"We're very disappointed that we've heard nothing," said Doug Thornblom, a retired Army colonel who described his roommate from West Point's Class of 1966 as a kind, respected, passionate patriot.
In a long, successful career, Wheeler fought for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, advised high-level Washington officials on defense issues, worked as secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and served as first chief executive of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"At a time when most of us are retired, he's not only employed, he's overemployed - and all in the service of his country," said Thornblom, who with other classmates, still close to Wheeler, expressed puzzlement and regret over the mystery of Wheeler's death.
He said Wheeler's work on issues ranging from cybersecurity to military tactics was fueling conspiracy theorists, and he suggested that investigators' reluctance to release their findings could make the case more difficult.
The often-wild conspiracy theorists, rife on the Internet, focus on Wheeler's employment at Mitre Corp., a prominent, government-funded defense firm. They suggest that his access to state secrets made him a potential whistle-blower on purported government cover-ups that include dead birds in Arkansas and Latin American espionage.
"The longer [police] remain silent, the more trash they're going to have to sort through," Thornblom said.
Randy Loftin, another classmate, said Wheeler's death shocked their tight-knit group.
"This is really off the charts for someone like Jack," Loftin said. "There are few people who would stun us like that, especially the way in which he died. He was a fabulous man, someone who was always watching your back in whatever you were doing."
