The sheriff announced drug-induced homicide charges against a man accused of giving his friend drugs, causing her to overdose and leaving her to die without seeking help, near Spring Grove.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:20 a.m. on February 9 to a residence in the 38100 block of North State Park Road in unincorporated Spring Grove for a report of an unresponsive person.
Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics found a 23-year-old woman unconscious and not breathing, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The woman was transported to a hospital in McHenry County where she was pronounced deceased.
Sheriff’s detectives determined that the victim had died of a drug overdose.
Covelli said an investigation revealed that the victim was given a lethal combination of drugs by her friend, Marcus Lejsner, 22, of Lakemoor.
Both the victim and Lejsner ingested the drugs and fell asleep.
Lejsner woke up and found the woman unresponsive but left the residence without seeking help, Covelli said.
The victim’s family discovered her unresponsive shortly after and immediately called 911.
Covelli said Lake County sheriff’s detectives worked closely with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on the investigation due to the woman dying at the McHenry County hospital.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a charge of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony, against Lejsner.
Lejsner was arrested at his home on Tuesday and transported to the McHenry County Jail.
“It is heartbreaking to see another young life lost to a drug overdose. We witness the devastating impact of drugs every day in our community,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“We will continue our relentless pursuit of those trafficking drugs in Lake County and will hold them accountable for the lives they destroy,” Idleburg said.
Lejsner is scheduled to appear in court for his initial hearing later Wednesday.