A Wisconsin man has been charged with drug-induced homicide for allegedly selling heroin that caused the overdose death of a U.S. Army veteran in Woodstock.
Michael F. Walach, 62, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was charged with drug-induced homicide and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Brodersen said that Stefan J. Bruckner was found dead in his Super 8 Motel room in Woodstock on January 19, 2022.
A baggy of tan powder that tested positive for pure heroin was recovered from Bruckner’s motel room, Brodersen said. A rolled-up dollar bill was next to the bag.
The coroner ruled Bruckner’s death was from the adverse effects of morphine. Heroin breaks down into morphine in the body.
Bruckner, 45, of Hebron, was a patient at the time with a local addiction recovery service.
An employee at the service called authorities to perform a well-being check on Bruckner after not hearing from him, Brodersen said.
Bruckner had last spoken with his girlfriend on January 15, 2022, at which time he said Walach and another man had come to visit him.
Phone records showed that Bruckner asked Walach on January 14, 2022, for “dope,” which is slang for heroin, Brodersen said.
Brodersen said the two arranged for Walach to bring the “dope” to Bruckner for $160.
Bruckner texted “see you soon” to Walach on January 15, 2022.
Walach is a convicted felon with two prior convictions for manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance. One of the convictions resulted in a nine-year prison sentence.
An arrest warrant was issued for Walach on July 28 and he was taken into custody on Friday.
Walach was ordered held in the McHenry County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
An obituary for Bruckner said he was a father of two and an honorable U.S. Army National Guard.
“He was a tremendously talented mechanic and prided himself in working for Woodstock Harley Davidson. He was a kind and generous man, always willing to help anyone in need,” the obituary said.
Prosecutors have filed a petition to hold Walach without bond, saying that he “poses an extreme threat to the health and safety to the community at-large.”
Walach is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday for a bond hearing.