In 2012, investigators believed they had finally solved one of the nation’s oldest and most high-profile kidnapping cases—the 1957 disappearance and murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph.
However, less than five years later, the case fell apart, and Jack McCullough, the man convicted of the crime, was exonerated and released... Continue reading here ▶
Maria Ridulph’s Disappearance
On a snowy evening in December 1957, Maria Ridulph was playing outside with her best friend Kathy Sigman in Sycamore, Illinois.
A man who called himself “Johnny” approached the girls, offered Maria a piggyback ride, and asked to see their toys. Kathy went home to grab her mittens, but when she returned, Maria and the man were gone.
Maria’s family reported her missing a few hours later. Her body was found over four months later in a wooded area about 100 miles away. Despite extensive searches and investigations, the case went cold for decades.
Renewed Focus on McCullough
Jack McCullough, known as John Tessier at the time, was a neighbor of the Ridulph family and had been questioned shortly after Maria’s disappearance. Police cleared him of suspicion at the time.
However, in 2008, McCullough’s stepsister contacted authorities, claiming their mother had implicated him on her deathbed, saying, “John did it.”
Although McCullough insisted he was taking a military exam in Rockford, Illinois, 40 miles away, the new allegations reignited the case. Despite McCullough’s alibi and testimony from his high school girlfriend, who recalled him visiting her the night Maria disappeared, he was convicted in 2012 based solely on Kathy’s eyewitness identification—over 50 years after the crime.
Wrongful Conviction
In 2016, McCullough’s conviction was overturned after evidence proved he was at the military exam when Maria went missing.
A doctor testified that McCullough’s mother had been under the influence of morphine and was “confused” when she made her statement. Investigators were also criticized for using suggestive tactics to influence witness testimonies decades after the crime.
Aftermath
McCullough was released from prison and later won over $4 million in legal settlements for his wrongful conviction. While the Ridulph family remains convinced of McCullough’s guilt, no other suspect has been identified, and the case remains unsolved.
As McCullough’s stepdaughter Janey O’Conner said, “They have no evidence. They have no proof.”
This tragic case serves as a reminder of the challenges in solving decades-old crimes and the importance of ensuring justice is carried out fairly.
