Melissa Calusinski Case Front And Center In Lake County State's Attorney Race
(CBS) -- Lake County's top cop, Sheriff Mark Curran will run against the county's top lawyer, State's Attorney Mike Nerheim in a legal showdown that has heads spinning.
The county has been plagued by wrongful convictions as well as serious questions about the case of daycare worker Melissa Calusinski.
CBS 2's Brad Edwards reports in the past few years, they've been forced to release a half dozen wrongly convicted rapists and killers in Lake County.
"If I win the state's attorney's office I can promise you there will be a major shakeup in that office," Curran said.
One current events talking point, the case of Melissa Calusinski, convicted of murder in the 2009 death of a toddler in her care. Calusinski admitted guilt only after nine hours of interrogation and after 79 denials
Now the medical examiner, citing recently discovered X-rays, said the toddler did not suffer a skull fracture and died of a pre-existing head injury, changing the death from homicide of undetermined.
"I watched the stories on Channel 2 News, I watched the 48 Hours piece," Curran said. "Do I have great questions regarding her guilt? Absolutely. No doubt about it."
His officers played a role in that conviction. If he were state's attorney, Curran says, "There's no way at this point in time they should be keeping that in house. That should go to an independent prosecutor a fresh set of eyes."
The current states attorney, citing the fact that it's on-going won't comment on it. Mike Nerheim is in nation's capital for a legal conference today.
His campaign sent us a release highlighting his initiatives, including addressing wrongful convictions. In part, it says, "Mike's commitment to all of the citizens of Lake County has always been to ensure that his office seeks justice at all time, safeguards victim's rights and protect the citizens of Lake County."
The primary is on March 15, 2016.