Zion Man Found Guilty of Drug Induced Homicide in Algonquin Woman's Death

A McHenry County jury found a 36-year-old Zion man guilty of providing the heroin that lead to the overdose death of a 21-year-old Algonquin woman.

James F. Linder now faces between 15 and 60 years in prison following his conviction Friday on one count of drug-induced homicide. The jury came back with a guilty verdict after just two hours of deliberations Friday afternoon, the Northwest Herald reports. A sentencing hearing has been set for Feb. 24.

Danielle Barzyk, 21, died after her boyfriend, Cody N. Hillier, bought one gram of heroin from Linder on Jan. 30 and Hillier and Barzyk used the drugs at least three times, the Northwest Herald reports. Just after 1 a.m., Barzyk told Hillier she was having trouble breathing and needed medical help.

Hillier took the young woman to the Algonquin Village Hall. Emergency responders found Barzyk unconscious. She was taken to the hospital and died of heroin intoxication, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said in a news release.

“Dealing heroin is akin to dealing death,” said Kenneally. “We will continue to seek extended prison terms for drug dealers whose product kills someone in this community.”

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