Verdict in for Jack McCullough - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Verdict in for Jack McCullough

Posted:
By Samantha Jeffreys - email
Post trial press conference Post trial press conference
Maria Ridulph's brother Charles Maria Ridulph's brother Charles
SYCAMORE (WREX) -

A judge has found Jack McCullough guilty in the 1957 kidnapping and murder of Maria Rudolph.

Seven-year-old Maria Rudolph of Sycamore disappeared on December 3, 1957, sparking a massive search for the child, whose nearly-naked body was found several months later in Jo Daviess County. According to eyewitnesses, Rudolph was last seen with a man named Johnny, who had offered her a piggy back ride. Prosecutors claim that man was Jack McCullough, who also went by the name of John Tessier.

McCullough pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the judge found him guilty without a reasonable doubt. Shouts and cheers rang out in the courtroom while the verdict was read, some in the room breaking down in tears.

13 News Reporter Rebecca Klopf was in the courtroom today and will have more information on the case and the verdict on 13 News at 5 & 6.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WREX. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance with issues relating to the content of this station's public inspection file should contact Administrative Assistant Trista Truesdale at (815) 335-7856. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, at 888-835-5322 (TTY) or at fccinfo@fcc.gov.