55 Year Old Cold Case Homicide Conviction Brings Recognition for Agents’ Work Oakbrook – Illinois State Police (ISP) Agents were applauded this week by fellow homicide investigators during the Third Annual Illinois Homicide Investigators Association (ILHIA) Training and Conference. The ILHIA Award for Excellence was presented to a team of investigators from ISP Zone 1 for their level of dedication and diligence during a homicide investigation and the work done to close the case. The Zone 1 team members - Larry Kot, Criminal Intelligence Supervisor, Special Agent Brion Hanley, and Special Agent Todd Damasky, each received prestigious awards for their work and dedication in solving the 55 year old cold case murder of Maria Ridulph, who was murdered in 1957 in Sycamore, Illinois. Special Agent Hanley accepted the award for his work as the lead investigator on the cold case. The ILHIA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to ISP Zone 1 Master Sergeant Thomas Wetherald for dedicating more than 20 years of his law enforcement career to investigating over 400 homicides and violent crime cases. His knowledge and expertise have assisted numerous Task Force investigations with a clearance rate of 82 percent. ISP awardees were joined and congratulated by ISP Director Hiram Grau, Colonel Marc Maton, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Lemming, Zone 1 Commander Tony Rapacz, and Zone 3 Commander Michael Cooke. “These officers have demonstrated their finest ability as investigators in seeking justice for communities and families, and we are proud of their achievements and recognition by their peers of law enforcement’s finest – homicide investigators,” said ISP Director Hiram Grau. The Illinois Homicide Investigators Association recognizes outstanding investigators and presents awards for achievement every year during their annual training conference. 
ISP Zone 1 team - Larry Kot, Criminal Intelligence Supervisor, ISP Director Hiram Grau,
Special Agent Brion Hanley, and Special Agent Todd Damasky 
Master Sergeant Thomas Wetherald | 
