PAYNESVILLE -- A once quiet road in Stearns County has quickly become the road most traveled after news broke Jacob Wetterling's body was found.

Mourners near and far have been driving down 276th Avenue in Paynesville, stopping to lay flowers, cry, say a prayer and remember the boy who was found days ago in a nearby field.

"Everyone is sad. It's hard to believe he was right here," says one visitor.

(Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
(Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
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A Brainerd couple says they came to the site to pay their respects to the family. Others wonder how they can help the family.

"He was here all along. If only we had known so we could have helped more," says another visitor.

Many visitors mentioned the strength the Wetterlings have had for agreeing to a plea bargain and hearing the painful truth on how Jacob died after 27 years of searching.

53-year-old Danny Heinrich admitted to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering Wetterling.

A plea deal struck between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Danny Heinrich in the Wetterling case calls for no charges in the death of Jacob Wetterling.

He is currently facing a 20-year prison sentence for pleading guilty to child pornography charges. Sentencing will be set for November 21.

(Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
(Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
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