Name: Victor John “Jackie” Theel
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: September 5, 1944
Location Last Seen: Paynesville, Stearns County, Minnesota
Physical Description
Date of Birth: February 15, 1938
Age: 6 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 3’0″
Weight: 45 lbs.
Hair Colour: Blond
Eye Colour: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Jackie
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Identifiers
Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown
Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Blue Navy suit was slightly faded, with three white stripes on the square cut collar and also on the wrists of his sleeves. Straight bottom long pants, high front pockets, pants buttoned to the waist, safety pin replacing button in the back. New black shoes with welt seams from toe to instep, short brown socks, no cap, or undergarments.
Jewellery: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Circumstances of Disappearance
On Tuesday, September 5, 1944, Jackie attended his first day of school. His mom sent him with a note saying an older brother would pick him up, but when school let out, the teacher allowed Jackie to leave on his own. His home was on the corner of Lake Avenue south and east Railroad Street in Paynesville; that address is now a vacant lot.
When he didn’t come home, his mom called the sheriff. That prompted a massive search with hundreds of volunteers. Boy Scout troops from neighbouring towns were called in to help. Sheriff’s department bloodhounds and even the civil air patrol took part.
It was a bloodhound that found the only clue. It followed Jackie’s scent on a wandering trail leading away from the school down to the river that runs through town. Newspaper records detail how the dog then tracked the scent away from the river, through the west end of Paynesville, and out to a ditch along Old Highway 23.
From there, Jackie’s scent vanished. There was strong speculation that little Jackie had been abducted.
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Agency Case Number: 32719
