Cold-Case Convict Grateful For His New Freedom
(CBS) – Seventy-six-year-old Jack McCullough was sentenced to die in prison for the 1957 murder of a Sycamore, Ill. girl.
But after a two-hour hearing Friday at the DeKalb County Courthouse, McCullough went from a man serving a life sentence to a man with a new lease on life.
Later, in civilian clothes and reunited with his family, he told CBS 2 he was "coming from an environment where you can't do anything to one where you can do anything."
"You kind of know what freedom is," he said of his transition.
Four years ago, McCullough was convicted of the 1957 murder of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph, who was abducted and later found dead. But the current state's attorney in DeKalb County announced recently that evidence showed McCullough had a solid alibi when the murder occurred.
"Not everyone that's in prison is a bad guy," McCullough said when CBS 2 caught up with him.
He added: "I'm just happy to be out."
Members of Maria's family wonder if they'll ever see justice.
Technically, McCullough's conviction was vacated. He could face another trial. He has been ordered not to leave Illinois.