Eric Ullrich, 52, of Richmond, and Cara Ullrich, 46, Round Lake Beach, were charged in connection with the death of their son, Trent Ullrich, 14, of Richmond, (right) who died on January 3, 2024, as a result of the adverse effects of drugs that authorities allege his mother brought into the family’s Richmond home. | Photos Left and Middle: Provided; Photo Right: GoFundMe

A father has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he was charged with the murder of his child who overdosed on his parent’s drugs near Richmond, in what prosecutors said was “entirely preventable.”

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond Township Fire Protection District responded around 10:50 a.m. on January 3, 2024, to a call for a medical emergency involving an unresponsive juvenile male in the 9600 block of Hillandale Road in unincorporated Richmond.

911 dispatchers indicated over the radio that someone was performing CPR on the juvenile, a 14-year-old.

Fire officials said paramedics initiated lifesaving treatment and were assisted by Mercyhealth MD-1.

Paramedics rushed the juvenile to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry where he was pronounced dead.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein identified the child as Trent Ullrich, 14, of Richmond.

An autopsy was performed on Ullrich on January 4, 2024. Toxicology and tissue samples were collected and sent for testing.

Rein said that the cause of the boy’s death was determined to be from the adverse effects of fentanyl and xylazine. The manner of death was deemed to be an accident, Rein added.

Following the child’s death, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office arrested the boy’s parents — Cara Ullrich, 46, Round Lake Beach, and Eric Ullrich, 52, of Richmond.

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Both were indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance. Eric Ullrich was additionally charged with obstructing justice.

An investigation into the death by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office led to several full and used bags of narcotics containing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine throughout the residence.

Prosecutors said Eric Ullrich, the child’s father and primary legal and medical caretaker, was present in the home and aware of his son’s overdose.

Eric Ullrich “consciously chose” not to obtain or provide medical treatment for his child during the overdose and did not call 911 until the man woke up the next morning over 10 hours later, prosecutors said.

A grand jury indictment said Cara Ullrich also refused to seek medical care for the boy.

Eric Ullrich “consistently” provided false information to investigators surrounding the death of his son.

The indictment said Cara Ullrich brought a substance containing fentanyl into the residence, which was occupied by Trent Ullrich and another child, in the 9600 block of Hillandale Road in unincorporated Richmond.

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Eric Ullrich allowed the drugs to be brought into the home and he also possessed a substance containing cocaine, the indictment said.

The drugs were accessible and led to the 14-year-old boy overdosing, the indictment and a criminal complaint said.

Medical personnel reported that Trent Ullrich would have survived if he had received medical attention during the overdose.

On Friday, the one year anniversary of the child’s death, Eric Ullrich pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for the rest of his charges being dismissed.

Eric Ullrich was also charged in a separate case early last month for communicating with a witness, a Class 3 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Ullrich communicated false information directly to a witness around 8:20 p.m. on November 24.

The complaint said Ullrich intended to deter the witness from testifying “freely, fully and truthfully” in a pending court matter.

As part of his plea on Friday, he also pleaded guilty in that case.

Eric Ullrich faces three to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for involuntary manslaughter and two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for communicating with a witness.

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He faces the possibility of the sentences being served consecutively. The plea hearing was conducted in front of McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen.

“Parents have not only a moral duty, but a legal duty to protect and care for their children. This senseless and tragic death of a 14-year-old was entirely preventable had medical treatment been sought for this child,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.

“The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office continues to remain committed to the prosecution of all those involved in drug-related deaths that occur in our communities, especially those involving the most vulnerable – our children,” Freese said.

The case was prosecuted by Freese, along with Chief of Staff Ashley Romito and Special Prosecutor William Bruce.

The state’s attorney’s office lauded the efforts of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office for its “thorough investigation” into the death.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled to be held in front of McHenry County Judge Christopher Harmon on Monday.

The case against Cara Ullrich remains active and pending.