Jury deadlocks in murder trial

WOODSTOCK (AP) — A McHenry County jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a 28-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the 2002 disappearance of a 17-year-old Johnsburg teenager.

The jury deliberated the fate of Mario Casciaro for about 12 hours over two days before its foreman told Judge Sharon Prather on Wednesday the panel was deadlocked.

Brian Carrick disappeared on Dec. 20, 2002 from his job at Val’s Foods. No body was ever found, but police said they found traces of his blood inside the store.

Defense attorneys argued the only evidence against Casciaro was given by a man with a felony record who was given immunity from any charges in Carrick’s disappearance.

McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs said Casciaro will be retried on the charges.