IL IL - Maria Ridulph, 7, Sycamore, 3 Dec 1957

[bessie]

Even if there were a street light across the street...the FBI report puts him in Chicago as well as the telephone exchange records puts McCollough in Rockford.
The train ticket was a one way to Chicago issued 11/28, which went unused.
Light or no light, McCollough was not there.

Where was he between noon and 6:57-59 on December 3, 1957?

 

[youngsters]

who can draw here. I need a drawing for research purposes so i can see the scene clearly. This type of drawing has been drawn of the JonBenet Ramsey case to better understanding what happend, so i thought it would be a good study tool for Maria's case.

The drawing i want will include the following:

A man giving a piggyback ride to a little girl on his back
The drawings of the characters must match the descriptions of the people, like Maria with her clothing (tan jacket, mittens, pants, brown socks) her brown curly hair done in a bob style ect. Johnny's description (multicolor sweater jumper ect)
Kathy Sigman on the street corner
snowflakes falling down
a street light shining on the street corner - yellow
dark sky- night time
ect
It must be in color the drawing


This drawing can be used as researching purposes so we can have a more understanding about the scene and abduction of this little girl.

 

[youngsters]

what a beautiful and gorgeous little girl she was. Here are some photos of the little 7 year old girl.

The 2nd photo: taken on vacation in Iowa with family, shown in the picture are: Charles (Maria's brother), Grandfather, Frances (Maria's mother), and grandmother at the end (far right) and little Maria standing at the front. Taken in summer 1957.

The 4th photo: Taken on Halloween 1957, wearing her Halloween costume.

Here are the photos on this link i uploaded of this sweet little angel:


sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/48-hours-presents-cold-as-ice/
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/maria-ridulph-remembered/
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2007...-would-have-been-something/aqriqsz/news02.txt
http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/footsteps-in-the-snow
http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2013/08/us/oldest-cold-case/
http://drphil.com/shows/show/2290/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X1rFdmX39w

 

[bessie]

Do you have links for the photos, youngster? Our rules require that we post links to a source when posting images, news articles, and other published material.

Without a doubt, Maria was a beautiful, precious child.

 

[youngsters]

i uploaded the sources to the photos. Sorry i'm new to the site.

 

[Gunther Toody]

Where was he between noon and 6:57-59 on December 3, 1957?

The original FBI reports of Tessier are here.
https://jackdmccullough.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/august-2012-court-documents.pdf
At the time you indicate, he was in Rockford and had contacted a Colonel Lieberwitz of the Air Force reserve.

Copies of the original FBI files start on pg. 26 and go to pg. 31 at the link.

FBI files also indicate that Tessier passed a lie detector exam.

Image capture from the original FBI file detailing the phone call John Tessier made from Rockford to his home in Sycamore.

 

[bessie]

The original FBI reports of Tessier are here.
https://jackdmccullough.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/august-2012-court-documents.pdf
At the time you indicate, he was in Rockford and had contacted a Colonel Lieberwitz of the Air Force reserve.

Copies of the original FBI files start on pg. 26 and go to pg. 31 at the link.

FBI files also indicate that Tessier passed a lie detector exam.

Image capture from the original FBI file detailing the phone call John Tessier made from Rockford to his home in Sycamore.
View attachment 70359

I know a collect call was made at 6:57 from the Rockford area. I've read the documents. But where was he prior to 6:57, specifically between noon and 6:57? He has no alibi for that window of time.

 

[Gunther Toody]

Didn't the FBI verify him being in Chicago and taking the 5:15 train?
In any case he was in Rockford at the time of the crime, right?

 

[bessie]

Didn't the FBI verify him being in Chicago and taking the 5:15 train?
In any case he was in Rockford at the time of the crime, right?

No. The FBI could not verify that he was on a train that afternoon/evening, and the time of the abduction is in question. In a 1958 report, state police investigators concluded that the crime occurred earlier than was originally thought.

ETA: Here's my post from a few days ago.

Who knows. What's significant is that the half-sister and a friend testified that he owned multicolored sweaters.

But back to the timeline, it's tight, but not impossible. If he snatched Maria and took off as late as 6:20-6:25, he could have made it to a payphone on the edge of Rockford by 6:57-59. It's not necessary to factor in time for the attack and clean up, because the murder very well could have taken place after he left Rockford. And yes, I do believe he was clever enough to make that phone call, and the visit to the recruiter's office, to establish an alibi.

On pp. 28-29 of this pdf, there is a report dated July 27, 1958, by state police investigators in which they state:

"...it was known a man was with Maria at a much earlier time than was indicated in earlier reports."

Their opinion was based on an interview with the oil truck driver. Because of the footsteps leading to the garage, and through back lots, the investigators also were of the opinion that the man was a local.

 

[youngsters]

Press Photos of the Maria Ridulph case...

I brought these press photos from a company.



Photo 1: "Mayor Harold Johnson (right) and assistant Police Chief Richard Mattis of Sycamore search a trunk of one of the hundreds of cars stopped in police road block at Sycamore during search for missing Maria Ridulph, 7. Police have learned that Maria at times hid in the trunk of her father's car. Dec 11 1957."


Photo 2: . Iowa where little Maria's body was found in April 26th 1958.


Photo 3: "Police Magistrate Arthur Ayars holds doll Maria was playing with just before she disappeared Tuesday evening. Doll was found abandoned near garage." Dec 5 - 1957


Photo 4: "Mrs. Frances Ridolph, is comforted by her other children as the family keeps a vigil in their Sycamore home for missing Maria, 7, who disappeared Tuesday. The other children are Pat, 16; Kay 15, and Charles, 11. A house-to house search for the missing girl was taking place in Sycamore today." Dec 6 - 1957


Photo 5: Press Photo, Jacket found. 1957.


Photo 6: "Michael Ridulph, Maria's father, stands anxiously on shore of lake, next to pump, with prayer in his heart that nothing will be found.

April 23 -1958"


Photo 7: "The Scene in Sycamore, ILL, 65 miles west of Chicago, where Maria Ridolph (inset), 7, disappeared about 7 p.m. Tuesday. No. 1 indicates spot where Maria and a playmate, Kathie Sigman, were playing when a young man, known only as "Johnny", offered Maria a piggyback ride. Kathie, who was cold, went home to get her mittens so she could go piggyback riding, too-but when she got back "Johnny" and Maria were gone. No. 2 indicates Maria's home." Dec 4 - 1957

source:
with the press photos i uploaded i brought them. Here is the company where i brought the press photos from:
http://www.historicimages.com/

 

[youngsters]

No. The FBI could not verify that he was on a train that afternoon/evening, and the time of the abduction is in question. In a 1958 report, state police investigators concluded that the crime occurred earlier than was originally thought.

ETA: Here's my post from a few days ago.

yes it was to believe to be around 6:15 or 6:30pm when she was reported missing. Maria's brother said that by 7:00pm Maria would be getting ready for bed and it must be earlier than 7:00pm. I can't remember what source i read that from, i read it from a article.

 

[bessie]

yes it was to believe to be around 6:15 or 6:30pm when she was reported missing. Maria's brother said that by 7:00pm Maria would be getting ready for bed and it must be earlier than 7:00pm. I can't remember what source i read that from, i read it from a article.

That goes along with his courtroom testimony.

Q. Do you recall today, sir, what her bedtime
was back then?

A. Her bedtime would have been 8 o'clock and prior to that I recall it very vividly that she would almost always spend time with my mother in my mother's bedroom before her bedtime and they would be reading books before. That was part of the ritual before her bedtime.

pdf p. 41
https://jackdmccullough.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/mccullough_trial_full-1.pdf

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://jackdmccullough.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/mccullough_trial_full-1.pdf

Unfortunately, this link has the court transcript for the 1st trial only. The 2nd trial had the evidence of the train ticket, other witnesses etc.

John Tessier had reasons to return to Sycamore, he didn't arrive to pick up Cheryl and Janice because an opportunity came up he couldn't resist, imo.

excerpt of Cheryl Crain's testimony

Q. Now, I would like to direct your attention
to December 3rd of 1957.
A. Yes.
Q. Do you recall that day?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. Was that a school day or a weekend day?
A. School day.
Q. During this time period what was your
family's dinnertime?
A. Between five and 6 o'clock in the evening.
Q. Now, after dinnertime what were your plans
that evening?
A. That evening Janice and I were going to go
to her father's hobby shop and decorate the store
for Christmas.

[....]

Q. What was Janice's last name if you could
spell it?
A. Edwards, E-d-w-a-r-d-s.
Q. Now, and what type of business did her
father have?
A. It was a hobby shop.
Q. To the best of your recollection where did
Miss Edwards live?
A. She lived on Somonauk Street in Sycamore.
Q. I'm sorry. Where was the hobby shop
located?
A. That was the west side of the Sycamore
Theater building. There were three stores in that
particular building. It was on the west side.

[...]

Q. To the best of your recollection who was
Janice dating at that time?
A. John Tessier.
Q. Did you know who he was?
A. Yes, I knew who he was.
Q. Were you friends with him?
A. I was not friends with John.

[.....]

Q. Now, while you were at the shop with Janice
do you recall whether or not John Tessier called the
shop?
A. I only recall one phone call, and that was
my father.
Q. Can you tell the Court whether or not you
recall seeing John Tessier at the shop?
A. No, I did not.
Q. Or stopping by the shop?
A. No, I did not.
Q. Did you see John Tessier that night?
A. No, I did not.

Q. Miss Crain, was John Tessier supposed to
pick both you and Janice up that night?
A. Yes.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

https://jackdmccullough.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/mccullough_trial_full-1.pdf

When JM was brought in for questioning, he denied knowing the area Maria's body was dumped. Katheran, his younger sister by 5 yrs tells a different story, their childhood days out with their parents and aunty to Apple River Valley in the Galena area.

She informs the court that her mother knitted sweaters for all the family, including the multi-colored sweater for John. Katheran also describes the night of the 4-H gathering and her father picking her up around 7 pm.

In this testimony, Katheran says her mother when questioned by police, claimed John was home.


excerpt of Katheran Caulfield's (nee Tessier) testimony

Q. Now, December 3rd of 1957 do you recall what
you did on that day?
A. Yes.
Q. What was that?
A. Went to school, came home. There was I
believe we called a 4-H federation meeting over in
DeKalb that was a social thing, you know, and my dad
took me over. I think it started about 5 o'clock.
Q. I want to stop you for a second. When you
say a social thing, 4-H federation, what does that
mean?
A. It was kids from all the other 4-H clubs and
every once in a while there would be a gathering so
they could all king of get together. It was a
social thing. It was just if you wanted to go, you
could go. You didn't -- you were -- there was no
mandatory thing. It wasn't an obligation.
Q. SO this wasn't a planned meeting?
A. Nope. It was all games, rock and roll
music; that kind of stuff.

[...]

Q. Now, after that meeting ended -- and I'm
sorry. You may have said this, but what time was
the meeting and how long did it run?
A. It started around five and it ended around
seven.
Q. After the meeting ended do you recall what
you did or what happened?
A. My dad picked me up and brought me home.
Q. And again, you said that this is in -- you
were in DeKalb; correct?
A. I was in DeKalb, right.
Q. And your dad drives you home?
A. Yes.
Q. Can you describe for the judge what, if
anything, caught your attention as you were coming
home with your dad?
A. We were coming in on DeKalb Avenue and I
noticed there were a lot of police cars, sheriff's
cars with the lights flashing.
Q. Now, let me stop you for a second.
When you say coming in, do you mean coming into
Sycamore?
A. Yes, coming into Sycamore on DeKalb Avenue.
Q. As you come into Sycamore on DeKalb Avenue,
how would you get to Center Cross?
A. You come into Sycamore and you take a left
and that was Center Cross.
Q. At what point, if you recall, were you able
to see these squads and all these lights?
A. The closer we got to actually Center Cross
street.
Q. Were they on DeKalb Avenue as well?
A. Yes, they were.
Q. And then you turned onto Center Cross?

[...]

Q. Who was home when you went into the house?
A. My mother, my sister Jeanne and my brother Bob.
Q. So the defendant was not home?
A. No.

[....]

Q. Was your mom asked about the defendant's
whereabouts on the evening of December 3, 1957?
A. Yes, she was.
Q. And what did she say?
A. She said he had been home.
Q. When you say "he", you're referring to the
defendant?
A. Yes.
Q. And home the evening of December 3, 1957?
A. Yes.
Q. And it was your prior testimony that the
defendant was not home; correct?
A. That's correct.

[....]

Q. Let's step away from December 3rd.
As a family when you were growing up in Sycamore
during the summer was there anywhere that you as a
family went as a type of vacation?
A. We'd make day trips.
Q. And were there typical places where you
went?
A. I think it was called Apple River Valley.
We went to Starved Rock State Park; those kinds of
places.
Q. Was that something that happened regularly?
A. Every summer there was a day trip to
somewhere.

[...]

Q. Okay. Did the defendant attend those trips
as well?
A. Yes.

----------

Maria was found in the spring, 120 miles from home. A man scrounging for morel mushrooms found her skeleton tucked under a fallen tree on Roy Cahill's farm off U.S. 20 outside Woodbine, not far from the Iowa border.
http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2013/08/us/oldest-cold-case/

 

[youngsters]

That goes along with his courtroom testimony.

Q. Do you recall today, sir, what her bedtime
was back then?

A. Her bedtime would have been 8 o'clock and prior to that I recall it very vividly that she would almost always spend time with my mother in my mother's bedroom before her bedtime and they would be reading books before. That was part of the ritual before her bedtime.

pdf p. 41
https://jackdmccullough.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/mccullough_trial_full-1.pdf

Maria didn't even get to have a story read to her by her mother on the 3rd December because she was taken. ):

It's every parents worst nightmare when their young child goes missing then murdered. Shocking how someone can kidnap and murder a child.

 

[DragonAsh]

what a beautiful and gorgeous little girl she was.

Without a doubt, Maria was a beautiful, precious child.

Be careful - according to some people on this site, expressing a sentiment along those lines apparently means you're guilty of murder.

"...it was known a man was with Maria at a much earlier time than was indicated in earlier reports."

Their opinion was based on an interview with the oil truck driver. Because of the footsteps leading to the garage, and through back lots, the investigators also were of the opinion that the man was a local.

I'm not sure what point this is trying to make; I'm sure you can see how this is complete nonsense right? The driver of the oil truck said he saw the girls between 6:05 and 6:20pm or so, and did not see any other person with them. Neither did Maria's mom. How does the oil truck driver's testimony suggest Johnny was there earlier? Secondly, the cops weren't called until 8:10pm - so we're talking at least an hour after Maria went missing, during which time Maria's older brother and friends and Kathy plus others were walking around, stamping over any possible evidence while looking for her - oh, yeah, and it was snowing. I don't care if they had Sherlock friggen' Holmes on the case - no footsteps would have been remotely meaningful or useful. The idea that any footsteps at all would have been remotely meaningful is impossible.

I know a collect call was made at 6:57 from the Rockford area. I've read the documents. But where was he prior to 6:57, specifically between noon and 6:57? He has no alibi for that window of time.

Why does he need an alibi from noon??

The time frame the State needs to prove is that Jack was in Sycamore at around 6:30pm. Everything else is irrelevant.

If he was in Rockford at 6:57pm, it's awfully hard to be in Sycamore, giving piggyback rides and killing a little girl 40 miles away in Sycamore, don't you think?

 

[Gunther Toody]

Be careful - according to some people on this site, expressing a sentiment along those lines apparently means you're guilty of murder.





I'm not sure what point this is trying to make; I'm sure you can see how this is complete nonsense right? The driver of the oil truck said he saw the girls between 6:05 and 6:20pm or so, and did not see any other person with them. Neither did Maria's mom. How does the oil truck driver's testimony suggest Johnny was there earlier? Secondly, the cops weren't called until 8:10pm - so we're talking at least an hour after Maria went missing, during which time Maria's older brother and friends and Kathy plus others were walking around, stamping over any possible evidence while looking for her - oh, yeah, and it was snowing. I don't care if they had Sherlock friggen' Holmes on the case - no footsteps would have been remotely meaningful or useful. The idea that any footsteps at all would have been remotely meaningful is impossible.



Why does he need an alibi from noon??

The time frame the State needs to prove is that Jack was in Sycamore at around 6:30pm. Everything else is irrelevant.

If he was in Rockford at 6:57pm, it's awfully hard to be in Sycamore, giving piggyback rides and killing a little girl 40 miles away in Sycamore, don't you think?

Plus the oil truck drivers actions make him look far more suspicious than McCollough.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

I read Footsteps in the Snow by Charles Lachman, and what caught my eye is 'Ralph Tessier' Jack's step father. Ralph was a pedophile it seems, he molested one of his daughter's at the age of 6, she said that when she was 6 years old she was wearing nothing on her bare bottom and liked the cold breeze on her bare bottom, Ralph then called his daughter inside the shed and said to her "i know what you want" as he noticed she wasn't wearing any undies and then raped her. Then again at age 9. The daughter commented that her father Ralph had a hunger for really young flesh (little girls).

Ralph his wife and daughter was invited to a dinner with a couple, the couple had a babby and Ralph was getting annoyed with the crying from the baby so he told the couple that "if that was my child they would NEVER cry because i would get a string and tie is around the neck so it can't breath that would teach the child not to cry"

From the information above we know Ralph was a child molester he really likes young children, and hates children crying or screaming. This fits in perfectly with Maria's murder. Maria was 7, and she was a screamer if she gets scared her mother Frances said.

Could it be that Jack (aka Johnny) was the kidnapper of the little girl and Ralph his step father killed Maria, Jack maybe took Maria to his house. Maria was scared and was screaming or crying then Ralph took control of the situation as he couldn't stand children crying he killed her, maybe by accident as it doesn't take much strength to kill a small child of 7 years old. Could it be possible that there was two involved. That is why Jack says he didn't kill the little girl because maybe he didn't but someone else did.

Jack drove to Rockford dump the child's body while his father stayed behide took her doll and threw it in a neghbour's front yard when everyone including himself was looking for the child. Made a scheme with the phone call with Jack ect...

Feel free to reply of your responses.

I would like to read the book some time, the doco 'Footsteps in the Snow' didn't touch on that subject, so thanks for giving info on Ralph Tessier. It does give food for thought about John's experiences with his step-father. I'm sorry for the Tessier girls and the abuse that they suffered at the hands of their father and brother.

Information that is missing in John Tessier's alibi. How he got back home after he made the call to be picked up? Did his father pick him up while the search for Maria was in progress? Or did John Tessier drive himself home sometime in the night? The investigation reveals he drove, but surely JM can give times to fit his alibi if it's true.

Tessier also told authorities he helped search for Maria the night she disappeared, as well as searched the next day for her with a friend. When interviewed in 2010, that friend told authorities he did not remember seeing Tessier that day while he took part in the search.


On Dec. 6, 1957, an anonymous caller to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said a boy named “Treschner,” about 20 years old, lived in the neighborhood and matched Johnny’s description, according to the court documents. Deputies found that “Treschner” was John Tessier, who lived at 227 Center Cross St., close to where Maria disappeared.

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/mobile/article.xml/articles/2011/07/03/69895838/index.xml

It's a mystery call that imo, is very important. Someone knew John Tessier should be questioned by police back in Dec. 1957.
Why?
Did this person SEE John Tessier with Maria on Center Cross St.? Did this person SEE John Tessier driving his vehicle in Sycamore or more precisely, in the vicinity of his or Maria's home?
Even back then, someone besides his immediate family, KNEW John Tessier was responsible.

JMO

 

[bessie]

I'm not sure what point this is trying to make; I'm sure you can see how this is complete nonsense right? The driver of the oil truck said he saw the girls between 6:05 and 6:20pm or so, and did not see any other person with them. Neither did Maria's mom. How does the oil truck driver's testimony suggest Johnny was there earlier? Secondly, the cops weren't called until 8:10pm - so we're talking at least an hour after Maria went missing, during which time Maria's older brother and friends and Kathy plus others were walking around, stamping over any possible evidence while looking for her - oh, yeah, and it was snowing. I don't care if they had Sherlock friggen' Holmes on the case - no footsteps would have been remotely meaningful or useful. The idea that any footsteps at all would have been remotely meaningful is impossible.

I dunno. You'd have to ask the state police investigators who concluded the timeline was earlier than originally reported, and that the perp was a local. Why do you ignore/disregard their statement?

Why does he need an alibi from noon??

The time frame the State needs to prove is that Jack was in Sycamore at around 6:30pm. Everything else is irrelevant.

If he was in Rockford at 6:57pm, it's awfully hard to be in Sycamore, giving piggyback rides and killing a little girl 40 miles away in Sycamore, don't you think?

The significance is that his whereabouts were unknown for the entire afternoon, technically until 7:15-7:30 when he showed up at the recruiting office (as there is no proof that he placed the 6:57 phone call). Hence, he had ample time to travel back to Sycamore after the physical exam in Chicago which concluded at noon.

I conceded in my first reply to you that the evidence submitted at trial -- particularly the eyewitness ID -- was questionable. Nevertheless, since I am neither a judge nor jury in a formal court proceeding, I have the privilege to consider all of the known facts to reach my own conclusion, which amounts to a hill of beans in the whole scheme of things. His history, (i.e., a hidden nude photo of his daughter, a 14-year-old roommate who trusted him because he was a LEO, allegations of rape and abuse) are facts that are consistent with known behaviors of a sexual predator. There is also the fact of his changing story to Seattle investigators. That said, I further concede that the timeline presents questions that have not been fully resolved. So there are two issues to consider -- whether he was denied due process and unfairly convicted; or whether he is likely to be guilty of the crime. The answers can differ, and discussion is more productive when approached with an open mind toward the entire body of facts.

 

[bessie]

Plus the oil truck drivers actions make him look far more suspicious than McCollough.
View attachment 70393

View attachment 70394

View attachment 70395

Except that Kathy immediately could have identified him as the perpetrator.