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Surveillance Video Leads Newark Police One Step Closer To Solving Murder Mystery

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) - Authorities in Delaware are getting closer to determining the time of death of John Wheeler, a former presidential advisor and Vietnam veteran.

Although investigators are not revealing how Wheeler died, police have taken a look at surveillance from the Nemours building on 10th and Orange Streets in Wilmington, claiming that is the last place Wheeler was seen.

The surveillance captured Wheeler at about 8:30 p.m. on December 30th, apparently looking lethargic and confused. Newark police say witnesses tried to offer him assistance, but Wheeler declined.

Sammy Abdelaziz, the parking garage supervisor at Nemours said he tried to help Wheeler find his parking ticket after he was unable to locate his car.

"He said, 'No, I don't have the ticket because I got robbed and they took my briefcase from me,'" said Abdelaziz.

Abdelaziz said he noticed something was wrong based on Wheeler's appearance. "He was walking very slow…He looked tired and exhausted," he said.

Wheeler's neighbor Jeanne Thomas knew Wheeler for 6 years and was stunned by the erratic behavior exhibited on the surveillance video.

"Just very out of character, almost as if something was wrong. He was a nice humble guy," Thomas said.

Wheeler's car was parked at a parking garage near the Wilmington train station since Dec. 13th, police say.

At about 6 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 29, Wheeler's pharmacist at Happy Harry's in New Castle said he asked for a ride to Wilmington and declined an offer for a cab. The pharmacy is just a few miles from his home he shared with his wife on west 3rd street.

Wheeler was then spotted at the courthouse parking lot in Wilmington at 6:40 p.m.

On Dec. 30th, Wheeler was seen between 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. between 10th and Orange Streets. The next day, Mr. Wheeler's body was spotted falling from a trash truck into the Wilmington landfill.

Police are trying to get one step further into solving this mystery by determining who Wheeler was with before he died.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newark police at 302-366-7110.

Watch the video...

Reported by Robin Rieger, CBS 3; Todd Quinones, CBS 3

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