1957 murder case reopens in DeKalb County

By Dave Gong

DeKALB | A Seattle man accused of kidnapping and killing a 7-year-old Sycamore girl in 1957 is awaiting extradition to DeKalb County.

According to court documents, Jack Daniel McCullough, 71, is charged with murder, kidnapping and the abduction of an infant and is currently awaiting extradition from King County, Wash.

Court documents state Kurt P. Klein, DeKalb County Presiding Judge, set bond at $3 million when he signed a warrant for McCullough’s arrest on July 1.

Court documents state that Brion Hanley, special agent for the Illinois State Police, interviewed McCullough, during which McCullough confirmed that he was formerly known as John Tessier.

According to court documents, the victim, 7-year-old Maria Ridulph, disappeared on Dec. 3, 1957, while playing with her friend, then 8-year-old Cathy Sigman. Ridulph and Sigman were playing at the intersection of Archie Place and Center Cross Street in Sycamore. Sigman told authorities that she and Ridulph were approached by a white male in his early twenties who introduced himself as “Johnny.”

Sigman told authorities that Johnny offered Maria a piggyback ride. Sigman went home to get gloves. When she returned, Ridulph and Johnny were gone.

Court documents state that Ridulph’s body was found by mushroom hunters 20 miles east of Galena, Ill. 144 days after her disappearance.

Calls placed to the King County Prosecutor’s Office were not returned as of press time.