Ex-deputy charged in connection with death of 18-year-old Jackson Kradle

MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. (WTVO) — A former sheriff’s deputy has been charged in connection with the death of 18-year-old Jackson Kradle in Mount Carroll.

Following an investigation by Illinois State Police, former Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Herpstreith, 44, of Savanna, has been charged with Reckless Homicide, Reckless Conduct, Obstructing Justice, Attempted Obstructing Justice, and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.

Kradle was found lying in the middle of Illinois Route 78, just north of Mount Carroll, around 3:30 a.m. on July 28th, 2024.

Coroner Matt Jones said an autopsy revealed Kradle’s blood alcohol content was .192 and THC was present in his system.

Phone recordings from that night, obtained by KWQC, revealed that two sheriff’s office employees, Herpstreith and now former dispatcher Amy Hubble, called the non-emergency line after finding Kradle’s body lying along the side of a road.

On November 9th, the coroner concluded that Kradle’s death was due to blunt trauma to the head, due to a motor-vehicle pedestrian crash.

Testimony given at the coroner’s inquest revealed that Kradle’s DNA was found beneath Herpstreith’s truck.

Herpstreith was released from custody under provisions of Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act and will return to court on April 17th.

Kradle was a 2024 graduate of West Carroll High School, according to KWQC.