Heroin Dealer Charged For Death Of McHenry Man: Police

MCHENRY, IL — A McHenry woman was charged in the death of Michael Roach, a 28-year-old McHenry man, who overdosed on heroin and other opiates on Aug. 31.

Jessica Chapman, 25, of the 3800 block of West Waukegan Road, was charged on Wednesday with drug-induced homicide and delivery of a controlled substance. She is already locked up at the McHenry County Jail on unrelated charges, like retail theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Emergency teams responded to the 5300 block of Malibu Court on Aug. 31, where they found Roach unresponsive. They tried to revive him, but could not. The Northwest Herald reported that he had fentanyl, a far more potent and deadly synthetic heroin, in his system.

"Michael had a huge heart," his obituary says. "Michael struggled with his demons like so many out there do. Oh how he fought a good fight and with any good fight there can only be one winner...Michael had a relapse and his demons won."

His demons came in the form of several types of opiods. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the DEA. He had fentanyl, heroin and hydrocodone in his system. Police say an investigation found that Chapman had delivered the drugs that caused Roach's death, the Herald reported.

Chapman was accused of shoplifting $65 in personal items from the Elm Street Walgreens on Oct. 12, according to the Herald, when she was arrested for that and police found "a substance containing heroin" on her.

“The McHenry Police Department is actively involved in combating the opioid crisis that is affecting our county, state and nation,” Police Chief John Birk wrote in a release.

Police ask anybody with information about illegal drug activity in McHenry to call the McHenry Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at 815-363-2599. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call the tip line at 815-363-2124.

Article image provided by McHenry County Sheriff's Office