Man Charged In Woman's Death From Fentanyl At Palatine Motel: Police

PALATINE, IL — An Elgin man has been charged in the drug-induced homicide of two people last year — one in Palatine and the other in Elgin. Jarrail Ford-Gresham, 34, of the 1500 block of Meyer Street, is accused of two felony counts of drug-induced homicide and two felony counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

Police, and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, said he is currently detained in the Kane County Adult Justice Center and is due back in court on June 5.

According to Raoul's office, Gresham reportedly delivered cocaine to the two people in Elgin and Palatine between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2023. Both were later found dead after taking what turned out to be cocaine laced with fentanyl.

The first delivery occurred in Elgin after the victim and a third party pooled money together to purchase crack-cocaine from Gresham. The third party was seen on surveillance video entering and exiting Gresham's car. Soon thereafter, the victim returned to split the drug. The next morning, they were found unresponsive at an Elgin homeless encampment, according to authorities.

On that same day, Dec. 1, Gresham and another victim, who Palatine police later identified as a 32-year-old woman, were seen on surveillance video entering a Motel 6 in Palatine. Later that evening, Palatine police responded to a 911 call at the motel and found the woman deceased on the bed.

Gresham was arrested Tuesday by Elgin Police Department following their investigation with the Palatine Police Department.

"These charges are a grim reminder of how deadly drugs, specifically fentanyl, can be," Raoul said. "I remain committed to working with law enforcement agencies across the state to keep drugs off the street and keep our communities safe."