Porch Lights Left on Around the World for Jacob Wetterling

People across the country, and even in different parts of the world, left their porch lights on last night in remembrance of Jacob Wettlerling.

Authorities confirmed Saturday that the remains of Wetterling, who disappeared 27 years ago in his hometown of St. Joseph, Minnesota, have been found.

The hashtag #jacobshope began trending on Twitter as people uploaded photos of their porch lights turned on in honor of Wetterling.

The practice of leaving a porch light on for the missing boy began in 1989, the year Wetterling went missing.

Since that time, Minnesotans began leaving their porch lights on every Oct. 22, the day Wetterling was abducted, in hopes that he would be able to find his way home.

Following the news Saturday that Wetterling's remains had been found, people left their porch lights on to memorialize him.

One woman from Australia said she would leave her lights on for Wetterling.

The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center released a statement on its Facebook page Saturday morning after Patty Wetterling, Jacob's mom, confirmed that the boy's remains had been found:

We are in deep grief. We didn’t want Jacob’s story to end this way. In this moment of pain and shock, we go back to the beginning. The Wetterlings had a choice to walk into bitterness and anger or to walk into a light of what could be, a light of hope. Their choice changed the world. This light has been burning for close to 27 years. The spark began in the moments after the abduction of Jacob Wetterling, when his family decided that light is stronger than darkness. They lit the flame that became Jacob’s Hope. All of Central Minnesota flocked to and fanned the flame, hoping for answers. The light spread state-wide, nationally and globally as hearts connected to the 11 year old boy who liked to play goalie for his hockey team, wanted to be a football player, played the trombone, and loved the times he spent with his sisters, brother, and parents.

Today, we gather around the same flame. The flame that has become more than the hope for one as it led the way home for thousands of others. It’s the light that illuminates a world that Jacob believed in, where things are fair and just.

Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacob’s Hope a light that will never be extinguished. It shines on in a different way. We are, and we will continue to be, Jacob’s Hope.

Jacob, you are loved.

Authorities are currently in the process of reviewing and evaluating new evidence in the Wetterling investigation and expect to release more information this week.

Image: PunkToad via Flickr /Creative Commons