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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
ERIC F. RINEHART
STATE'S ATTORNEY
Dec. 10, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Newton
(224) 374-2376
jnewton@lakecountyil.gov
Eric Ruiz (Unrelated 2018 booking photo)
Man Charged in Couple's Overdose Death at Libertyville Motel
(Lake County, IL) - On December 9, 2021, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed and approved charges for drug induced homicide against a McHenry man for his role in delivering drugs to a couple that passed away at a Libertyville motel on Nov. 13.
Erick Ruiz, 22, is charged with two counts of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony carrying a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 6 to 30 years upon conviction, and an additional charge for delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony.
At a bond hearing on Friday, December 10, Judge Ray Collins granted prosecutor’s request to set bond at $1 million.
Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsay Hicks told the court that the couple checked into a Motel 6 at about 11 p.m. on the night of Nov. 12. Just after 11 a.m. on Nov. 13, hotel staff checking on the room heard a baby crying and entered the room. The couple was found dead, and the baby was found crying on the floor nearby. The baby had no physical injuries.
Detectives observed no signs of foul play or trauma to the bodies. Detectives found Fentanyl in the motel room. The Lake County Coroner’s Office indicated the couple died from an apparent drug overdose.
“People who choose to make their money by dealing deadly drugs like heroin and fentanyl know that overdoses are on the rise. They know that these chemicals will kill,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
“The facts of this case are particularly egregious in light of the death of two parents and the risk to a six-month old baby. Our office will support the surviving family members and seek a result in the courtrooms that tells dealers we will not tolerate their criminal business in Lake County,” State’s Attorney Rinehart said.
State’s Attorney Rinehart continued, “The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office commends the efforts of the Libertyville Police detectives who did excellent work to identify Erick Ruiz as the person who delivered drugs to the victims in this case.”
Toxicology level results are not finalized, but initial tests done at the coroner’s office determined the parents had fentanyl, an extremely strong opiate, in their systems.
Judge Collins set a preliminary hearing court date of Jan. 12 for Ruiz, who remains in custody of the Lake County Jail.
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Lake County State's Attorney's Office
18 N. County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: (847) 377-3000
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