FOOTSTEPS IN THE SNOW

The true story of the coldest cold case in American history — the kidnapping and murder of a seven-year-old girl and how it came to be solved a remarkable 55 years after the crime was committed.

December 3, 1957. Sycamore, Illinois. Christmas was just three weeks away, and Maria Ridulph was giddy with anticipation. At the Ridulph home at 616 Archie Place, Maria had just eaten dinner. Outside, it was snowing, just a dusting, but Maria was jumping up and down, she was so eager to experience the first snowfall of the winter. Her best friend who lived five houses away came over to play, and off the two girls went into the night.

Out of nowhere, the girls saw what looked like the boogeyman, making his way down Center Cross Street, his shape blurry in the falling snow. They had never seen him before. He walked up to them and introduced himself, said his name was Johnny. He appeared to be an easygoing stranger. He made small talk with Maria and Kathy, then asked the girls whether they liked piggyback rides. When they said, sure, he lowered his back and told Maria to hop on. Kathy watched Maria go down the street on Johnny’s shoulders, and when they returned, Maria was squealing with delight. As Kathy recalled, “Johnny asked Maria if she liked dolls. Maria ran into her house to get her favorite dolly.” Maria returned a minute later clutching the six-inch doll, and showed it off to Johnny. He told her he couldn’t believe how pretty it was. At that point, Kathy recalls, she told Johnny that her hands were getting cold. She needed her mittens, and she’d be right back. Off she scampered. Just two minutes later, when Kathy got back, it was bizarre. Maria was gone. Just gone. And so was Johnny. The young girl's body was found the following spring.

For fifty years the mystery of the child's death lingered over the small town – until a mother's deathbed confession stunned her family. She told them that she had lied to the police to hide the guilt of her own son. Thus starts a new investigation that leads to justice and the closing of the coldest case in the history of American jurisprudence.

Charles Lachman is the executive producer of TV’s Inside Edition. He is also the author of The Last Lincolns and A Secret Life. He lives and works in New York City.