High Bond Set for Father, Son Who Didn't Seek Medical Help for Overdose Victim

Photo caption: Mason Spencer, 21, (left) and his father, James Spencer, 47

James Spencer, 47, and Mason Spencer, 21, both of he 37900 block of North Loyola Ave. in Beach Park, are now charged with involuntary manslaughter and concealment of death for their alleged involvement in the death of Russell Eilrich, 21, of the 700 block of Greenbriar Lane in Schaumburg, police said late Monday night.

Bail Tuesday morning was set at $500,000 for Mason Spencer and at $250,000 for his father.

Police found Eilrich’s body in the vehicle at North Wilson Avenue and West Edgewood Road in Beach Park around 7:10 a.m. on Sunday after receiving a report of a “person slumped” in the vehicle.

Police said they determined Eilrich had previously been at the home of James and Mason Spencer where the younger Spencer, a friend of Eilrich, “facilitated a drug purchase” during the evening of Jan. 9 and early morning hours of Jan. 10 and consumed illegal drugs with him. When Eilrich began to overdose, police said the father and son placed Eilrich in his vehicle, drove him to North Wilson Avenue and West Edgewood Road and left him, according to the news release.

An autopsy was conducted Monday and preliminary toxicology results found a combination of drugs in Eilrich’s system.

Christoper Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, said evidence presented Tuesday in court showed Eilrich used heroin prior to his death. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies are equipped with Naloxone, an opiate-reversal drug, and Covelli said Eilrich could still be alive today if someone would have just called for help.

“If someone would have called 911 instead we could have saved a life and would not be investigating a death,” Covelli said.

Mason is charged with: Involuntary Manslaughter (Class 3 Felony), Concealment of Death (Class 4 Felony), Obstructing Justice (Class 4 Felony), Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony), and Possession of Ammunition without a FOID Card (Class A Misdemeanor).

James is charged with: Involuntary Manslaughter (Class 3 Felony), Concealment of Death (Class 4 Felony), Obstructing Justice (Class 4 Felony), and Possession of Ammunition without a FOID Card (Class A Misdemeanor).

The father and son remain in custody following a hearing Tuesday morning and are next expected in court on Feb. 3.