Arrest Made In Darien's Man's Death

DARIEN, IL – A Berkeley man has been charged with felony drug-induced homicide in last year's death of a Darien man, authorities announced Thursday.

Michael "Mick" Rice, 34, died of a drug overdose in early April last year, authorities said.

On March 30, 2023, Rice arranged to receive illegal drugs from Willie Woodgett, 37, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

About 11 p.m. that day, Woodgett went to Rice's house and delivered the drugs to him, prosecutors said.

On March 30 or April 1, Rice ingested the drugs that Woodgett gave.

Shortly after noon April 1, Rice's mother found her son unconscious in the family home, police said. He was pronounced dead the next day.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be combined drug toxicity of fentanyl, ethanol, diphenhydramine, alprazolam, xylazine and buprenorphine, prosecutors said. Rice was prescribed alprazolam.

Darien police traced the fatal dose of drugs to Woodgett, the news release said.

"Unfortunately, drug usage and overdoses continue to be a scourge on society," Darien Police Chief Greg Thomas said in the news release. "While efforts such as drug collection points, changes in how doctors can prescribe medicines, rehabilitation centers and the use of Narcan have been successful, there are still too many times that this type of tragedy occurs."

DuPage County Judge Leah Bendik ordered Woodgett held in jail until his trial. Woodgett was arrested Tuesday.

According to Rice's obituary, he was a tattoo artist.

"His light will keep shining through the hundreds of personal remembrances he created for others," the obituary said. "His whole life he found solitude in the outdoors and was an accomplished angler. In contrast, Mick was perceptive, strategic and loved outmaneuvering opponents in weekly charity poker tournaments."