Charles Ridulph, older brother of a Sycamore schoolgirl murdered in December 1957, has hired an attorney in his efforts to get a special prosecutor appointed to handle the case case.
Jack McCullough was arrested in July 2011 and convicted in September 2012 for the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph. At the time, it was the oldest cold case to be brought to trial in the United States.
However, recent evidence presented by DeKalb County State's Attorney Richard Schmack confirms that McCullough was making a call in Rockford at the time of the kidnapping. In light of this new evidence, Judge William Brady released McCullough on recognizance bond after his conviction was vacated.
The Daily Chronicle reports that Schmack filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss the case against McCullough with prejudice. This means if the motion is granted, the case can't be re-filed and McCullough will be free.
Earlier this week, McCullough told the Associated Press that he intends to sue Illinois over the way his case was handled.
