Special prosecutor appointed in Sycamore teen murder case

SYCAMORE – A special prosecutor was appointed Wednesday in the murder trial of a 16-year-old accused of stabbing to death his Sycamore High School classmate Kaleb McCall in 2023.

The teenager, who hasn’t been publicly identified as of Wednesday, is expected to be tried as an adult unless his defense lawyer, Jim Ryan, successfully argues against his transfer. The hearing for that argument has since been pushed to mid-January.

McCall, 17, died from a single stab wound to the chest Sept. 7, 2023. Police said the teenager accused, who had just turned 15, stabbed McCall once in an attack witnessed by multiple other teenagers in downtown Sycamore. The attack followed an argument between two separate groups of adolescents, police said.

Circuit Court Judge Joseph Pedersen on Wednesday presided as Derek Dion of the state’s appellate prosecutor’s office made his first appearance. Dion was appointed after the DeKalb County State’s Attorney Office was recused from the case due to a conflict of interest.

“I received the file this morning. I’ll be going through it as quickly and efficiently as I can,” Dion said.

He asked the judge for at least 30 days to allow for a chance to acquaint himself with the case.

The teenager, whose family no longer lives in Sycamore, has been held without release at the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center in Joliet since his September 2023 arrest. He’s charged with first-degree murder and could face decades in prison if convicted in an adult courtroom.

McCall’s family and loved ones have waited for more than a year since his slaying as the juvenile court case has moved with some delays through the system.

The teenager accused appeared via Zoom for Wednesday’s hearing. He did not speak.

Prosecutors have argued that the transfer is needed because of the severity of the criminal charges.

In his earlier ruling to transfer the teen to adult court, Pedersen said he didn’t believe a six-year juvenile sentence was adequate punishment if convicted. Pedersen also said that the teenager “continues to act violently” during his stay at the juvenile facility as he awaits trial.

Newly elected State’s Attorney Riley Oncken recused the state’s attorney’s office from prosecuting the teenager earlier this month. Oncken’s Sycamore-based private law firm briefly represented the teenager before Ryan was appointed in the murder case, prosecutors said.

Pedersen has granted Shaw Local limited access to cover the juvenile court hearings.

The next hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 13.

McCall had just begun his senior year at Sycamore High School when he was killed. He was remembered by loved ones as kind, funny and hardworking. McCall worked at Culver’s with his grandmother, and he enjoyed bonfires, skateboarding, fishing, playing video games and being with friends, according to his obituary.

A public message offering support for grieving Sycamore families was displayed this week.

On Wednesday, a painted window was seen outside Chrystal Clinic along State Street downtown. The name “Kaleb” was adorned on the window in a heart, alongside the name “Kim” and the words “Heal your heart, stop the violence.”

The clinic’s Facebook page posted about the artist painting the window Tuesday. Kimberly Hurley, also of Sycamore, was found by police shot to death next to her husband, who also died in the shooting Nov. 22.

“May our community forever hold them in our hearts and honor their memory,” the clinic’s post reads.