murder – Northern Star

DeKalb man charged with murder of 31-year-old woman

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | January 9, 2025

DeKALB – A man was charged with first degree murder and aggravated domestic battery in connection with a woman found dead Tuesday at her DeKalb apartment. DeKalb police arrested and charged Devonne Montgomery, age 30, on Wednesday with the murder...

College of Law student to be featured on an episode of Investigation Discovery

By James Krause | February 15, 2018

DeKALB — An NIU law student is being featured on Investigation Discovery for his involvement in helping police catch and convict a man of murder-for-hire deaths and fraud.Jed McClure, a College of Law student, found himself in the middle of an investigation...

Lifetime to air documentary of Ridulph murder

By Margaret Maka | November 11, 2014

Charles Ridulph isn’t sure how he’ll feel when a Lifetime documentary chronicling the 1957 kidnapping and murder of his younger sister, Sycamore girl Maria Ridulph, premieres today.The two-hour documentary premieres 7 p.m. on the Lifetime Movie Network....

Curl motions to withdraw guilty plea in murder of NIU student

By Jessi Haish | August 14, 2013

William "Billy" Curl has motioned to withdraw his guilty plea in the murder of NIU student Toni Keller.The four-page, handwritten motion states the plea should be withdrawn because "the prosecutor had threatened to go after Mr. Curl's family if he did...

Clay Campbell displeased with Curl plea

By Kelly Bauer | April 3, 2013

Clay Campbell (right), former DeKalb County state's attorney, speaks to journalists following a news conference he held after William Curl pleaded guilty to the murder of NIU student Toni Keller as part of a plea deal. Campbell, who was state's attorney...

Tessiers at Conference

By Kelly Bauer | September 14, 2012

Bob Tessier, the half-brother of Jack McCullough, speaks at a press conference following the conviction of McCullough for the 1957 kidnapping of Maria Ridulph, 7. Janet Tessier, Bob's sister and McCullough's half-sister, stands beside him. The Tessiers...

Arpacz and Janet Tessier

By Kelly Bauer | September 14, 2012

Cpt. Tony Arpacz of the State Police and Janet Tessier, half-sister of Jack McCullough, answer questions from a media outlet following a post-verdict press conference. Tessier testified against McCullough during the trial, saying her mother, Eileen Tessier,...

Tessiers grateful to law enforcement who put case together

By Kelly Bauer | September 14, 2012

Following a post-verdict press conference, members of the Tessier family leave the Legislative Center, 200 N. Main St. in Sycamore. The family members were talking and joking; Janet Tessier, in black at right, had expressed joy and gratefulness toward...

Family of McCullough speaks at post-verdict press conference

By Kelly Bauer | September 14, 2012

The family of Jack McCullough, 72, convicted earlier today of the 1957 kidnapping and murder of Maria Ridulph, 7, spoke at a press conference after the verdict was handed down. Janet Tessier, McCullough's half-sister, talked about what she had done to...

McCullough found guilty on all counts at trial

By Kelly Bauer | September 14, 2012

UPDATE, 12:14 p.m.: According to the Daily Chronicle, Tessier family members and Kathy Chapman have said justice has been served, and defense attorney Tom McCulloch says Jack McCullough has brought up the appeal process. ---- Jack McCullough, 72, the...

Inmate allegedly overhears McCullough say how he killed Maria Ridulph

By Northern Star Staff | September 12, 2012

Christopher Diaz, a prisoner at DeKalb County jail, told prosecutors on Wednesday that he overheard Jack McCullough, 72, tell another inmate how he killed Maria Ridulph, 7. Diaz said the conversation included details about how he strangled her with a...

FBI records not allowed in McCullough trial

By Northern Star Staff | September 4, 2012

On Tuesday, a judge ruled to prohibit the use of FBI records as evidence in Jack McCullough’s murder trial, according to a Daily Chronicle article. McCullough was arrested in 2011 for the alleged kidnapping and murder of Maria Ridulph, 7, in 1957. McCullough’s...