Arraignment scheduled for murder case

This July 27 file booking photo provided by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department in Sycamore, Ill., shows Jack Daniel McCullough, 71, who has been charged in the 1957 murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph in Sycamore.

AP

This July 27 file booking photo provided by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in Sycamore, Ill., shows Jack Daniel McCullough, 71, who has been charged in the 1957 murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph in Sycamore.

By Dave Gong
August 29, 2011

DeKalb | Arraignment for the man charged with the 1957 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph was set at a hearing Monday morning.

An arraignment is a hearing during which a formal reading of charges is given to the defendant, who may also enter a plea agreement at that time.

Jack D. McCullough, 71, appeared via closed-circuit television and is represented by Regina Harris, DeKalb County public defender. McCullough is charged with murder, kidnapping and the abduction of an infant and is currently in custody at DeKalb County Jail on $3 million bond.

During the hearing, Victor Escarcida, DeKalb County assistant state’s attorney, also disclosed several pages of discovery to the defense, including four compact discs of photos and a DVD of McCullough’s video-taped statement given to police.

McCullough is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 8 for his arraignment.