Mt. Carroll officer dropped from Kradle lawsuit, Sheriff’s Office redirects blame
CARROLL COUNTY, Ill. – The Mt. Carroll police officer, who allowed the man allegedly responsible for Jackson Kradle’s death to leave the scene, has been dropped from the family’s wrongful death lawsuit. Scott Marth has been a police officer in Carroll County since 1996. He was hired full-time with the Mt. Carroll Police Department in…
Savanna Ambulance argues agency not liable for conduct of paramedic who declared Jackson Kradle dead
SAVANNA, Ill. – The Savanna Community Ambulance Association (SCAA) argues their agency is not responsible for an off-duty paramedic’s alleged misconduct at scene where Jackson Kradle died. The SCAA is a private nonprofit organization who has been contracted with the City of Savanna to provide ambulance services since 2003, according to the city. The paramedic…
Savanna Chief withdraws from primary race against Carroll County Sheriff
SAVANNA, Ill. – Savanna Police Chief Donald Stephens has formally withdrawn from the Republican primary race against Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Kloepping. Stephens has worked for the Savanna Police Department since Dec. 2021 and became Chief in Nov. 2023. He intended to challenge incumbent Kloepping in the Republican primary for Sheriff in March. On Nov.…
Criminal case against former deputy charged in death of Jackson Kradle continued for 90 days
MT. CARROLL, Ill. – The criminal case against a former deputy charged in the death of Jackson Kradle is continued for 90 days. Matthew Herpstreith, 44, appeared in court Friday for a pretrial status hearing alongside defense attorney Joe Nack. Special Prosecutor Charles Colburn represented the State. Herpstreith faces multiple felony charges including Reckless Homicide…
State agency affirms paramedic who declared Jackson Kradle dead violated local EMS policies
CARROLL COUNTY, Ill. – A letter sent from the Illinois Department of Public Health says a local EMS organization identified violations in connection to an off-duty paramedic on the day Jackson Kradle was killed. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) declined to comment further about the case but did confirm the…
‘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…
‘Not on my watch’: Meet the Coroner who broke Jackson Kradle homicide case wide open
CARROLL COUNTY, Ill. – A family and community were rocked one year ago after an 18-year-old Mt. Carroll man was found dead in the road. The man who died was 2024 West Carroll High School graduate Jackson Kradle, who had recently turned 18 when he was struck and killed by a vehicle in the early…
Judge finds probable cause in case against former deputy charged in death of Jackson Kradle
MT. CARROLL, Ill. – A judge found sufficient probable cause to proceed in the case against a former Carroll County deputy charged in the death of Jackson Kradle after the lead investigator was cross-examined by the prosecution and defense during Friday’s preliminary hearing. Matthew Herpstreith, 44, faces multiple felony charges including Reckless Homicide and Obstructing…
Defense files motion to substitute judge in Jackson Kradle homicide case
MT. CARROLL, Ill. – The attorney representing a former Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy charged in the death of Jackson Kradle filed a motion Monday requesting a substitution for the judge assigned to the homicide case. Now-former deputy Matthew Herpstreith, 44, faces multiple felony charges including Reckless Homicide and Obstructing Justice. He is accused of striking…
Former deputy pleads Not Guilty as pressure mounts on passenger, first-responding officer
MT. CARROLL, Ill. – A former Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy charged in the death of Jackson Kradle pleaded Not Guilty in court Wednesday as pressure mounts on his passenger and the Mt. Carroll police officer who allowed them to leave the scene where Jackson was killed. Now-former deputy Matthew Herpstreith, 44, faces multiple felony charges…
Court filing shows possible defense strategy of former deputy charged in death of Jackson Kradle
MT. CARROLL, Ill. – A former Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy is set to be arraigned in court this week after being formally accused of striking and killing Jackson Kradle, 18, with his truck last July. Despite switching to a Lee County judge, the Carroll County Circuit Clerk confirmed to me Monday arraignment will still be…
Coroner’s Inquest Transcripts
Initial police reports.
Timeline of key moments.
~ 3:20am July 28, 2024
Off-duty deputy Matthew Herpstreith (driver) and Off-duty paramedic, dispatcher Amy Hubble (passenger) leave Mt. Carroll headed north on Route 78.
~ 3:31am July 28, 2024
Herpstreith uses non-emergency line to report a body in the roadway just north of Mt. Carroll on Route 78. Dispatcher Rebecca Frederick takes the call.
~ 3:36am July 28, 2024
Mt. Carroll Officer Scott Marth arrives on scene and speaks with Herpstreith and Hubble before allowing them both to leave.
~ 3:46am July 28, 2024
Carroll County Deputy Josi Anderson arrives on scene but both Herpstreith and Hubble are gone.
~ 4:03am July 28, 2024
Herpstreith on video at Savanna Car Wash spraying his truck.
~ 5:00am July 28, 2024
Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator Jeff Thew arrives on scene.
~ 5:14am July 28, 2024
Carroll County Coroner Matthew Jones notified.
~ 5:56am July 28, 2024
Jones and his deputy Jacob Casey arrive on scene.
~ 6:11am July 28, 2024
Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Kloepping talks with Herpstreith by phone.
~ 6:41am July 28, 2024
Herpstreith writes Voluntary Statement at Sheriff’s Office and leaves it in Kloepping’s mailbox.
~ 11:25am July 28, 2024
Illinois State Police contacted to take over investigation.
~ 1:20pm July 28, 2024
Illinois State Police first interview with Hubble.
~ 1:44pm July 28, 2024
Illinois State Police first interview with Herpstreith.
~ 6:47pm July 28, 2024
Thew inspects Herpstreith’s truck.
~ 9:11pm July 28, 2024
Thew tests biological material from truck for human tissue.
~ 12:42pm July 29, 2024
Illinois State Police second interview with Herpstreith.
~ 12:54pm July 29, 2024
Illinois State Police second interview with Hubble.
~ 3:20pm July 29, 2024
Kloepping notifies Herpstreith he is subject of internal investigation.
~ 5:25pm July 29, 2024
Kloepping notifies Hubble she is subject of internal investigation.
~ 1:37pm July 30, 2024
Kloepping notifies department Herpstreith and Hubble are placed on administrative leave.
~ 10:15am July 31, 2024
Hubble resigns.
~ 10:22am July 31, 2024
Herpstreith resigns.
~ August 5, 2024
Illinois State Police announces there is a ‘person of interest.’ Carroll County State’s Attorney Aaron Kaney recuses himself and a Special Prosecutor is assigned to case.
~ September 5, 2024
Illinois State Police Special Agent Matthew Kipping submitted his report to the special prosecutor showing the DNA in the biological material found on Herpstreith’s truck was a match for Jackson.
~ November 6, 2024
Kloepping releases phone calls and internal documents.
~ November 7, 2024
Kloepping sends out press release.
~ November 9, 2024
Jones releases cause of death, announces he will do a coroner’s inquest.
~ November 11, 2024
KWQC makes phone calls and internal documents public.
~ November 22, 2024
Dispatcher Rebecca Frederick is fired.
~ November 26, 2024
Illinois Department of Public Health affirms EMS policies were violated.
~ January 16, 2025
Coroner’s jury rules death a Homicide.
~ March 24, 2025
Criminal charges filed against Herpstreith.
~ April 23, 2025
Herpstreith pleads Not Guilty. He is booked and released at the Carroll County Jail.
Criminal case is ongoing.
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