Man Found Guilty In Darien Death: Prosecutors

DARIEN, IL – A Berkeley man was found guilty of felony drug-induced homicide in the 2023 death of a Darien man, prosecutors said Friday.

Willie Woodgett, 38, has been in the DuPage County Jail since his July 30, 2024, arrest. He was convicted of the death of 34-year-old Michael "Mick" Rice.

DuPage County Judge Daniel Guerin's verdict followed a three-day bench trial that ended July 16.

On March 30, 2023, Rice arranged to receive illegal drugs from Woodgett, prosecutors said.

About 11 p.m. that day, Woodgett went to Rice's house and delivered the drugs to him, prosecutors said.

On March 30 or April 1, Rice ingested the drugs that Woodgett gave.

Shortly after noon April 1, Rice's mother found her son unconscious in the family home, police said. He was pronounced dead the next day.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be combined drug toxicity of fentanyl, ethanol, diphenhydramine, alprazolam, xylazine and buprenorphine, prosecutors said. Rice was prescribed alprazolam.

"Judge Guerin's verdict today sends the unmistakable message that if you supply narcotics that cause the death of another, you will be identified, charged, prosecuted and if found guilty, as Mr. Woodgett has been, face a significant amount of time behind bars," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.

Woodgett will be sentenced later, prosecutors said.