sorry. It's incredibly painful to know his last hours, last minutes," says Patty Wetterling.

The confession by Heinrich also cleared the name of Dan Rassier, who was a person of interest for years.

"Because of this I've lost a lot of things. All along I saw two vehicles and in my mind this was the person who took Jacob," says Rassier.

Last month, Heinrich was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child pornography as part of a plea deal which helped lead investigators to Jacob's remains.

Heinrich's Annandale home was demolished on December 23rd.