Person of Interest Named in Boy's 1989 Disappearance

A man who was recently arrested on several child pornography charges has also been named a person of interest in connection with the 1989 abduction of an 11-year-old boy, authorities in Minnesota said at a news conference Thursday.

Jacob Wetterling was abducted while out riding his bike with some friends on October 22, 1989, near his home in central Minnesota, NBC News reported.

While announcing the arrest of Daniel Heinrich on several child pornography charges – police allegedly found 19 binders filled with pornographic images of young boys while executing a search warrant at his residence in July – U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger also said Heinrich's DNA was matched to a young boy's kidnapping and sexual assault in January 1989, according to NBC affiliate KARE.

Officials on Thursday stressed that while Heinrich was named a person of interest in Wetterling's abduction, he has not been charged in the case. Heinrich has reportedly denied any involvement in connection with the boy's disappearance.

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