‘Not on my watch’ Pt. II: Preparing, executing inquest into death of Jackson Kradle

CARROLL COUNTY, Ill. – A small town attorney and a rural Illinois county coroner secured a homicide verdict through an inquest into the death of Jackson Kradle more than two months before any criminal charges were filed.

Watch Part 2 of ‘Not On My Watch’

In the early morning hours of July 28, 2024, two off-duty employees with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office used a non-emergency phone line to report finding a body on Route 78 just north of Mt. Carroll.

More than three months later, without answers from authorities, it was revealed those two employees had resigned from their respective positions after learning they were subjects of two investigations in connection to the death of Kradle.

In November, Carroll County Coroner Matthew Jones released the cause of death showing Kradle died after being struck by single vehicle traveling at a high speed. He also announced there would be an inquest held to publicly determine the manner of death; Accident, Suicide or Homicide.

A coroner’s inquest is a formal court proceeding where evidence and witness testimony is presented to a jury.

Jones deputized his stepfather John LeComte, a practicing attorney, to assist him in planning and executing the inquest.

After two long and frigid January days at the Carroll County Courthouse in Mt. Carroll, the coroner’s jury ruled Kradle’s death a homicide, alleging the driver of the suspected truck that ran over Kradle had been drinking alcohol for several hours when the collision occurred.

The alleged driver of the truck was identified as now-former Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Herpstreith. His passenger was identified as now-former Carroll County Dispatcher, and Savanna Ambulance paramedic, Amy Hubble.

The inquest revealed Illinois State Police had inspected Herpstreith’s truck where DNA matching Kradle was found. Audio of state police investigators interviewing Herpstreith and Hubble were also played.

Video of a man appearing to be Herpstreith pulling into a Savanna car wash to clean the bottom of his truck shortly after being released from the scene Kradle was found was played during the inquest contradicting what Herpstreith initially told police.

Witness testimony, in tandem with video showing Herpstreith and Hubble leaving a local bar before the alleged collision, suggested the two were likely intoxicated around the time Kradle was killed.

More than two months later, in March, Special Prosecutor Charles Colburn formally charged Herpstreith with multiple felonies, including Reckless Homicide, Reckless Conduct and Obstructing Justice.

This summer, I sat down with both Jones and LeComte for an exclusive interview to hear how they prepared and executed the inquest together to bring the truth to light for a community still reeling from the tragedy.

Watch Part 1 of ‘Not On My Watch’

Audio & Video provided by White Pigeon Creative • Joe Gibbs.

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