Wetterling's disappearance—and the national media attention that followed—had far-reaching effects. No longer was small-town America considered safe from the exploitation of children. In 1993, Congress passed the "Jacob Wetterling Act," setting up a nationwide registry for offenders convicted of crimes against children.

Based in part on earlier publications by the author, this detailed account chronicles the decades-long search for Wetterling and his abductor. Long-overlooked names and information that pointed the way to solving the case are brought to the forefront of the investigation.