Jacob Wetterling

Jacob Wetterling disappeared in October of 1989 in Minnesota, when he was eleven years old. His parents were visiting friends, and had given Jacob and his brother permission to ride their bicycles. A stranger took Jacob at gunpoint, and that was the last time he was seen by family or friends. Recently, detectives in Minnesota developed a lead on the case, and I will ask the Tarot about what happened to Jacob.

We begin with the eight of wands, reversed, crossed by the five of swords, also read reversed here. Whoa! The arrows of jealousy mixed up with vengeance and rage. This describes the circumstances that somehow led to this crime and warns of a violent personality on the part of the perpetrator. It is based by the Emperor, reversed, telling us a little more about the perpetrator; not only is he given to spurts of violence, he is immature in the ways of the world, and possibly lived with his parents at the time Jacob went missing.

In the past, we see the Page of Cups, who, I believe, is Jacob. This would be an imaginative young person whose nature is kind and helpful. He falls upside right, so he is not part of the problem, here, but either a victim or part of the solution. Pages often indicate children in readings. Next, we encounter the Magician, reversed, and he describes the general lack of direction from which this case has suffered. It seems that leads have been difficult to follow, and no one expected a child to disappear near Jacob's home, therefore; law enforcement did not have much training for such tragedies. But now, in the near future, we have the three of wands, granting local police assistance and practical help from other departments. Perhaps the new lead will shed some light.

In the place of self perception, we find the Queen of Swords, reversed. This is an adult woman who has had information about Jacob and his whereabouts for many years, yet has refused to come forward. She is obstructing justice, and has no empathy for anyone connected to Jacob. The environment is described by the nine of cups, reversed. This card not only speaks of flaws in plans when it falls reversed; it warns of alcoholism and drug addiction. It points to excesses of food and drink. Seeing it in this position tells us that addiction is likely part of the picture in the perpetrator's life. In the place of hopes, we find the four of cups, reversed. From this, we can see that the perpetrator is hoping to "get on with his life", and simply skip any accountability for Jacob's disappearance. Reversed, the four of cups signifies new relationships and new opportunities. But this is only a hope; it is what the guilty party is attempting. The final outcome gives us the four of pentacles reversed. This is a warning of setbacks and material loss. The case is far from solved, and it will take time and commitment.

The only part of the reading that indicates death is the beginning; the reversed eight of wands, crossed by the five of swords. From this, I feel that Jacob probably died at the hands of his kidnapper almost immediately. It also appears that Jacob was taken somewhere by car, and either left or buried somewhere that has posts, possibly three posts (as in, the three of wands) sticking up from the ground. There may be a small cliff, ravine, or ditch that would help hide him. I also believe that the perpetrator's family helped him hide his crime, all these years. I always hope I am wrong when it looks as if someone has been murdered, so I will keep hoping and praying that Jacob is found safe.

Who Killed Tiffany Nelson?

Nine year old Tiffany Nelson disappeared in 1994. In 2005, her remains and some of her personal effects were found, so her case is no longer a missing persons case, but a homicide case. Still, in all these years, there have been no clues, so I will put the question to the Tarot. 

This reading starts with the Queen of Swords, reversed. She is crossed by the Hierophant. When this queen falls reversed. we usually find a woman who is narrow minded, bigoted, and violent. Here, we have her crossed by the Hierophant, so we see her in a situation involving Tiffany, and she is faced with a duty to do the right thing, yet finds excuses not to. Also, on a more mundane level, the Hierophant represents conformity and the careful following of directions. Could Tiffany have been run over by a driver who wasn't following laws for driving? Beneath these two cards falls the ten of pentacles, reversed, lending an air of a loss of family honor, or financial losses to the Queen's situation. 

The action here is illustrated by the sex of swords, which is a card of travel. Something happened to Tiffany while sharing the roadway with someone who was travelling further than she was travelling. This is followed by the six of cups in the place of what was attempted; Tiffany was left in a place where someone hoped that no one would look for her, find her, or remember her. Next, we have Death. This speaks for itself, Tiffany was already deceased by the time she was reported missing. It really looks as if she was killed on the road by someone who did not want to report the accident or get her any medical attention. 

In the fears of the perpetrator, we find the Hermit; so someone, possibly an older male, advised the perpetrator to keep quiet about Tiffany. In the place of environment, we find the High Priestess, once again, lending a feminine influence to this. The High Priestess also represents secrets, and as she falls upside right, she has rationalized her role here as somehow "justified", and does not feel any appropriate empathy for Tiffany or her family. The same goes for the man represented by the Hermit; he is without a conscience. This is how these individuals can think of themselves as worthy of love and friendship after all these years. The nine of cups fall reversed in the place of hopes....this is a fear on the part of the perpetrator, for not having done a good enough job of hiding all the evidence. And the reading ends with the three of swords, reversed. This is disorder and confusion. It's entirely possible, that by chance, the perpetrator will be confronted by some piece of evidence or testimony that will bring Tiffany justice, in the end. There is someone who either saw some part of this, or heard about it, who may be able to bring Tiffany's case to resolution.