AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DECEMBER 3, 1957 TIM) Based on 1957 & 1958 interviews with witnesses by the FBI and ISP 3:30 p.m. Afer School until about 4:00 p.m. Kathy Sigman and Maria Ridulph are playing at the Sigman home, 644 1/2 Archie Place, waiting for Kathy’s blue jeans to finish drying, per Mrs. Florabelle Sigman. SAO 2685 4:00 P.M. The girls stop at Cecelia Davy’s home, 644 Archie Place, then go on to the Riduiph home, 616 Archie Place. SAO 2685 Sometime between 4:00 and 5:00 the girls are given permission by Mrs. Ridulph to go to Ferguson's West End Grocery to buy penny candy. (According to Frances Ridulph SAO 2779 SAO 2586 and William Ferguson, SAO 2779 but Mrs. Florabelle Sigman doubts this because Kathy didn’t pre-request with her before going to Ridulphs. SAO 2685) Between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. Kathy returns home for dinner. SAO 2685 A paperboy, Joseph Jones, who knew her, sees her leave Ridulphs headed towards her house. SAO 2906 5:41 p.m. Randy Strombon finishes paper route. Doesn’t see girls, SAO 2906 6:01 p.m. Maria calls Kathy to tell her she has permission to play outside. SAO 2979 6:02 p.m. Mrs. Sigman said Kathy left the home at 6:02 p.m. ~ Kathy corrected her earlier statement that she left at 6:30 p.m, and said it was indeed 6:02. SAO 2689 6:00 to 6:05 p.m. Frances Ridulph and Kay Ridulph say they pulled out of the driveway at the Ridulph home and saw Kathy and Maria in front of the Ridulph home walking towards Center Cross. SAO 2703 Upon turning the comer, Frances and Kay saw Tom Braddy’s fuel truck on Center Cross in front of the Cliffe home. SAO 2719 6:05 p.m. David Strombon drives by corner, headed home, sees Braddy’s truck but does not notice girls. SAO 2777 5:50 to 6:15 p.m. Tom Braddy is at the Cliffe home, sees girls, talks to them while fueling. Leaves at 6:15 p.m., looked at his watch, and says the girls are still on comer by themselves and no one else was around. SAO 741 SAO 2786-8 6:00 p.m. ~6:20p.m. Strombons have dinner, based on times that Randy and David said they returned home, and when Randy arrived at Ridulphs.:30 P.M. Mrs. Aldena Cliffe hears children outside. SAO 2782 6:00 P.M. — Between 6:00 and 7:00 Mr. Thomas Cliffe says he also heard children, SAO 2785 6:15 p.m. Frances Ridulph returns, turns corner at Archie Place and sees the girls unaccompanied. Maria waves to Frances. Frances thinks, but is not certain that Brady's truck is still there. SAO 2703-4 6:15 —7:15 p.m. Kay’s voice lesson at Madge Wright, 216 1/2 W. State Street. SAO 2739 6:20 p.m. Tom Braddy notes clock when he passed gas station (ISP interview from July *58) Possibly Tige Hoffiman’s Texaco in 500 block of DeKalb Avenue as Braddy likely went south on Center Cross and turned left on DeKalb Avenue and then left again on Main Street to go to his fuel depot. SAO 741 6:25 p.m. Randy Strombon arrives at Ridulph home according to Randy, his mother and Chuck. SAO 2793 6:30 p.m, Kenny Davy, 19, who lived in the home at 644 Archie, in front of the Sigman’s home, drove past the corner accompanied by Mr. Bobby Ray (19) & Mrs. Martha Ann (15) Peifer. Noted seeing the girls and telling his passengers that he knew them and that they were neighbors. The Peifers were in the process of moving into the 2" floor apartment at 644 Archie (his parents’ home). The girls are alone. Peifers confirmed this to FBI. SAO 2669, SAO 2674, SAO 2777 & SAO 2778 6:30-7:00 p.m. Eddie Boies walks up Center Cross from DeKalb Avenue to Roosevelt (see below) SAO 2753 6:30—7:00 p.m. Edward Boies says he walked past corner and did not see the girls and recalls arriving home at 6:30, but his parents say he arrived home between 6:30 and 6:45. Kent Bellendorf, who gave Boies a ride as far as the Bellendorf home at comer of State and Center Cross, says he got home between 6:30 and 6:45. Basketball coach, Neil Hudson, says practice ended at 6:15 and players left between 6:30 and 6:45. SAO 2754 Around 6:30 p.m. Unsub Johnny approaches the girls. SAO 2979 (according to Kathy in ‘57 who estimated then that he arrived about 15 minutes after Braddy left). SAO 2691, SAO 2979 6:30 p.m. Mike Ridulph tums on TV and begins watching Cheyenne. SAO 2710 6:30 p.m. Merideth Strombon begins watching Name That Tune. SAO 2793 6:30 p.m. Bus driver Clayton West passes corner and does not see anyone.After 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Wells looks outside and sees an adult with two children at the comer across from her home. SAO 2791 6:40 p.m. Maria comes in to get a doll, according to Mrs. Ridulph, SAO 2704 Mike does not know the exact time because he is engrossed in Cheyenne. SAO 2710 On December 4, 1957, Mike Ridulph told Winnebago County Deputies Iasparro and Ferona that he saw Kathy standing outside the door when Maria went back outside with the doll. SAO 2729 Chuck tells FBI it was after 6:30 p.m, when Maria came in, SAO 2722 6:40 p.m. Larry Wilkins, from his yard on 628 Roosevelt Court, sees Kathy and Maria walking east on Archie Place. FBI confirm visibility from Wilkins yard, a fact that was confirmed by his mother and dinner guests. SAO 2784, SAO 2816 6:45 p.m. Maria leaves the house with the doll and returns to comer. Kathy estimated Maria was gone for 5 minutes. SAO 2980 Maria takes 2" piggyback ride with Johnny. SAO 2980 6:45 pam. ~ 7:00 p.m, Time of Maria’s disappearance according to Chief Hindenberg. SAO 631 (Information provided by Hindenberg to Joliet Police while discussing a potential suspect on May 12, 1958.) 6:45 p.m. ~ 6:55 p.m. John W. Niewold and sister drive from 508 Center Cross and do not see girls as they pull out.. SAO 2808 6:50 p.m. Kathy arrives at her home to get her mittens (according to her mother). SAO 2981 6:50 p.m. — 7:00 pn. Lary Wilkins sees Kathy going west. SAO 2784 6:55 p.m. Kathy returns to find Maria gone. Kathy’s brother Carl Edward heads for the comer. SAO 2981 6:55 p.m. —7:00 p.m. Chuck Ridulph tells Kathy that Maria is probably just hiding when she goes to the Ridulph home to find where Maria has gone, and she returns to the corer ‘where her brother finds her. SAO 2981 6:55 p.m. -7:00 p.m, Kathy and Carl Edward return to Ridulph home and she tells ‘Chuck Ridulph that Maria cannot be found. SAO 2981 6:57 p.m. Collect call is placed to the Tessier home from Rockford by John Tessier (Tassier") according to the Syeamore ~ Ogle Telephone Company. SAO 3154 6:58 p.m. Mike Ridulph is calling for Maria from the front door according to Mrs. Merideth Strombon and Mr. David Strombon. SAO 756, SAO 2669, SAO 2793Around 7:00 p.m, Mike sees Kathy and Carl Edward in his driveway while calling for Maria, according to Mike Ridulph. SAO 2710 7:00 p.m. Mr. & Mrs. Wells hear a shriek. Someone else reports hearing that as well. (Mike is also blowing a police whistle at about this time) SAO 2790, SAO 2681, SAO 2779 7:00 p.m. Elmer Westberg, 412 Center Cross hears scream. SAO 2781 7:05 p.m. Florabelle Sigman sends Kathy and Edward back out to look for Maria. SAO 2981 7:10-7:15 pm. Mike and Frances Ridulph are on Roosevelt Court outside Peterson home blowing police whistle and callling for Maria. SAO 2705, SAO 2712 7:15 —7:30 p.m, John Tessier (Cherry) encounters Major Liebovich and Sgt. Froon at Rockford Post Office. Leaves paperwork which he and Sgt. Oswald will discuss the next day. SAO 3076-77 7:00-7:30 p.m, Paul Holderness arrives at Ridulph home looking for Kay.. SAO 2714 7:10 p.m, or between 7:45 and 8:00 p.m. Tom Braddy receiyescall from Mrs. Cliffe telling him Maria is missing and asking if he saw.a stranger with the girls. (7:45-8:00 timeframe from interview with FBI on 12/6/57.) SAO 2781. (7:10 timeframe-from ISP interview in July’58.) SAO 741 7:20pm. Chuck Ridulph and Randy Strombon get perihission to search the neighborhood from Mrs. Strombon, according to Randy, Chuck and Mrs. Strombon. SAO 2725-C, SAO 2793-M, SAO 2794-R, 7:25 p.m. Kay returns from music lesson, (FBI 12/57) SAO.2705. SAO 2719 7:30 pm. Kay goes to Sigmans and gets the story of Johnny. SAO 2719 Chuck and Randy are with Kay. (FBI 12/57) SAO 2723 . 7:30 p.m. Russell Wiley, father of Cheryl Wiley Crane, of 714 DeKalb Avenue leaves for Belvidere with his family. SAO 2733 7:30 p.m. John Boies returns home from walking the dog and tells family that Maria is missing and the Ridulphs are looking for her. SAO 2752 Shortly after, Randy and Chuck stop at Boies house looking for Maria. 8:00 p.m, Kay returns from music lesson. (ISP interview in July, 1958) SAO 742 (Almost certainly a mistake as it is contradicted by her other account.)8:05 p.m. — 8:10 p.m. Frances and Patricia report Maria missing to the police, per Frances, Patricia and Chief Hindenberg. SAO 2680, SAO 2648 8:10 p.m. Chief Hindenberg alerts Sheriff according to Sheriff's records. SAO 15 8:15 p.m. Mike Ridulph arrives at Police Station by car and is joined by Kay on foot, to find Frances and Pat have just left. SAO 2712 Around 8:25 p.m. Chief Hindenberg arrives at Archie and Center Cross. 9:00 p.m. Pat, Kay, Mrs. Strombon and Mrs. Cliffe find Maria’s doll. SAO 2717, SAO 2790 9:30 p.m. Louis Salemi drops Janet Niewold at 506 Center Cross after evening at Teen ‘Town and first hears of Maria’s disappearance. Joins search. SAO 2802 Around 10:20 ISP is first advised of missing child and search in progress. SAO 2790 11:00 p.m. Thomas Folowell, 937 Esther, first heard loudspeakers. SAO 278309/24/2008 2175240862 13:48 rhe F bli ay bab, iblond agra." J _ReUL tne been. fond 4h net ghbarhood.siai\Ko MAIN FILE,=|__in Syeamare_who figured_prominently in the ease because he had delivered oil in tie From: ‘Troopers D. Fraher ¢ R. Dales werk: M “ Subject: Sumary of investigation on Maria Ridulph Case Ab this point of the investigation we returned to tho Sycanore-Dekalb area, We feel certain facts might have beon overiooked: Following tls Line we first interviewed ‘Ton Braddy, the Standard O41 Dulke dealer Amaediate area of the erimo on the evening of Decenber 3rd. Braddy appears to be reliable and sincere end stated he vas most anxious to see the case come" a Successful end, He stated further, that he was delivering oil to Urs. Cliff's hone on the corner of Archie and Centercross that evening, left tho area ab 6:15 Me, passed a service station clock at 6:20 P.M. on the way back to his budk station, and left tie tank truck ab the bulk station and proceeded hone in hia pickup truck. While eating his dinner he got up to anaver the phono at no Tater than 7:10 Pall, The call was fron Urs. Cliff fron where he had just made the oil delivery at 6:15 P.M. Recalling her conversation as close as possible, Yrs. CLift asked, "Did you see any stranger with the Ridulph girl when you were here making the oi1 delivery? Cathy said sono man was with then." He answered her that he had seen the girle bub no stranger, and offered to cone dom and join the search. He and his son Dale left. the house on Fairplace on Rt. 6) and Troceeded to Archie & Centercross, which is about 2} blocks fron his hone. They got out to atart to search end wore joined onthe corner by Bud Signan. Together the three walked South on Gentercross and got as far as the Johnson driveway Where they nobiced footprints. One seb of footprints were of adult size and the footprints to the right of the edult!s were those of a child. He compared the adult footprints with his oim size, Believes it vas a size 9. Tae footprints ead up to the Johnson garage. The last adult print shoved a sharp movenent Yo the right, such as one would make when using body-english, to either throm 2 doll or pick up the girl. They noticed that the snow was undistrubed except for these prints. They attached so mich importance to finding these prints that Braddy instructed Bud Signan and his son.to go around tho garage quiclly, "and ‘then we'll have hin. (It should be pointed out that these prints went up and did not return back dom the drive.) Zhen they didn't find the offender at this point, Breddy walked over through the back yards and garden area and between a small tractor shed and a ploved area found two more adult footgrints in the snow. He searched the tractor shed, vent west, searched another bara, continued west out onto Fairplace ond by a utility pole at the edge of the street noliced fresh 2 tracks in the snow, indicating s had pulled in sharply and pulled out arply, going north on’Fairplace to Rt. 6li., The tracks indicated regular tread not’ snow tires. ‘The above information indicates to us: ‘That it was known a man vas with Maria at a uch earlier time than vas indicated by previous reports. 2. ‘That the man went west and across the back lots and got into an auto on Fairplace and did not walk south on Centercross towards DeXalb ave. and then get into an auto.3+ fubling through the lots this ‘way indleates posatbility he ia 1 familiar with the area and could, be local, : o la We took the sane route the offender cbviously used and ib 49 not d cbtructed in any manner, - Diagrang ofthis block that sare previously made indicated fences,,that do not, exist. * 3 % night telling her of Maria's disappearance and that aman was involved, and ¢-—_toaalls oalding Beaddy-bub, could not see eho << = » A,Son bY 8 former marriage of Mr. Cliff's is a sex deviate and conscious of this Fone neve that sonotime actor the alarm she mado'a quick search of En property, found Marials doll, did not’ want involvement, and threw the deli oo tro” it was found in Johnson's yard. ae case gee’ fe anyone until this interview, she related that her h year old son fon tebe nse on Decenber 3rd at aboitt 3:05 Pull. and asked to bees hoe non meaencPhone, outside because a man wanted to seed. Ye feel this nmeege se holding back information, : Interviewing the Ridulph fanily sone of the interesting Points irs. Ridufph brought: out wer ore peel the offender struck a soft spot with aria and that vhen she Fer eeeeneer her doll, the girl was boaning in away that she oftes inched’ chen Eee posenes Played rough-house with her. She aleo noticed her hair sot nen e, She pointed out that Maria scened anful anxious about being able te get out that Sepang and kept pestering for permission to go out and then when eiver permission {iter Maria called Cathy and told her, "I can got out, can you)", “ine! excited velco. Sho also wanted to wear her best coat out that eventiig whieh men ‘tnusual, Tle auaen offered about the footprints Leading to the garage without asking ani ‘this agreod completely with Braddy's story ef the prints’ Kay Maulph offered that she care hone from her musie lesson at 8:00 Pails Leamned ent £0" ahe sueuseppeared and in the company of nck Ridulph and Kandy’ Streamer, ent to the Signen hone to find out from Cathy what had happened. Artes See uestions and suggestions, Cathy cane up with the Johnny story. Cathy caad ve + gored Maria to go hone with her to got her gloves and Leria refused ed shen ree Feenraed +0 whore sie and varia had been playing, she brought her srether Sadie with her. Maria was gone. He Randy Strombaun tells that he was playing in the Ridulph home when Cathy came to ie, lovz te ask whore Maria hed gone. He renenbera a man being montimod or to Thor’ he Eachght, oicoy as he went to the Sigman hone with Kay ani Chucleie Ridrava 3 wpereate thought Cathy vao confused with her stories about the man's dosetiniaes and what had happened and irs, Signan pointed this out to Kay,Interviewing Mr. & irs, Wells, Mrs, Wells recalled that she was surprised that two small girls would be playing across the streot at that location and mentioned ‘this concorn to her husband but then when she spotted a figure standing near the Gifls, she assuncd that it vas their parent and they vere Waiting for the bus. She didn't know at that timo the bus didn't run after 5:30 Plt, lie have contacted all theatres in Dekalb and Syeanore and also a former theatre ranager with reference to sox deviates that haunt theatres, They all stated they had nover been contacted by any other law enforconent agency in regard to this. angle. ee We have also been working on a recent indecent exposure in the Dokalb-Syeamora area that has some value because it happened on a Tuesday, and at 7:00 P.., ‘tho girl was playing on the street and the street is a cross town route. ‘ie dnvestigated a complaint thab-was given to the DeKalb'P.D. on a Hr. Oney Dettley, 916} Uarkeb St., Dekalb. He was arrested’under a disorderly conduct cherge bub the 6 year old's father, Bruce Johnson, said it was taking indecent liberties with a minor, We felt this had no bearing on the Ridulph case as Dettley is aman of advanced age and has no/auto and does not drive. “e checked out a janitor of the Sycanore liigh Schooleby-the-nino-of-Jack Shrout, 2li years-old. ile had alarmed a Mrs. Tucker ate358 Lincoln, Sycanore, by staring at her two little girls while going door to door selling carnival tickets. le admitted to us that ho vas aroused by these children in their bathing suits, that he stares out the windowe at the cheer leaders and gets eroused, ad plays with hinself while watching tie girls uptorm Sycamore. We understand he had slecping sickness when he was a sophmore in high school and he has never been the sane mentally since. lis mentaybondition is so poor it ie very difficult to obtain information fron hin. Hisfather is the principal of the high schoo. Following 4s 2 copy of a neno received from Trooper Jacobs. Saturday July 19, 1998, the duputy at Lena, 11. D. MePaillips was contact vy 8 irs. Stroup. She stated she vas looking for her husband and had not seen kin for the past several months ani had heard he was in the areas She talked to the duputy-for wite some time and during the course of the conversation she stated her husband was craay about children and could not kecy his hinds from them véen he vas around then, he likes to touch then. She mentioned this several times and several other points in her conversation lead the duputy to becone suspicious ef this man, lis wife said his parents live in or around ‘earl City. She also stated that he had a Florence Noble in Shannon pregnant. The wonan then left and said she would contact the deputy, said he wanted to see her and she said she would contact him personally at 7 P.M. Friday the 25th of July. The description given of her husband: Roy Stroup, age 32, 518"; 170-280 Ibs., dirty blond hair, palo complexion, looks young. ‘the car tira. Stroup. was driving at the time she contacted ore, 130,112. 266399) and jAssiied 0.3 ry. Stroup, 35 01 arb Savanna,* Tor ‘From: ii, Spencer & Trdoper R. Bales * - Subject: ¥aria Ridwlph Case Ne contacted a ir. Al Wolfenburger of the Sycanore Real Estate Agency sho was the "director end coordinator of the civilian search parties. ir. Wolfenbérger stated that he did not inow ali the personnel wha took part ‘in the soarches, however, a aunber of thon shoved’ up on several different ogeasions. He said he would be’ nore “|, Bhan happy to cooperste with.us in every possible way and would type up a complete * +" Rist offianes, which number amundred or more, ‘of, persons rho took bart! in the seseches je also stated that during the first week of the’ search he sorled in close connscticn + With Mr. trike Ridulph and a 2. Glenn Moore of 628 Medaw Lane, Sycanore, who is a clos .friond of the Ridulph family. + lr. Moore stated to Mir, Walfenburger that hfs one of A first persons that the Ridulphs contacted ad Maria frequented his house ‘often mndsh as three blocks ie contacted a‘irs. t. § ‘fe’ vivo ‘Lives. in, site :house onthe corner’ of Archie ‘ Centercross. (She stated she "first learned/faria's disapyearance when Chuckie,-. +... Hdniph ani the young -Stronbon boy geize fo ‘the door and asked if sha had goon” >. “L 1, Marda'~ that che vas missing. She sdid ‘as. she was going out to help look for Maria sho met hor next door neighbor lirs.: Stronbon and they decided to valk dow « ‘to the.school yerd alia Louk uruund “there. ‘the kay te 4! och Sand another neighbor a Ur. Roy Heliillan offered them the use of nia Large’ flash Light ava “assisted in the search of the school yard. ‘shen they roturned they mee frercis Ridulph ot tha corner of Archie % Canteretoas wio stated che had feat core bose fron Ferorting Yarie!s disappearance to the police and wes talling to a policsan who was sitting ina squed car. Mrs. Cliffe said ab sbout that tine pate key Ridulph, Rey Me"illen, Mrs. Stronvom and herself decided to welk and search Hrs. Gohngon's drivews and yard. ‘the two girls, Kay, wanting to show then the footprints of what looked liked a manls and a Littio girl's leading throu Yes. Johnson's yard. Just as they approached the corner of tie-arage bre, Se flashlight beam ran 2crogs a doll at which Pat t ay said it was Maria's doll. ‘They nobitied the polica and they (the police) picked it us, te, Cliffe said as far as she ine there vere no other search parties in there siwad of thon, sboa's fo then talked to tre. stronboa, She satd she vas saying goodbye to her husband ho wma Leaving fer work at 6:58 P.M. and oho heard tke Rédulph calling for tia es thoy eve their next door noighbore, & short Ling sete) ee oy bat ar gon ad tho ‘lidaiph bey case in and: asked for eekmte noe eta oe aid 4% an aright 4¢ they stayed tlthin the Qiee ea eek ee ease Addr ‘ys. Cliffe and they decided to search she school grounds. Nelfillan faa just oiling in his drivoay ee they were pease tie poe eben ee Plashligh*And ascistance, vhich thoy aecopted, Upon returning from tee soo ‘ard she went into the pouse and, change: farmer shoes. Then they met Mrs, 2iduloh Yatling to" a polscoran/ii eetaad Ue ORRHEAD corse neering they Bet Hrs, dlp all right to search sone now houses that were being belle losses git Would be good idea ard they should go ahead, ‘then they rebecned ter anes 4 eee 9 nd Pat & Kay were standing in Mrs. Strozbon's backyard and told thea about tho footprints just over the Lerice in Tirs. Johnson's yard. On approaching the corner of the garage her bean fron the flashlight cane soross the nell ae Picked it up by two fingers on the right ic while Mrs. Cliffe called the station, Tho'station sent a man in plain, cloties vho lira. Stroshon mows by Bepearance ony puathathe.i2,agbe,policonan. i Hated the dole sho aaid Spat AL a search party :had beon in, there before then it would:have been easy to overlook the! doll. because they went around to the other side of the garage and back through the yard, but where they were standing it was quite narrow between the garage end their fence. she did not notice anyone searchingein front of then, hon- ever there were people bel¥ind them, ‘And she does not believe the doll was put there after the first search axmentioned in the papers.0G 7=606 She explainéd: that the three older children are give Mate, Vertous types of mreie dessons ond hos intended to Sive MARIA that same ch osermaty hen she ts a ittle sitet ond able ‘to: handle such oeetgnmente. Hoy the tine being she fate she ta, "henictt, ‘giving Hint Plano lessons, es She noted that how Birth. wut to the beat of SRY church fom wiout 20 years, MARIA I aoe Ans true UPLAG -herintgd-t eo ae oes ‘Streot, Dera, She, Wes Bormitted to cross Archie Place as this is ovily travelled street, but sin seldom did this end wemained on her own side of tho street, On rare-o, Permission ‘to. walle at the cor t operate & "PERGUSON 's. nied by KAY During: the summery the there ‘almoat overy day to dn’ tho whiter, Ms, re of Doconter 3, 1957, lot certain, velt Court, n Place imnodintely to the north, wil She samo times playad with JOE PaERSON, 6: » but she does not think ohe hed: dene xo pecentiy, HARTA had a 24" dioye1s which she rodo # great deal in mild weathor. “She never teks the block on this bicycle. Tho spin. 4no- wn FEDEnn. --REAU OF INVESTIGATION CHICAGO 2/10/58 1/2,356,9,10, WISNOWN SUBJECT, wa. SOL H. DENNIS Johnny; MARIA ELIZABETH CHARACTER OF CASE ‘ERIDULPH - VICTIM KIDNAPPING Information received from De Kalb County SO and Sycamore, Tllinois Police Department to effect victim, 7 years age, believed to have been abducted by unaub on night 12/3/57 at Sycamore, Illinois, after. having been a»proached by un~ sub while she and playmate, MARY CATHERINE SIGMAN, known as ATHY, were playing. ‘Temporary hendguartera established at Syeamore, Tildnols.,. 12/4/37 to 12/26/57 and intensive investigation conducted, Additional information obtained during further: interviews with KATHY SIGMAN and all members viobin's family reported herein, Victim's blood type not knowiis: -Wovlmowm fingerprints of victim available. Victim's footprints ‘on* bt certificate located but same not of value for comparison’purposes. Number of associates and friends victim's family, and victim, ifitérviewed negatively. Numerous neighhors interviewed and no actual eyowitnesses to abduction. H, &. COM" BRANDY recalls having seen victim and KATHY playing in front CLIFFE residence while he delivered oil there from approximately 6:00 PN to 6:15 PM, 12/3/57 but did not see unsuby KENFLH DAVY, neighbor, accompanied by Mr. and Mra. , saw victim and KATHY playing on corner approximately 6:30 Pi. Mrs, STANELY WELLS recalls looking out window between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PI TASC @ ~ Bureau. (7-8782) (Enel. 2) 5 = Chicago (7-806) , 8 FES 141998 j-[ e712 [a7 Thog 7-806 and seeing 2 children playing, and én, qndividial,, whom she and eea'ge be an adult, baling to thats She not able to eeermine whether children oF Cndividual were tiale oF determine von hearing abriole av 7:00 Fis she again Looked out the window bub saw nm BIMER WESTBURG, neighbor see ed out the window. upon hearing girl soream at 7:00 PM, pub saw nothings pOCR DIY assisted in senrok night 12/3/S1», following: Hobim's. disappearance and observed. lange and small footprints: 49, {ight onow, leading vo rightor erage on JOWNSON property. Ss “footprints around Berton of plowed. twuck garden aree West of garage, bub no, indication of drag sen OM advised she found vietimts dol. Steet from above garage botyeon 8:00. PM and 9:00 FH, ‘pther searckiors who ‘previously searched bn saine manea, had sot’ seen Gold» xing, seene searches by agente here daditdonal. physical Grepghes nade by ngents and. ote oubs megablvedys oy Aves! ae ena Pons sure ereee not speier es LOS quare mile scarey, SonaNceal Eo ore. endplanes Vigi20)31 nogatives Inbervi ous 1) Metis who ‘applied Sh caprogment, guests ad hotels j totale, dentict * Lea joedcamen and. service -pensentiols ons ye received: parking tickets upd observed in area 0) negatives Photographa of various Lormen i of any of mental and’ penal institutions obtained 2 Ae Reales of laboratory. exaninat No extortion Salis, letters or demands reosiveds£ fps followins information concerning ‘the Violin toe eae. ‘ wesdefinitely not a wealthy family In Sycavore. From the des- ‘ HARIA is seven yoars. of aye, had just hed‘ permanent and. thers- TOT TINS Investigation was conducted by Sh F, NOLAN at Sycamore, TLinol, Op December L, 1957, Chief of Police WILLIAM HINDaNSURG T9e7. eee bed Bod he advised that at aboat 8:10 Pit on Deewee 3, 1957, Mrs. MICHAEL RIDULPH and her oldest deughter (believed fo be PATRICIA), 616 Archie Place, Sycamore, came ine ane police stetion and lirs, RIDULPH stated. that: her saieien, yh veo gaging. Chief HINDELBURG stated that: the NIDUCEH family TA, eription given by ps, REDILPR,. Ghier Hissin Bite ateted thet aoreyner hair was quits curly, black in color, | 1 a¥OSs, about lt tall, medium build, Wome tbe @ dirty tan coat and dark fhe tees eeoes , Chiat BINDEABUNG advised thet he hed rocelres KIDULPH: MARIA snd her friend, ‘Wiiey siuman, of 644e Archie ‘lace, on the commer of Archie’ Place and Center cette Street, {fers playing Ha tian had ‘approached them @nd had asked 2: “Melted 80 have pigsy backs ides and had asked if they i dollinn. “wall! had vetirned bo her home to get kes oll ei Heng Pack to instant corner, at which tine Kety stated her hands were cold ard went home to get her mitt, returned to instant corner, both MARIA ex, Chief 11WbDsNBURG advised that 2h 45 qustea jerade: stadent at the rest Grade School snd RETA sa Seo rade student at the sano school in Syéamons. te BBLS tes KAMEY is eight years of age and bad told: ‘Bin hab the JAimown Sadjeos had approached instent corner from the Sotth, vate Salasd from the vicinity of Ferguson's Grocery situie. Me said what KEYHY had told him as follows: he man eaked 1f the listle 3, 1957, KATHY and MARIA came Into the stors as was thelr fFegient custom, to buy some penny candy. They could nol feoall whother the children were carrying any toys, mul khey fiad not seen them since. They had not noticed any sual lous people lurking in the area and hed nothing further to stot this investigation. Yirss ED BERG, 629 DeKelb Avenue, on December !, 1957, advised she could provide no information concernlis the disapp§arance of HARIA, but noted that about ton slayr fo two weeks provious to December 3, 1957, she had mitioos! amon, very \unkempt in appearance, with blond hair, © be 30 years old) who walked down the street, paused, liwkul at fer house, ald then continued further owt DeKalb Avaune vowary the outskirt# of town, She said sho had never seun the man before end Was not seen him singe, y - Te6. 7-806 ORS JEM dn Doconbor lly 1987), th following persons Yet gontacted in tae vioinity of the loostton where the victim, contact tpunrH, was last oven with negetive results by BA JAMES R, SHEBHAN: Meo, VEVEAN WELLS, 327 Wonton Cross Stroet ret IDA JOHNSON, 915 Center Cross gtreet Mine, SWEN JENSEN, 525 Center Cross Stroot Meet WALTER MATVINGLY, 537 Contor Grose Street Yee, ROY POSTER, 531 Center Cross Strect: on Desembor Ys 1957s, Mra THOMAS CLIPEL, 593 Genter Grose Street, ediised that sho had heard ohildven + Slaying outside her house abeHe G00 = 6230 PM on tho * ight of December 3, ‘19s7s She advised that they bad mead fuel oil to, bo Golivorad, Yoae ovening ond tt was Dee ee ey He ix MOM! BRADY, 122, Lett Stpect, Syoamorey Titinotss Sun that sve pad: telizad to Bin, ABeR deeeecighk andi he had mentioned that Ke ad geen the fiotin and KATHY SICHUAN playing, oF tho corner infront of wpa, GLirrets Rouse. (Tb La noted that tho CLiSKE home Hees Gased on. the corner of Anchio Pisce ‘and Conter OroBas. Ao Tease sorncr)s She. avabed that abe Vee not cortaif a courier rae that ies. BRADY finished avlivering the oft te ee tnough’ £6 was-erqund 6230 2M sho advised. that sho was present Whe hor next door: neighbor, Mrs. MERIDITH STROMBOM, » found the victim's door pene hey’ garage, later in the evening ‘that the viotim disappeared. On Decombor: Ny 2957, an abtompt was made to loedte Mr, BRADY ab 122 Fate Street, Syeumore, with nega~ tive results. RUB:JEM ghe folowing supplemental noighborhood inves= tigation was odnducted on December 7 1987; by Sis HARVEY Ne JoUNSON, IN. and ROBERT L. iach of the porsons » My TON ON Sy ware contacted and all edviged ‘that. thoy j iisted pele to provide any information of ‘value in connéo= tion with instant ease? ateMERCHANT, 130 Pair Stroot 06: Fair Stroct 318 Fair Stroot BROOKS, 304, Fein Streot G. WALEN, 15 Fair Streot 1,” 23 Falr Streot {29 Fair Street ‘De Kalb Street ayoms FOLOWRED was interviewed at Bis residence in Sycamore, 937 Esther Avanne by Ss EDWARD W. HALLORAN in STENLIN A. SMITH on December, 10, 1957s. He advised and he works as o laborer for the Syogners. Fuel Company with 022 phone) ntiiber end. address at 303 Sacramento, _-POLOWELL ‘abated that be woe at hom 6, the nigh. of ‘Pacember (35. 1997s. from. ‘S25, PH on, bub hoard pee oeams: on smusuea noises unts) About 11:00 PM whon @ ‘tnudk oguippes we "oud speakers camo. by. ‘He joined Megoarch partes and was searching, Until about 2200 AM on Recoriber ls 2957s. searching the aret. porthuest of Potimis home mostly. Wibh PO ard to the search, POLOWELE Payised thn he noticed. no partioular Leaders, end there adviger, goaaip. among the searcnors they O20 of. the earlier groups ‘Yad found. pubper doll in @ spot that had already been searched; and someone in & later searching party must have planted the doll. the victim, MARIA, was well known in the neigh= porhood, and used to play with his daughier, SHARON, age bornoodsyenbor girl, CAROL BECKEN, age about 8. DLB:JEM on Decenber 15, 1957, TARRY WILKINS» age, 1s 628 Roosevelt Gourt, and his mothers Mrs. A. B, WILKINS, 628 Rooseyecy advised SA DAVID L. BURTON that on, the evening of Decenber 3, 1957, ho had gone to his backyard ove ne ea on to Archie Place to play about 6:30 Pe Fasc eeg’he fs certain about the timo due te ‘the fact ‘that he was seated to eat dinner 6 Mand it that be ui'20 minutes to complete his meal. He advised ~ 10h =ca 7-806 that he was accompanied by the children of A. CG. TAYEOR, and that about 10 minutes after they entered the back~ yard, he observed tho victim and KATHY SIGMAN walking down Archie Placo toward Center Cross. He stated that even though 1t was dark, he was able to seo thom plainly “due to tho iliimination’ of a street light on Archie Plase under which MARTA and KATHY passed. LARRY sdvised that about 10 to 15 minutes after he first observed MARIA and KATHY paso under the Stroot light, he saw KATHY return in tho same path but walking avay from Center Cross toward her own home. He stated he did not soe either of the girls that ovening, yor doos-he recall seeing’ anybody else pass undor the Jtght located on Avchie Place that night. LARRY advised he did not notice any strangers in the neighborhood either before or after that night, and that he cannot supply any further inforniation which might reflect on the dio- appearance: of MARIA RIDULPH.ce 7-806 SRM TEM ‘Tho following investigation was conducted >; pues NOLAN at Sycamore, Illinois on Docenber h, 1957: Mr. THOMAS CLIFFE, 903 Center Cross Stroot, advised that H. E. "ror" BRADY, who resides at 121 Fair Strect, Sycamore, had delivored o11 to his home between 6:00 and 7:00 PM’and that BRADY had seen MARTA and KATHY playing in front of his home as "ADY had told CLIPYE this. Mr, OLIFFE stated that he had also heard children playing and yelling in front of his home but he aid not know then and he did not know who they were. Ho stated that this was between 6:00 and 7:00 Pir on December 3, 1957. He said ho did not hear any scroams at any time during instant evening.Aa- tase @isciic sures or vesron M 2 tse8s7) INTERVIEW REPORT Dato: 1/14/58 8, 1987, He Be MTOM" BRANDY, 121 Fatr, advised ho de a fuel oii diatribator, An Syosmae, 11Linohs, and on December 3, 1957, dolivered olt bo the GT" reaidence and on Pevnor of Archie Place ond Genter dross Shecot. |e at the commack was parkod on Genter Croga Straot with the bumper aetGnely extending owt Inte Archie Place and at tits, ions see han VARIA TIDUGPR and KANHY SIGHAY, both of whom he notodiriely acquainted wlth, vere playing around the Tense eee th the comer. Be conversed mish Wan while he was dolivertir, of) snd wien ke dopnstud. ai G15 p.m., they wore set yerLevang sad vere having a yery Good time. | Ho said theve se Pony ahout vt thab timo, aad 6 people cane and spore ae one a pecaliod that he startal to-Reldver 612 gt about 6:00 p.m. and looked at his watel whe. } ws Lott, eS 6315 pam B00 Pat not vocal whethor ofthor child had eny doit or other toys. fu noted that 1t ds very daric ow that cornér since « stroot light is quite » distance ‘down the block, but explained ue naa plenty of Light alnce’ he -has ‘PLoodLights mounted on ig truck. On December Interview with HL, 2s MoM BRADDY Fite # 806-———, ju ° Date pigtnted: 1/7/58:46 on 1245 /S7— 9 “DoKalb—County—Sheritfte-offies, Sycamore, TLlinois 4 ———- ifs contents ore to be distibuted ouside the by Speciol Agent ROBERT L,WILSOW. ‘rropurty of FBL- This report is loaned to you by the FBI, and nelther i m renee ich toaneds ra - 107 -oc 7-806 JOHN NIEWOLD, 506 Center Cross Street, Sycamore, Tliinois " BILL WINDLE, 554 Center Avenue, Sycamore, Illinois Mrs, G.G. LAMBERT, Sl Center Avenue, : Sycamore, Illinois ’ Mrs. IVA PHILLIPS, 549 Conter Avenue ELMER WESTBURG, 412 Center Cross, Sycamore, ‘4n December }, 1957, advised SA BAKER that in the evening of December 3, 1957, ho, his wife and two grandchildren, ages 9 and 12, wero in the living room watching the television program "Cheyenne". It is noted that this program appears between 6:30 and 7:30 PM. He said that at about 7:00 Px, they all heard a little girl scream E orm or twice. Ho said that the sound seemed to heve come from across the street. He said that he went to the living room window which faces the street and looked in the direction of TOM CLIFT's yard and saw nothing. He 4 continued that there are many children in the noighborhood, Hl i so he decided that the scream meant nothing and he returned his attention to the television program. He estimated that he heard the scream at about 7:00 PM. Mr. WESTBURG further advised that his grand- children attend West School, located at Archie Place and 1 Fair Street. He said that they were approached by & man, ¥ near the school, about two months ago. He said that the children ran from the man, but he knew no further details. KATHIEEN MURPHY, age 9, residence 517 Victor, Sycamore, was interviewed én December lh, 1957, by SA BAKER in the presence of her grandfather, ELNER WESTBURG, at 412 Center Cross. KATHLEEN stated that about two or 7 three months ago, as she and her brother, age 12, were’ going to school,'a man drove parallel to them at Archie and Fair Streets, leaned out the car window and asked them : if they wanted to ride. This man told them that he would give them some candy if they would ride with him. KATHIEEN said she remembered her grandfather's instructions so they told. the man "no" and ran the rest of the way to school. She said that thé man was about 20 years of age, had blond curly hair, and was driving a "sort of old" "greenish" duaey can. Sho said that they have not seen this man since that’ t1mo,Spo-2- INTERVIEW REPORT Date: 1/1/58 HBRHAN "20H" BRADDY, rosidonce 121 Fair Street, owner Standard Sorvice (fuel of1 bulk pient) Worth Hain Street, Syeamore, was Interviewed at his realdence, December 6, 1957, by SAs HARVEY N, JCHHSON and RUBERT L. BAKEN.” BRADDY stated that on tuesday, December 3, 1957, at 5:h5 p.u. he was just pre- paring to leave his office for home when he received a call from his wife who said that TOM CLIFFE had just call r to say that he needed fuel o1l at his home located at the corner of Conter Cross and Archie, BRADDY said that he loft diately and drove directly to CLIFFE's house arriving there about 5350 to 5:55 p.m, Ho said that he parked tho truck parallel ts the curb near the large tree and left the turn signal and parking lights turned on because of the heavy highway traffic on Conter Gross, He said that he carried the hoses from tho truck across the yard to the house and that Lt was necessary for him to chahge these hoses several times as he delivered the 220 galloa order from threo separate tanks onthe truck. He noted that the: pump in the truck delivers 20 gallon per minute, which soupled with the fact that ho was required to change hoses, provides a basis for estimating that he was at this location for approximately 25 minutes or until 6:15 p.m. He said that upon arrival ov shortly after arrival he noticed two little girdle playing near the tree and he rocognized one as KATHY SIGMAN and tie other girl as belonging in the imiedlate nelghvor- hood. Ho said that these little girls wore having a good time, laughing, running end shouting, He stated that he talked to them, particularly to KATHY, but that he did not address her by namo, He said he pretended not to mow her and that she told him that he did know her because she Imew him, Ho sald that both skipped across the yard with bim as he changed honos and that they were playing some kind of hide and seek game where one would hide at the front of the truck and would shriek when the other found her. Ho said that upon leaving he drove directly home and ate supper. He continued that sometime after 7:45 p.m., perhaps a as lato as 6:00 p.m, he received a call’ from TOM CLI ‘FE who a said that the victim was missing and that her parents were calling the police. CLIFFE wanted to know if BRADDY had seen the little girls while delivering fuel ofl. BRADDY said that ~ he had seen them and that he would come over right away. BRADDY related that he and his son DALE, age 19, took a flashlight and a dry coll searchlight and drove immediately: to victims house arriving at about the same time as Sycamore ay Interview with HERKAN "POM" BRADDY. File # 7-806 1/7/38 38 on 12-6257 91 121 Fair Strect, Sycamore, TiinoPgt? Dictatedr 1/7/58 Ss by Special Agen®_HARVGY N, JOHNSON and ROBERT L, BAKER os bjw ~ B28 Property of EBL This report ix loaned to you by the FBI, ond neither it nor ith contents SY tobe Tstibeted outside she agency to which loaned,ca 7-806 Policeman SINGER, He said that he, DALB,*BUD SIGMAN and SINGER went to tho sidewalk at the entrance to the driveway leading to the garage. He said that there was light snow, in patches ‘on the ground, and some moonlight allowing some visibility, even without lights. He related that they observed large footprints ‘nd snail footprints in the snow and that those prints led them to the garage. Near the garage doors thoy saw a track indfeating that tho larger person took a wide step to the right (north) though stil2 facing the seme direction, Ile said that they then thought that they would find whatever they were going to find in this garage. He said they oponed the garage doors, searched the interior thoroughly, with lights, but found nothing. BRADDY advised that they then expanded the search circling the garage and specifically looking for footprints in the patches of snow. “He suid that they found a large aud a small footprint about 30 foot west of the garage and. these prints indicated the large person and child wore walling west, that 1s toward Valr Street. Ho continued that they located about two more large ond small footprints in approximately the center of the plowed truck garden area west of the carago, and that this would be about the center of the block area, He sald that these footprints were oxamined carefully and that there were no drag marks or other indication of a atruggle, Ho said that they continued tholr search but found nothing. BRADDY said that he and his son DALE, returned home sometime betweon 8:00 and 8:30 p.m. in order to obtain, sone warm clothing, He said thoy returned almost imaodiately to the search area, and on this trip his daughter JOY, age 17, accompanied them. Ho said that they stopped first in front the RIDOLPI home, where be talked briefly to NIKS RIDOLPH, and he then led a group of wight or nine persona to the garage area. He said that he was again able to point oub a Large ant smali footprint in front of the garage, and the print that Indicated that the large person had taken a step to the right. He advised that this croup then began a minute search of the mediate area, expending their search to inélude the whole plock but nothing was found, ; ot BRADDY said that he was quite bothered by tho fact that tho victim's doll was found, sometine after those two searches, in the area inmodiately in front of the garage. lle pointed out that he, personally, conducted two separatn soarchady, = 109 - eS“rD-30_(6-0-57), Feo @s--aurenu: ‘OF-INVESTIGATION INTERVIEW REPORT Date: 1/1/56 Mae ge ttOwANG Anveetination waa conducted by sh JEROME F. HOLAN at Sycamore, I1linoix, on boocwhen bs 1957: During the course of aa are ch at the corner SinGenter Grogs Street and Archie Place, Eno. smtoeDy sre RBOH, of CLO Archie Place, advinod that fin. GLibuE and she bad fod Lastant doll botwoen s100 and 9:00 etl, and Trg gPodtted ont the exact snot whore the doll hed boon found. This place w. tod as being: in front of the garage owned by Mrs, IDA JOwIeON, S15 Geater cross Stress, Se tee North Wane poe the Canane about two feet from thet corner. There FOINSON ee Ueber 89 borderta,, the CLIFFE property and Heo, IOUINSON' e prope: side of Hrs, JOENS?N!s Fe aetna & Space betweon this fence and the garage ds approximatcly onu foot. Tho doll was foune on ene ICHNSON Poop rey about to inches from this fence at a polat two feet from the northeast corner of tho JOMNSON garage. ge Interview with Mve.HERIDITH strowpom File #_7.p06 Date Dictated: Yrs et @10 Archie Placa, Syeanora, Tilinols Bisby Special Agent ARGH Aa MOAN ie byw yo Bee ay To LAE pit pO or ts loaned to you bythe FAL, and neler morte rantens ans tobe distributed outside the Eeoy!2y 10 which Toane : ww M2eee @ sco. ouncay oF nvesriar® Seo -114 | : INTERVIEW REPORT ————patioy-3/14/58 The following, investigation was conducted by SA JEROME FP. NOLAN at Sycamore, Il1{not on December h, 1957, Mrs, STANLEY WULLS, 506 Conter cross Strect, Sycamore, advised that betweon 6:30 p.m, and 7100 pm, on Docenbor 3, 1957, sho had looked out tho front window Ph her home and noticed two children playing around the big tree located on tho cornor of Center Cross Streot and Arohle Place in front of the CLIFFE residence. She stated that It was fo dark the wes unable to toll whether the children were hoys or girls. sho sald sho could hoar them laughing and could see thon chasing around this tree. She further advised that she could seo another individual talking to the children and assuned lt was an adalt Innamueh as this individual was much {aller than the children, She sald the children came up to ahout the cheat of this individual in hotghts She said dho was unable to tell whether this ‘natvadual wag a hale or favale Decause of the darimess; hovever, she, judged thht the helpht of peee indtvidual was posatbly 5'5* or S46", determining this from the height of the children. She believed tho iidiviaual wan hoavy, posailbly 160 pounds. Urs. WELLS stated that at about 7:00 pem. she heard a shrick and hor husband had asked her what was going on. out Side at that time. Sho said she told Hin-ttiwas Jusb ohtidren, playing across tho street; honevery sHe again docked out ho Fingow due to the loud shriek and did hot see the children oF this unknown individual. Sho said that aftor this ahe did hot hear an; more noise and assunod the cliidren tad Lett. tbe areas Concerning the shriek)‘ his: WELLS; -atabad she: could Ade tel vhethor it wos asory of deligut.or terror. Sho stated that tio individual with the ohlldren did not: bring to: hex wind anyone in the neighborhood who she lmey ald’ eho thought, at tho tine, because of the eize of the individudl, that te rather phot and heavy, that 1t was a. woman, however, she stated: that She could not tel] the sex of thia individual because’ she was unable to even sea whether the individual was wearing trousers or a dress. Mrs. WELLS further advised that the De Kalb-Sycamore bus stops on the corner of Center Cross Streot and Archie Place, and she assumed at the time this Individual was just someone waiting for a bus. She gaid that sho bolievod this bus stopped on tho half hour, She added that the headquarters of the Inter onlgrh=S7___ at $08 Gentor Gross. Sycamore, T)1inols by Special Agent — bd ‘property of FBL- This roport as loaned to you bythe FBI, and neither ignor its conkepts area be! distributed 0 agehey to which loaned. mr ae Aerine with Mes. SWANLEY WRU: File # 806. Date Dictated: 3/7/98 JBLOME_P. NOLAN ____ oes oo+ -u34CG 7-806 De Kalb-Sycamore bus lino was located in De Kalb and that after rayang, the stop on the corner of Center Cross and Archie Place several m pe were made in Sycamore and then this bus stops at tho Walgren Drug Storo in De Kalb.twnsn @oznar sexenu ce wvesticaT in TERVIEV REPOR™ Date: 1/1L/5% Mra, MEREDITH <7 viowed at her residence oa December JOHNSON and ROBERT b. Bail it. Bre. have lived at tile plece 2 peon partiexlert; iphbort ear old son, y ihe 11-year old son family a UCK, Sho snid 1b was diffioule exact reason for this other than the fact that cur curront school yoar, (HUCK aud RASDY were in tho s tho first time and had become quite good frionds. has received loss than A yrades for the first time tt: year and Mrs. SYROMBOH talked to his teacher and w porhaps CHUCK was not a good influence upon RANDY as prone to whloper, cause very minor disturbances, and ¢ not pay attention to his work in tte manner that she c: of RANDY, ra, STROMBOM hastenal $0 344 saat OHUCK had become involved in any serious trys ef éeiiniquencies bur she would classify hin as nischigvigue and not quite so in his manner as ber own son, She said thet to bar lmow? CHUCK was genuinely fond of his young sister, ‘tha vietir,, a8 t fact shared a bedroom with tier, She added that: sie bellere? {there to bo nothing wrong in this relationships Rewsver, in part account for the fact that GHUCK was quite cyret which tims the existence of Unsub RIDUTpst mentioned, Mrs and.Mrs., RIDVLPHs parents of the Vietim, made a search in the sren ‘and tater reported the matter Vic titdr of Po1soe WIDLIAM HINDENBURG of the Sycoterss T1linois Police Department, this accurding to the police records, ocourring at 6:10 pote Immedtatety theventhery 8 search was condicted in the area of where the whildren were playingy inowd is ‘the garage and the grounds adjacent theretc. by Jooal authorities» fedghbors, and membors of tne SLOMAN and RIDULPH family, and seca ecealiy, by voluntary grouye af search parties. qn this corneucitny Mrs. DAVID STROMBOM who resides at 610 Archie ce, Was accomipansed by Mrs. A.C. CLIPPER, another neighbor, They were using regular flashiignts, end Mrs. neler round a doll severe? feet from the above garage om -118 a @2 wal Din reSay @ . Apo~ wk FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION INTERVIEW REPORT the following investigation was conducted by SA ROBERT L. WILSON: oh December k, 1957, initial contact - wes established by the writer with MICHAEL RIDULPH and FRANCES IVY RIDULPH, 616 Archie Place, Sycamore, Illinois, parents of the victim. r whey advised thet, on December 3, 1957, the vietim alter suppor sometime between 6 and 6215 p.m. went outside to play with her playmoete, KATHY STGNAN, who lives @ few doors awey. Mes, RIDVLPH noted that it was derk at this time, end it wes not her usual custom to perniit VARTA to play outside, but since she ‘ished to go, she gave permisaion. At approxtninbetty, 62 0-p.in., MARTA came“ into the house and inte the living oom, where in a comer of the living room, her_toys end play things are: kapt. This corner 1s known as UNARIA!s corner" in the family-end 1s regerded by the family, ag: the place whore MARTA-could’keop her various belongings. Mrs, RIDULPH seid she noted that “ARIA took up 2 new doll and started to go out with it. She inquired of her what she was doing with the doll, end MARTA replied thet she wes going to take 16 outside ond pley with it with KATHY. Mrs. RIDULPH seid she forbade MARIA to take a new good doll outside where it could be demeged or soiled, and MARIA voturned the doll to her corner. Mrs, RIDULPH seid to the best of her recollection, MARTA then took en older rubber doll outside to ploy. RIWihtm/b Jw. Interview with Mr. ond Mras. MICHAEL RIDUDPH File #.7-806, on__12/4/S7__et_616 Wrthile Pleces Sycamore, Z11inots vy Special Agent ROBERT L. WITSON property of FBI - This report 1s losned to you by the FBI, and neither it nor ite contents are to be distributed outside the agency to which losned. Dibtated: 12/6/57 @ -8782 -110 10+Under subsequent questioning, Mrs» RIDULPH said she could not specifically recall MARTA teking the older doll out but wes positive that she had tsken the older doll ainco sho hed pointed out to MARTA thet she could take en older doll. Mrs. RIDULPH insisted, despite the fact that she did not se@ MARIA bake the doll, that she did. The RIDULPHS recall that about 6159 dem. MARIA'S play- mate, KATAY; came to the side door of, the house, where she talked to CHARLES RIDULPH, their Tl-year-old sone KATHY. told OHARIES ‘that "MARTA is: lost." Ub, ond Mrs. RIDULPH werd tmable bo sneviticdlly ve~ eal Whether KATHY left ond returned s ahort-white. later to peport that, dhe and MARIA had been, playing on: she; corner of Archie Place and Center Cross Strest shout! 190 feet. away where they met p-young min, or whether sie made this atatemont on: her first eet. * Lpams they ARTA» ghey seid they searched the tt medieté apes around the totise and the corner without vauctessipnd then Mrs. RIDULPH seid she wished to call the polices” She seid; however, that her busband was opposed to this as 46 might be embarrassing and. MARIA Would undoubtedly turn up in a few moments. After Surther wiandcessfyl search, they called the police. at approximately 7350 pets \ s “Buriig thie interval, ‘they: learned from KATHY, who ts @:yours old, thet sho and NARIA had been plsying by, the very large bros at the sbove-mentioned comer When they were approscted by & young man who said bis nome wea JOHNNY, stating he would give thema ride in a bus, truck, or cary and offered them pigsy-back rides. contider the matter too seriously and then? avs Went out to the comer and began to search for’ ‘ihe RIDUDPHs indicated fora Pew a thay did not After calling the police, neighbors end officers searched the rea, end NARTAts doll yas found near the garage at the rear of the house located at 515 Center Cross Stroct. We, and Mrs, RIDULPH said théy have no lmown enemies, have lived in the area for many years, and are on good terms withSUSPECT - JOHN SAMUEL CHERRY, ake. John Samuel Tessier On December 6, 1957, Deputy Sheriff GLORGE GOULD, DeKelb County Sheriff's Office, Sycemore, Illinois, DeKalb, advised SA JEROME: F, NOLAN thet he had just received en enonymous teleohone call from a woman who refused to identify herself, but stuted that a boy nemed TRESCHNER, ege sbout 20, blond heir, lived in the neighborhood of the victim. Deputy Sheriff GOULD stated that there wes no further conversation nor information supplied by this woman. On December 10, 1957, Deputy Sheriff GOULD wes re~ contacted by SA DAVID L, BURTON end he odvised at this time thet the TRESCHNER previously reported to SA NOLAN wes in fect a TESSIER fomily who reside at 227 Center Cross in Sycemore. He stoted he did not have eny reoson to suspect any member of the TESSIER femily as possibly being involved in the diseppeerance of the victim other than the fect that the oldest TESSIER boy is nemed JOHN and he meets the generel description of the Unimown Subject. He olso stated he has never heard of eny member of the TESSIEN femily being involved in criminel action. On December 6, 1957, Mr. RALPH TESSIEK, 227 Center Cross Street, Sycamore, L1linois, sdvised SAs FRANK L. MELLOST end DAVID L. BURTON thot he had discussed with his wife, BILILN, the fact thet their son JOHN TESSIER might fall under suspicion inesmuch as he is approximately 5' 6" tall, 19 years of age, hes blond hair, and his first name is JOHN. He stated that his son wes in Rockford, Illinois, et the Air Force recruiting office on the evening of December 3, 1957, end thet he pleced a2 collect cell from Rockford to the TESSIER home et sbout 7:10 p.m. on thet evening. He further steted thet his son : hed been in Chicego, Illinois, on the Monday preceding December. 3, 19573 after being rejected for induction dihto the Air Force because of e spot on’his lung he hed returned to Rockford on December 3, 1957.Fas 4071 | Hires ELLEEN TESST ed on December 8, he stzeted that her son, Illinsis, on the ever thut Bex husbend, their son st spore: p hed solled colleot e¢ shout 7:10 in wotkford ond wes veedy. to. come Ac: hed eitempted ‘to enlist in the Air > beceu ©. of g Spoten his lung, She Gisoyzeed With Her husband the possi to the! >. ton!» whereabcuss onthe ni theht erise-dus bo the atwnilay meta, Ghe Geseripttion of the Gnknaun fyi the newspapers. 227 Senter Cross, wes sine iin ILLOTT end BURTON smi 2 hed been in Rockford, 1957. She advised exford end nicked. up 4 evening efter hey ‘JOBN. zi pdvise them thet he w ne iteted thet JOHN On December €, 1957, JOHY SaMUEL CHEERY wee lacsted et 227 Center Oross end he edvised:8as DAVID L. BURTGR amd FSA L, MFLLOG? thet CHERRY, which is ie $1 name, ‘wes ms oe at hic true fother wee killed in Moric. wer I1,. pad nbse : bbe none aM bis stopfether, Sestiire, sien chough he nee ace, Seo 8. sbepfether. ether Atebed thr tle wes the nanie 7; ha. He Sar iB genase suspect in the kidnersing of yess. Sr: < es te lived in the neighborhood und meets the Wes tse y of the Unknown Subject inusmuch es he hee eae Bea ee age whatcoever of the viabimt= diseppearance and thet he Ww. dn eny, vey Lavolvea, wk: victim. He further oteted t he knew both AATHY ST Gi, viotim well end as for as he knew Me Wis well known by 2° recognized by both of these children, Fee 5 TESSIER advised thet on the night the victim 4 from the corner of Archie Plece and Center Cross, he wes Rookford, Illinois, wheré he had returned from Choego e. rejected es 6 result of © physical exemination for industicon the Air Force. He steted, thot he hed gone to Chicugo to the physical examinetion, He edvised thet efter tL was he hed the spot on his lung and they told him thet he sul eoceptable into the militery service but could in one J teking the physical exeminetion if the spot on the lung, 1 fo be en old or dorment spot, he would then be socepted. fhithh edviced thet he told the induction officials thet he hu; 1d the spot.on his lung since age three, whereupon they inform :) hii thy he could produce evidence of that. face he would be nooentedoe 7-806» into the service, He ‘stated that he was given a slip of paper, the contents of which he does not remember, to deliver to his recruiting sergeant at such time as he was dismissed from the examining center. QESSIER informed that the officiels at tho examining center requested that he stay overnight in Chicago on the ‘evening of December 2, end that in complying with tho request he was housed at the YHCA Hotel located on South \abash in Chicago. TESSIER steted that on Tuesday after obtaining his railroad ticket from the Air Froce Recruiter he walked through the downtown area of Chicago, went Into several shows and then caughtes a train out at about 5:00 p.m bound for Rockford, Illinois. He advised that on the train he rode with an individual whose namo he could not recall but remembered that this person was head of the Civil Defense for the Rockford area, He further stated that he arrived in Rockford at about 6:35 p.m., left the train station and walked directly to the United States Post Office, Rockford, in an attempt to locate the Air Force Recruiter there and deliver the paper which had been given him by the oxamining station official, TRSSIER advised upon arrival at the Post Office he found the Recruiting Office closed. fle stated he then wont to the front of the Fost Office where he found a telephone and called his perents in Sycamore requesting that they come and pick him up. ESSIEN advised that he placed his cel about 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday ovening. He informed that he also placed a call from Rockford to his girlfriend in Sycamore, and talked with her long enough to make a date for 9:00 Qtelock that evening. THSSIET: also stated that after leaving the phone booth he observed an Air Force Officor, approached this officer and requested bim to help in the location of the Recruiting Sergeant at Rockford, He stated this officer whoso name he does not recall took him to the third floor of the Tost Office building to a point that apoeared to be of some official connection with the Air Morce, and introduced him to a Sergeant of the Air Force Reserve. At that point TESSIER advised he could not remember the name of this Sergeant. He advised, however, that this Sergeant gave him the number and he placed a call to the Recruiting Sergeent and upon conferring with the Recruiting Sergeant was instructed to leave the paper, which he had brought from Chicago, at the point from which he was making the call and that it would be picked up by the Recruiting Sergeant on the next dey, He stated that ie then left the Post, Office |and“went to coffee. TESSIER and secure his saving kit whish he hed left there while attempting to locate the Air Fores Reoruiter. He stated he then returned to the restaurant finished his order and fient outside to a point in front of the Post Office where he waited for his fether, TLSSTER advised that his father arrived sometime aftor 8:00 ang they went inmediately from Rockford to Sycamore. fie informed that their route took them through a point calied Cherry Valley and that hed mbered be was 20 ninutes late for hic date, which he had previously made by telephone, SUSSTim. advised he arent fro axproxinotes 9320 untit about 1 230-with bis Girlfriend then returned fo his home and joined the ‘searohera in an attempt to locate the victim. He also. stated that et that tine he. Was Mavens of tho description. of the ‘uilmown subjedt and ee attempting to aid in the search for MARTA * FSSSIBR further advised that he 1s not at th: pate @ citizen of the United States: tur hos bis frst papers for sath oo als He stated that he came to, this country in 1ohh op with bis mother who had married pis stepfather in imgland attes nos real father had been illed ih Worla Wer It, we seckoy he bad not obtained b: titizenship papers prior to this tine inasmuch aa he had keen infortied ho could not start citizenship procedure - * until after he reached his 18th birthaay, . Qn December 10, 1957, "ESSTER was rointervieuea ot the Golden Hervest Hotel, Highway 23, Sycamore, T11inoi#,. y wy ae shania. EeeG 7-806 by SAs-CURTIS B. THOMPSON and SA BURTON. this time that at en early age, Which he de! ten years, he had been involved with some s younger sister but had not for the past {n any such acts. Ho denied that he had had any such activities with any other girls, his own age, Je algo:denied that the ddaeppearance of the vietim and that hi TRSSIER adyised at soribed as under ex play with e years participated ther younger then he or be had any Jmowledge of e did not: Imow of any person vho might be atle to supply aétual,-information regarding HARIA's abi The following’ is CHERRY also Imown as JOHN Sal fuction. a description of JOHN SAMUEL observation and interview on. December Nanio Also known es Address ‘ Height Weight _Date of birth... Plece of birth “Age “i , Entored U.S. Hair | Eyes * Build" * * Charactertatics Gomplextor Relatives: ate JOH! SANUDM JO SAMUEY Gross 227 Cen 510 3/4 te! a VUEL TESSIER as was obtained by amg 10, 1957: ‘Ly2 pounds November 27, 1939 _ Belfast, Irelend 18 “ 194 or 1945 at New Yo Blond, wavy Blue B'tinear scer lower right abdomen (appendectomy -scar) 1" linear scar inner side right wrist, Slender aone on face Pair Mother, IELEEN TESSIER ‘StepFather, Stepsisters, RALPH E. TESSIER, OATH’ TRAN SANE! YY TESSIER, ‘age 23 TESSIER, age 10 I TESSIER, age ‘Stepbrother, ROBERT TESSIER, ere © Eil-above 227 Center Cross, “Sycamore, Illinois. Presently unemployed, awilting Air Force enlistment. Lag =, yy $ 9 ~120i ROBERT SHACK, 222 Siete i Sycamore, T1iinote Stock eoupetion® Gitizenship " Avreste Education , The following information | was * edbd va by SA JOEN Wwe ) Ip. on December “10, 1957! a “ - Staff Sergeant JON ‘eaviene telephoniceliy that t fcember 2,. 1957, Lor a: aie thon,” ae thet-time beosase of o ea bit ungs, “He ‘stated’ tnet id been requested to atay over in Chicepo for 6 Fe-exomincti aioh re-exemination wes afforded him-on the morning .of .: December 35,1957. Bes. wes again rejected: for the same’ “Heeaon,@ an) Cas Ape OSWALD stated that CHERRY told him that He was given a train ticket to Rockford, Tllinois by the tin Foroo. OSWALD a tted that this is a highly irregular proceduye and that he gelephonically contacted Chicago bo verity ess story, at teseptiine ne learned that the train tleket had pect furnished by the Aruy Reserve Unit located ab, 615 dest Vanburen, and no by PRfcation of the information could be obtained ab the timo ve palling. OSWALD stated that in his opinion, dpregardless Cf Who issues the train ticket, 1t would have been nighly Seremular that a ticket ta tookford would have boon issued jhon CHERRY's home is in Sycamore and papers reflecting wieany's hone would have been in front of the person issuing the ticket. OSWALD stated that CHERRY had told him that after his rejection he hed visited some burlesque shows in Chicago some time between 12 noon and 5:15 p.m. However, the names some tte places visited were vio mentioned. | CHERRY further Stated that he took the Diib p.la. trains which according to OSWALD would have arrived in Rockford, Tilinois, at approxi~ mately 6:45 p.m. OSWALD stated that CHERRY apparently proceeded to e the Post Office where he personally contacted Colonel FNU THBERWIIZ, Air Force Reserve Conmander, at. approximately 7218 or 7:30 pam. It is noted that LIBERWTLZ 2s reportedly Tee’ covowner of the Liberwita Srothere Machine! or Manufacturing Compeny in Rockford, CHERRY reportedly told LIBERWIW%s that, he hed been directed by tho office in Unicago to report to the Recruiting Gitice in Rockford, Illinois, Waich story LIBERW Ty found ‘ Birricult to believe inasmuch as it is known that the Recruiting Gffice is net open in the evening, OSWALD stated that LIBSWIT expressed tho opinion that CHERRY gave the appearance of being a Mmarcotic", and told LIBERWITZ that he had been rejectas bvowiee he was unstable. 2 According to information, LIBEAWLTZ directed CHERRY to the 3rd floor recruiting office where CHERRY contacted fechnical Sergeant JOHN FROOM, FROOM, according to (ALD, stated thet during his conversation with CHERH, CHMIKY appeat Sowildered and looked and acted like a ‘lost sheep", xouh also stated that CHERRY said to him that he was going to contact his father in Sycamore and have his father come and get him, ee et @Fipo-4oN) - On Decémber*, 1957, OSWALD steted thet CHERRY returned to the Recruiting Office in Rockford, snd during the course of their conversation, CHERRY mentioned thet 16 was'a good thing he wos not in Sycamore last night beceuse of the diseppearance of the girl. According to OSWALD, no detaile of the digeppearance were discussed except that CHERRY mentioned seprohing parties hed been ell over the eres looking for her. CHERRY further mentioned thet he would not be considered # suspect because hie girlfriend's fether was 8 Denuty Sheriff, OSWALD stated that his con~ yersotion with CHLRRY wes interrupted by © phone call from his lendledy, Mrs. GRIMES, ond thet during the conversetion qith her he mentioned her neme. &t the conclusion of the conversetion, CHERRY asked something to the effect, "Is she reloted to the GRIMES girls?", whereupon OSWALD seid he hed no ides and ssked for deteils, ot which time CHERRY appeared well reed on the GRIMES cose in Chicsgo. During the course of their conversation, OSWALD stated thet CHERRY showed him # "little bleck book" which conteined the names end sddresses of girls in Sycamore, os well ss their bust end hip meesurements. , ‘ --: QSWALD- stated that he hed not seen CHERRY on the night of December 3and his first contect with him was on the morning of December , @t which time CHERRY wes wearing #n odd colored, fleshy shirt (epperently conventional typey not) sifpon) with @ string neoktie. The color of his ay eleoks wos unrecalled, We wes weoring @ brown jacket mede of e e fuzzy meteriel and no het. OSWALD said he noticed e slight |} cut ecross the upper lip of CHERRY but added the cut eppeared to be fresh end could heve been done while shaving. H No further investigetion is being conducted regarding the ebove suspect, in view of the above informotion. se@ @ “fet 6y cg 7-806 of ‘the unlmown subject and was further suspected because of his eagerness to assist in the search for the missing girl on the night of December 3, 1957. SA DAVID L, BURTON assisted in this interview. The recorded reactions on the polygraph charts did not reflect evidence of guilty Imowledge or Implication by TESSIER in this matter, It is believed that he was a proper subject for such a test and would have reacted significantly if he had been involved. ADMINISTRATIVE RE SUSPECT JOHN SAMUEL TESSIER, \ ake John ‘Semel Cherty e a ee € i”, e Mr. DAN SCHAEFER, general manbgeny, Sy#amore-Ogle Telephone Company, Sycamore, Illinois, on December 9, 1957, 4nformed. SA DAVID L. BURTON that his company vooords reflected a collect call was placed on telephone number 2-9297, Rockford, Illinois, on December 3, 1957, to number 3257, Sycamore, Illinois, at approximately 6:57 p.m, on that date, This latter numbor is listed to one RALPH E, TESSLs and according to his records, the call was made by ono Ji S. TASSIER, Mr, SCHAEFER was of the opinion that the spelling of the name TASSIER was merely a spelling error on the part of the operator who handled the call, He aise stated that this call lasted until 6:59 p.m, and that it was accepted by the THSSIER family In Sycamore, LEADS re af aaalGtollil .agpeeey Repqrts of SA SOL B, DE! 7 report investigation condusted ieago dated 12/11/57 avid 12/17/5735 % Report of SA RAYMOND A, DRISCOLL at Chicago dated 12/13/57,Schmack, Richard Harrolle, Crystal Tuesday, March 08, 2016 8:24 AM ‘Schmack, Richard; Tom McCulloch Subject: FW: COLONIAL THEODORE IEBOVICH Attachments: image003,jpg From: Ted Liebovich [mailto:Ted@Liebovichlaw.com] ‘Sent: Monday, March 07, 2016 4:18 PM To: Harrolle, Crystal ‘Subject: COLONIAL THEODORE LIEBOVICH Dear Ms. Harrolle: In response to your inquiry regarding the communication with the illinois State Police with regard to my Uncle Theodore Liebovich, please be advised as follows. Ihad received a telephone call several years ago from a man who identified himself as an investigator with the Illinois, State Police. He stated that he was investigating a cold file and wanted to know if | was Theodore Liebovich who was a Colonial in the U.S. Air Force. | told him that | was not in the Air Force and he was probably looking for my Uncle Theodore Liebovich who resided in Los Angeles, California. The investigator wanted to know if my Uncle Ted was a recruiter for the Air Force in the mid to late 1950's. 1 responded that to the best of my knowledge he could have been and | seem to vaguely recall that his serving in this capacity. | further advised the investigator that my Uncle had moved bback to Los Angeles from Rockford at approximately 1965. He had resided in Rockford from about 1956 to 1965. Prior to that he had lived in Los Angeles since just before WWII. ‘The investigator advised me that the suspect had used my Uncle as an alibi stating that at the time of the alleged crime he was at dinner with my Uncle discussing recruitment into the U.S. Air Force. The conversation allegedly took place somewhere in the greater Rockford area. | believe | advised the investigator that my Uncle was not in good health and he should attempt to contact him in Los Angeles either directly or through one of his children. My Uncle Ted is now deceased. | believe he died in October of 2014. The conversation with the State Investigator did not last more than 10 minutes. Ted Liebovich THEODORE LIEBOVICH LIEBOVICH & WEBER, P.C. 415 South Mulford Road Rockford, IL 61108 815-226-8912 Circular 230 Disclosure: Any statements regarding tax matters made herein, including any attachments, cannot be relied upon by any person to avoid tax penalties and are not intended to be used or referred to in any marketing ‘or promotional materials. To the extent this communication contains a tax statement or tax advice, 1‘Taken, Chapter 3: Bulldogs on the case - CNN.com hittp:/www.cnn,com/interactive/2013/08/us/oldest-cold-case/ch3.html Sof 12 piggyback ride to win her trust. Hanley unearthed the story of another piggyback ride three or four years earlier. Only in this case the litte girl had lived to tell about it. Pamela Long said she wa from the neighborhood gave her the ride. There was no doubt who he was: Long knew John Tessier by name, Neighborhood kids thought he was weird ‘and called him "Commando." ‘His grandparents lived directly behind her family's home in the nicest part of| town ‘She recalled how he walked up and down the street wearing camouflage pants and waving a wooden sword. She wasn't supposed to play with him, but she couldn't. resist a piggyback ride. It so upset her father that he pulled her off the teen's back, sternly warned him to stay away and reported the incident to Sycamore police. After Maria ‘was taken, FBI agents showed up at school to question Long about that piggyback ride. Whatever she told them, it wasn’t enough to keep "Commando" on the list of suspects. ‘Long's father announced at the supper table: He'd better havea damn good ali A new timeline ‘The timeline of events on December 3, 1957 ~ and John Tessier’ alibi — were central issues in the investigation. Kot believed ‘misinformation and faulty conclusions had entered the case during its carly hours. He began building a detailed timeline to test those old assumptions. It took months to gather al the documents scattered among the Sycamore ae police, Ilinois State Police and the FBI archives. But Kot's paper chase Muek stbe weap. brought in thousands of pages, which he studied, tabbed and organized in treat ard now binders. His timeline grew to cover threé walls of his office. And as he looked changed ‘loser, he saw that there were only two sources for Tessier’ alibi: Tessier ‘himself and his parents. ‘Tessier said he was in Chicago the morning of Tuesday, December 3, taking a . physical to gain entry into the U.S. Air Force. Kot was able to verify that. But ne he learned that Tessier left the recruiting station by noon that day. He later Tercera ‘was seen in Rockford, nearly 90 miles from Chicago, at about 7:15 pan. But arom there was nothing to verify his whereabouts between noon and 7:15 p.m. which means he easily could have returned to Sycamore before showing up in bonus" Rockford. ae Initial reports sot Maria's disappearance at about 7 p.m. But reading the old cso aos files, Kot realized that information may have been injected into the ease by the 9/3/15 4:81 PM.Taken, Chapter 3: Bulldogs on the ease - CNN.com bttp://anww.cnn,cominteractivel2013/08/us/oldest-cold-case/ch3 hip [kidnapper himself. When Kathy ran home to fetch her mittens, she asked “Johnny" what time it was, and he told her it was 7 p.m. Kot dug up an Ilinois State Police report dated July 27, 1958 - three months after Maria's body was found. "We feel certain facts may have been overlooked," it began, concluding that Maria had been taken earlier than initially reported, and that her abductor had probably escaped by running up the alley and jumping into a car parked on a back street. ‘And s0, Kot homed in on facts that had been ignored earlier because they diet fit the originsl 7 p.m. timeline. Phone records and other details fleshed out after the first chaotic days ofthe investigation had prompted the girls’ mothers to adjust what they believed to be the timing of events. At first, ‘Maria's mother said the girls went outside at 6:g0 and that Maria eame back in for her doll at 6:40. Later, she said Maria could have gone out as early as 10 minutes to 6. Kathy's mother set the precise time at 6:02 p.m. although the reason for her precision has been lost to time, Matia's mother pulled out of her driveway at 5 p.m. taking daughter Kay to a music lesson, Frances Ridulph recalled ‘waving to the girls, who were playing in the street infront of the house. ‘Kot examined closely the accounts ofthe most neutral, credible witnesses at the time: A heating ol deliveryman and a cty bus driver, ‘Tom Braddy knew Kathy Sigman and her family, and he recalled that she ‘waved at him as he stopped to deliver ol atthe big white house on the comer of Archie Place and Center Cross Street, where the girls were playing. He estimated he got there about 6 p.m. and spent 15 to 20 minutes deiveritig his Toad. He noticed the time on a clock at a service station as he headed back to his office: 6:20. He did not see the girls on the comer as he let. ‘city bus passed by that corner at 6:30 pan. The river said he saw no one there. ‘Kot concluded that Maria was taken no later than (6:20 pan If Tessier parked his car in the back alley where Maria's doll was found, he could have headed straight to Rockford with Maria in his ear, It was a 40-mile trip, give or take a few miles, but there would have been little traffic on the back roads in 1957, and he easily could have made it to Rockford in less than an hour, ‘collect phone call placed in Rockford to the ‘Tessier home ~ a key piece of John's alibi — als fit nto the new timeline, Phone records showed the collect call was placed at 6:57 p.m. but they didn’t pinpoint where in Rockford the call was made, Tessier could have Soft2 9/3/15 4:11 PM‘Taken, Chapter 3: Bulldogs on the case - CNN.com hittp:/twww enn. comvinteractive/2013/08husoldest-cold-case/ch3 tml 1Wof 12 Poot har suspect Thay malt called home from a pay phone on the outskirts of tov, Maybe, Kot thought, Tessier’s alibi wasn't so ironclad afterall. Maybe the phone cal from Rockford wasn't Tessier asking his stepfather to pick him up station there, as he'd maintained, Maybe the call was made ‘anyone was looking for Maria yet. at the reeruitin by anervous Tessier wanting to se As they drilled down deeper into the ease, Kot and Hanley also found a reason why Syeamore police might not have taken a closer look at Tessier as a suspect. It was a small town and everybody knew everybody else. His stepfather, Ralph, was friendly with the police chief, William Hindenburg, ‘John himself had volunteered to the Air Force recruiter that he'd never be a ‘suspect in the gil's disappearance because his girlfriend's father worked for the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. ‘The girlfriend, then known as Jan Edwards, was part of his story, too. He seid they met for a date at about 9:20 that nigh, after his stepfather picked him up {n Rockford and brought him home, Kot and Hanley tracked her to Florida, ‘where she and her husband had retired. She agreed to talk about her old high school boyfriend, but only if she could have her lawyer with her. She was a reluctant witness, perhaps, but she gave Hanley and Kot one of their biggest breaks, ‘She told the cops she never saw Tessier on the night of December 3. Her parents were so upset about the abduction of Maria, so afraid a crazed kidnapper was on the loose, they wouldn't let her out of the house. Hanley asked whether Edwards had a good picture of John from 1957. He hoped to show a photo lineup to Maria's friend, Kathy, who had seen and talked to "Johnny," the kidnapper. ‘Because Tessier was expelled from school, there was no 1957 yearbook photo of him that accurately showed what he looked like then. ‘What are the chances someone would save a photo from a high school dance half century ago? Jan Edwards told the cops she'd take look. She called a few days later. Yes, she had found a picture of Jobn. It was taken at a formal {n June 1957. She'd be happy to mail it, ‘When the photo arrived at the state police offices in Elgin, outside Chicago, Hanley was pleased he had something he could work with. On the back was a bonus: It was signed, "Love, Johnny.” Another break came when he pulled the photo from its eardboard frame, A ‘small, yellowed square of paper fluttered out. It appeared to be a goverment {issued train ticket. Tessier was supposed to use it to travel to Chicago for his {induction physical on December 2. The train would leave from Rockford; there was no passenger train from Sycamore SN3/S 4:11 PM.