Case Timeline: Jackson Kradle

Map of Mount Carroll, Illinois, highlighting Lowden Road and a marked location, with a person wearing a KJB hoodie shown in an inset.

3:31am July 28, 2024
Matthew Herpstreith, accompanied by Amy Hubble, uses non-emergency phone line to report there is a body in the roadway just north of Mt. Carroll on Route 78. Carroll County Dispatcher Rebecca Frederick receives the call.
3:36am July 28, 2024
Mt. Carroll Police 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 have already left the scene.
4:03am July 28, 2024
A man police say is Herpstreith is seen on security surveillance video pulling into the Savanna Car Wash and spraying the bottom of a truck matching the description of Herpstreith’s Dodge Ram 1500.
5:00am July 28, 2024
Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator Jeff Thew arrives on scene to document, collect and secure evidence.
5:14am July 28, 2024
Carroll County Coroner Matthew Jones is notified.
5:56am July 28, 2024
Coroner 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 Sheriff Kloepping’s mailbox.
11:25am July 28, 2024
Illinois State Police is 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
Investigator Thew inspects Herpstreith’s truck.
9:11pm July 28, 2024
After recovering biological material from Herpstreith’s truck, Investigator Thew completes tests to determine if it contains 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
Sheriff Kloepping notifies Herpstreith he is subject of internal investigation.
5:25pm July 29, 2024
Sheriff Kloepping notifies Hubble she is subject of internal investigation.
1:37pm July 30, 2024
Sheriff Kloepping notifies department Herpstreith and Hubble were 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 Special Prosecutor Charles Colburn is subsequently assigned to the case.
September 5, 2024
Illinois State Police Special Agent Matthew Kipping submits his findings to the Special Prosecutor showing the DNA from the biological material found on Herpstreith’s truck is a match for Kradle.
November 6, 2024
Sheriff Kloepping releases documents and recordings of phone calls related to the investigation into Kradle’s death, and the involvement of county employees.
November 7, 2024
Sheriff Kloepping releases first public statement regarding the investigation into two county employees in connection to Kradle’s death.
November 9, 2024
Coroner Jones reveals Kradle died after being struck by a single vehicle moving at a high speed – and announces he will conduct an inquest to determine the manner of death, i.e. accident, suicide or homicide.
November 22, 2024
Dispatcher Frederick is fired from Sheriff’s Office.
November 26, 2024
Illinois Department of Public Health affirms Hubble violated local EMS policies the day she assessed Kradle’s body. Click here to read more.
January 16, 2025
Coroner’s jury rules Kradle’s death was a Homicide.
March 24, 2025
Criminal charges are filed against Herpstreith.
April 23, 2025
Herpstreith pleads Not Guilty to the charges – and is booked at the Carroll County Jail but granted pretrial release.
July 24, 2025
Kradle’s family files wrongful death lawsuit.
November 18, 2025
Federal Judge grants Officer Marth and the City of Mt. Carroll’s requests to be dismissed from the wrongful death lawsuit, without prejudice.
May 28, 2026
Federal Judge denies Dispatcher Frederick’s request to be outright dismissed from the wrongful death lawsuit.
October 2, 2026
Judge Peska denies Herpstreith’s requests to outright dismiss criminal charges or toss out evidence of alcohol consumption and intoxication.
October 29, 2026
Judge Peska grants prosecutors’ request to give use immunity to Hubble – but denies Herpstreith’s request to prohibit the audio recording of a phone call between Hubble and Dispatcher Frederick.
November 9, 2026
Jury selection is held in Carroll County court where 12 jurors are seated for trial.
8:45am Nov. 16, 2026
Jury trial scheduled to begin.