Crime & Safety
Man Gets Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Instead Of Cocaine, Causing His Overdose: Prosecutors
Melissa M. Ryan, 36, of Marengo, has been charged with drug-induced homicide in connection with the man's death.
Prosecutors say a woman gave fentanyl-laced drugs to a 39-year-old man, who thought he was getting cocaine, causing his overdose death in Marengo.
The Marengo Police Department and Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts were called around 12:40 a.m. on July 16 to the 900 block of Beaver Pond Drive in Marengo. Marengo Police Department Sgt. Andrew Kjellgren said officers received a call of an unresponsive man at the home.
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police and fire personnel located Michael Mancuso, 39, of Marengo, inside the residence.
Mancuso was pronounced dead at the scene, Kjellgren said.
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Hunter Jones said a bag of heroin and fentanyl was found in Mancuso’s hand after he died. The bag tested positive for fentanyl.
The McHenry County Coroner’s office completed an autopsy and it was learned that Mancuso died as a result of a lethal dose of controlled substances, including fentanyl.
Jones said phone records revealed that Mancuso and Melissa M. Ryan, 36, of Marengo, arranged to go to Rockford to purchase narcotics.
Ryan admitted to other people that Mancuso thought he was getting cocaine but she gave him heroin and fentanyl instead without him knowing, Jones said.
Ryan was charged with drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.
An arrest warrant was also obtained for Paul Moser, 62, of Marengo, for two counts of concealing or aiding a fugitive, a Class 4 felony.
Moser was arrested earlier this month by the Marengo Police Department.
Ryan was taken into custody on Friday. She remains held in the McHenry County Jail on a $620,000 bond.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.
