Jury deadlocks in trial 
of 2002 slaying suspect

WOODSTOCK – A McHenry County jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a man charged with first-degree murder in the 2002 disappearance of a 17-year-old Johnsberg teenager.

The jury deliberated the fate of Mario Casciaro, 28, for about 12 hours over two days before its foreman told Judge Sharon Prather on Wednesday the panel was deadlocked.

Brian Carrick disappeared 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.