On October 29, 2019, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Earl L. Epps, 41, of the block of 3500 Kehm Boulevard, Park City, for drug induced homicide following an investigation into the death of Tara Garcia, 47, of the block of 37000 Route 83, Unincorporated Lake Villa.
On Friday October 4, 2019, at approximately 6:45 PM, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Lake Villa firefighter/paramedics were dispatched to a residence in the block of 37000 Route 83, in unincorporated Lake Villa, for an opioid overdose. Garcia was overdosing and transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where she was pronounced deceased soon after arriving.
A thorough investigation revealed that Garcia purchased what she believed was heroin from Epps just before her overdose. Evidence recovered at the scene showed she purchased a substance containing a combination of heroin and fentanyl. After ingesting the substance, Garcia suffered an overdose with loss of consciousness.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Garcia. The autopsy revealed she ingested fentanyl, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Epps was taken into custody without incident by the Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges:
Drug induced homicide (class X felony)
Unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (class 2 felony)
Witness intimidation (class 3 felony)
“We again see the tragic effects of the opioid crisis we’re fighting here in Lake County and at a national level. There is no doubt addiction is a disease, and we continue to do everything we can for those suffering addictions, while holding drug pushers accountable.”
— Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg
Epps remains held at the Lake County Jail on $1,000,000 bail. Epps is next due in court on Monday November 4, 2019, at 9:00 AM in courtroom T110.
All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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