Cruz a pardon. Based in part on the notoriety of this case and Cruz's acquittal, in 2003 Ryan imposed a moratorium on executions in the state, and commuted the sentences to life of 167 persons on death row. It was not until November 2005 that Dugan was indicted for the Nicarico abduction, rape, and murder. Initially he refused to plead in court, and the judge entered a "Not guilty" plea for him in 2006 when the trial opened. On July 22, 2009, Dugan pleaded guilty to rape and murder of Nicarico. On November 11, 2009, he was sentenced to death by vote of the jury. On December 16, 2009 the judge set the execution date for February 25, 2010. After the death penalty was abolished in Illinois in 2011 by passage of a new law, Dugan's sentence was commuted to life in prison without possibility of parole (LWOP). See also Kidnapped American children Murdered American children References 1980s missing person cases 1983 in Illinois 1983 murders in the United States Crimes in Illinois Female murder victims Formerly missing people DuPage County, Illinois Incidents of violence against girls Missing person cases in Illinois Murdered American children Kidnapped American children People murdered in Illinois Murder in Illinois Rapes in the United States Victims of serial killers Wrongful convictions