[2] Upon graduating, Ryan went on to study at Saint Procopius College (now Benedictine University), where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1968.
His office was accused of burying exculpatory evidence, relying on discredited forensic methods, and subverting due process to secure guilty verdicts.
One of the most notorious examples of alleged misconduct involved the wrongful convictions of Rolando Cruz and Alejandro Hernandez for the 1983 abduction, rape, and murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico.
Despite a confession from another suspect, Brian Dugan, whose statement was corroborated by significant evidence, Ryan's office continued to pursue Cruz and Hernandez, ultimately sentencing them to death.
Ryan's office also relied on questionable forensic methods and resisted acknowledging errors in the case until the defendants were exonerated after years on death row.
Investigations into the Nicarico case revealed a troubling pattern of misconduct, leading to the indictment of four sheriff's deputies and three prosecutors on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Advocacy groups and legal experts often cite his office as an example of systemic prosecutorial misconduct, warning of the consequences of unchecked power in the pursuit of convictions.
However, as an incumbent member of the state government, his campaign was negatively affected by scandals engulfing the administration of outgoing Governor George Ryan (no relation).
[2] Ryan again ran for governor in 2010 and at one point led in aggregate polling,[11] but he eventually lost the Republican primary to State Senator Bill Brady, coming in fourth in a field of seven candidates.
[12] He was on the receiving end of a great deal of controversy for his conduct in the erroneous prosecution of Rolando Cruz and Alex Hernandez in the Jeanine Nicarico murder case.
[13] After the 2002 elections, Ryan returned to his alma mater, Benedictine University, where he was named a Distinguished Fellow[17] and taught political science and criminal justice courses.