A look at new doubts about conviction in 1957 murder

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

A look at new doubts about conviction in 1957 murder

Michael Tarm, Associated Press

Updated 6:24 pm, Monday, March 28, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — The allegation of a mishandled investigation, combined with newly-discovered evidence in one of the nation's oldest unsolved crimes to ever reach trial means that a 76-year-old former security guard convicted and sentenced to life in the 1957 slaying of a 7-year-old girl in a northern Illinois could soon go free.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday in a DeKalb County courthouse near where Maria Ridulph was abducted in small-town Sycamore as she played outside in the snow. She was stabbed and choked to death in a case that made national headlines at the time.

In a dramatic turnaround, DeKalb County State's Attorney Richard Schmack said in a scathing filing last week that a six-month review turned up serious missteps during the investigation and the overall prosecution of the case. He also said new evidence supporting an alibi for Jack McCullough, a neighbor of Ridulph's charged some 55 years after the murder. He was convicted at a bench trial in 2012.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/A-look-at-new-doubts-about-conviction-in-1957-7213798.php

[Chakab]

1. Dear God. 59 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted?

I can't even comprehend what that would be like.

[FreedomRain]

2. under 4 years prison

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Maria_Ridulph

On September 14, 2012, McCullough was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Maria Ridulph and received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years.[1] He was 73 years old at the time of sentencing.[1]

[eggplant]

3. No, you misread that.

He was convicted in 2012, so four years in prison so far.

[StevieM]

9. He was arrested in 2011 so it may have been 5 years in prison. (eom)

[Ducksworthy]

5. Could I have a Verb?

He also said new evidence supporting an alibi for Jack McCullough, a neighbor of Ridulph's charged some 55 years after the murder.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Jack McCullough's case to go before judge Tuesday

Jack McCullough's case to go before judge Tuesday

Published: Sunday, March 27, 2016 11:27 p.m. CDT • Updated: Monday, March 28, 2016 9:59 a.m. CDT
By ERIC R. OLSON- [e-mail]

SYCAMORE – Jack McCullough has long maintained he did not kill Maria Ridulph in 1957, and now that the DeKalb County State’s Attorney concurs, at least one expert said it is likely he will go free.

It could happen as soon as Tuesday, when DeKalb County Judge William Brady will preside over a hearing for McCullough’s latest petition for post-conviction relief.

On Friday, State’s Attorney Richard Schmack filed paperwork agreeing with McCullough’s request that his 2012 conviction be vacated.
If Schmack’s findings are well-supported – and he filed more than 150 pages in court last week – Northern Illinois University Associate Dean of Law Marc Falkoff said it would be difficult for Brady to find reason to keep McCullough in prison.

“In the face of a strong state petition to vacate a petition, and the prosecutor agreeing that an innocent person is in prison – if the judge were to do anything other than vacate, release, and overturn his judgment, I promise that would be national news,” Falkoff said.

More:
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2016/03/25/jack-mcculloughs-case-to-go-before-judge-tuesday/amolamh/

[bluestateguy]

7. Japan has a statute of limitations on murder

The simple, but hard to acknowledge fact, is that after 25 years, or 3 or 4 decades, memories fade, witnesses die and evidence disappears.

And law enforcement resources need to be primarily dedicated to solving crimes that took place here and now, or at least in this generation.

Maybe that is something we need to have an adult conversation about.

But Americans are not very good at adult conversations.

[Judi Lynn]

8. You've got that right! Thanks for the informatioin on Japan's law. Sensible, after all. n/t

[StevieM]

10. I remember reading about this case when it happened.

The conviction was completely ridiculous all along.

And those three jailhouse informants who testified that McCullough told them he killed her definitely makes me think that there was police and prosecutorial misconduct.