Police have arrested an alleged drug dealer on drug-induced homicide charges after a 33-year-old woman, described as a “loving spirit,” was found dead in her Zion home from an overdose.
Samuel McClain, 35, of Waukegan, was charged with drug-induced homicide on Thursday.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said McClain sold fentanyl that contributed to the death of Kayla Robinson, 33, of Zion.
The Zion Fire & Rescue Department and Zion Police Department responded on February 3 to the 2300 block of Elisha Avenue in Zion for a report of an unresponsive woman found in her home.
Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene and detectives were notified as it appeared her death was the result of a drug overdose.
An autopsy later revealed the cause of death to be fentanyl and alprazolam toxicity.
Detectives investigated the case with the goal of finding the source of the drugs that killed Robinson, the state’s attorney’s office said.
An obituary said Robinson left behind her mother, father, several siblings and many other family members.
“Her laughter, a cherished melody, filled every heart with joy. She held a beautiful wish for the happiness of all those around her, a pure testament to her loving spirit,” her obituary said.
“We will forever treasure her clever mind and sparkling wit, and the compassionate heart that was always so willing to help. Her loving presence will be deeply, profoundly missed,” her family said in the obituary.
Prosecutors said it was determined that McClain had interacted with Robinson hours before her death for the purpose of selling her drugs.
Detectives went about the “painstaking task” of gathering all of the evidence to prove that Robinson’s death was directly attributable to the drugs that McClain provided, prosecutors said.
The state’s attorney’s office said they worked closely with detectives to compile the case, which involved the service of 12 search warrants and subpoenas.
McClain was later taken into custody by the Zion Police Department and was transported to First Appearance Court on Friday morning.
“First, I want to thank the Zion Police Department for their outstanding work in this case. Our office joins law enforcement in doing everything possible to end these drug fatalities that impact every community,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
“We will compassionately help those experiencing addiction, we will boldly engage in harm reduction strategies to save lives, and we will tell drug dealers that they must stop. If you cause someone’s death by dealing drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and seek to jail you — without the ability to post cash bond now that we ended cash bail,” Rinehart said.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain McClain pending trial, calling him a real and present danger to the community.
Lake County Judge Helen Rozenberg remanded McClain to the Lake County Jail ahead of his detention hearing on Friday afternoon.