Drug-Induced Homicide Charges Filed Against Man In West Chicago Death

WEST CHICAGO, IL — A man faces felony charges after he was accused of providing a fatal dose of fentanyl to a West Chicago woman in June.

Habile Jacob, 26, of West Chicago, was charged with drug-induced homicide and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with the June 25 death.

Police were called to the 400 block of W. Washington Street around 8:24 p.m. after a woman was found unresponsive in bed. She was pronounced dead shortly after, with police reporting that fentanyl was found on the coffee table.

According to prosecutors, Jacob sold fentanyl to the woman on the night of June 24 and that the woman took the fentanyl. A pathology report found the woman had fentanyl and 7-aminoclonazepam in her blood. Police say she had a prescription for the 7-aminoclonazepam.

“The tragic death of the victim in this case is yet another terrible reminder of the extreme danger illegal narcotics, particularly fentanyl, continue to be in our communities,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

He added, "According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is up to fifty times stronger than heroin and one hundred times stronger than morphine. Last year, more than 81 thousand overdose deaths were reported nationwide, with Illinois contributing 3,272 to that total. This senseless loss of life must stop, and one way to stop it is to hold those who supply fatal doses of narcotics responsible. A dealer, a friend or even a family member may think twice about supplying this poison knowing that they will be looking at a significant amount of time behind bars if they are the proven source of a fatal overdose. I offer my sincerest condolences to the victim’s family and friends as they continue their lives without the love and friendship she once provided them."

Jacob is being held in DuPage County Jail and is set to appear in court Oct. 28.