A former sheriff’s deputy was appeared in court Wednesday to face charges in the death of an Illinois teenager found dead on the side of a road last July.
Matthew Herpstreith waived a formal arraignment, WQAD reported, and the judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
He is charged with reckless homicide, obstructing justice, reckless conduct, obstructing justice, attempted obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the death of 18-year-old Jackson Kradle, Shaw Local reported.
Herpstreith, a Carroll County deputy at the time, and dispatcher Amy Hubble — both off duty — called 911 to report finding a body on state Route 78 at about 3:30 a.m. on July 28.
Illinois State Police were called in to lead the investigation, and the focus fell on Herpstreith and Hubble. Both resigned their positions before an internal investigation could be completed.
They were called to testify at a coroner’s inquest in January, WQAD reported, but they declined to answer questions about the incident. Evidence presented at the inquest indicated that Herpstreith, Hubble, and Kradle had all been at a retirement party on the night before Kradle was killed and that later Kradle and his girlfriend went to a get-together at his family’s farm. He left on foot, however, after becoming agitated.
Evidence was also presented indicating that Kradle’s DNA and fiber from the swimming trunks he was wearing were found on the underside of Herpstreith’s vehicle.
The jury at the inquest found ruled Kradle’s death a homicide, and then, in March, Herpstreith was arrested.
The judge on Wednesday cautioned that he would not “allow any type of outburts or harassment or intimidation” in the course of the case despite its emotional nature.
Herpstreith is due in court for a preliminary hearing on May 9.
