The Coldest Case Ever Solved after Decades of Investigation

The documentary “The Coldest Case Ever Solved” is about a true crime story that took place in 1957 in the small town of Sycamore, Illinois. The story revolves around the abduction and murder of a seven-year-old girl named Maria Ridolf, who was playing outside with her friend Kathy Sigmund when she was approached by a young man who called himself Johnny.

Johnny offered to give the girls piggyback rides and play with dolls, but when Kathy went inside to get her mittens, Johnny and Maria disappeared.

The abduction of Maria Ridolf caused a media frenzy, and the FBI director at the time, J. Edgar Hoover was personally involved in the investigation.

Despite an intense search effort, Maria’s body was not found until five months later when a couple who were mushroom hunting stumbled upon her decomposed remains in a wooded area over 100 miles away from Sycamore.

For many years, the case remained unsolved, until it was reopened in 2010. The documentary discusses how a woman named Janet Tessier came forward with evidence that her mother, Eileen Tessier, had confessed to her on her deathbed that her brother, John Tessier (previously known as Johnny), was responsible for Maria’s abduction and murder.

Although Janet had tried to bring her mother’s confession to the attention of law enforcement for many years, she was dismissed and ignored. It wasn’t until the case was reopened that John Tessier was finally arrested and charged with Maria’s murder.

The documentary goes into detail about the evidence against John Tessier, including accounts from his own family members that he had a sexual interest in young girls, and evidence of a naked photo of his 12-year-old daughter from a previous marriage found in his home.

However, the documentary also acknowledges that there are still unanswered questions and discrepancies in the case, such as whether or not John Tessier was actually in Sycamore on the day of Maria’s abduction.

Overall, “The Coldest Case Ever Solved” is a fascinating and chilling true crime story that delves into the complex emotions and motivations behind both the crime itself and the pursuit of justice for the victim and her family.

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