Man who helped get Vietnam wall built found dead

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A prominent national defense consultant was seen alive in downtown Wilmington less than 24 hours before his body was found in a load of trash at a landfill, police said today.

John P. Wheeler III, of New Castle, was seen around 3:30 p.m. Thursday near the Hotel du Pont, about two blocks from the office of an attorney who was representing him and his wife in a property dispute, Newark police said.

Wheeler's remains were found around 10 a.m. Friday as a refuse truck dumped its load at the Cherry Island landfill in Wilmington. Investigators say he was slain.

Police say the truck collected all its trash from about 10 commercial disposal bins in Newark, several miles from Wheeler's home in the historic district of New Castle.

Wheeler, 66, served three Republican presidents and helped to get the Vietnam Veterans Memorial built.