Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury have announced that Judge Joshua Dieden has approved the state's request to detain a West Chicago man before his trial. The man, Habile Jacob, 26, is charged with supplying fentanyl leading to a woman's fatal overdose. Jacob faces one count of Drug Induced Homicide and one count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Fentanyl.

The incident dates back to June 25, 2024, when police responded to a call about an unresponsive woman in the 400 block of W. Washington Street. Upon arrival, officers found the woman deceased and discovered fentanyl at the scene. Investigations revealed that Jacob allegedly supplied the victim with the drug on June 24. The pathology report confirmed that she died from a combination of fentanyl and 7-aminoclonazepam toxicity.

“The tragic death of the victim in this case is yet another terrible reminder of the extreme danger illegal narcotics, particularly fentanyl, continue to be in our communities,” said Berlin. He emphasized the severity of fentanyl's impact and stressed holding suppliers accountable for fatal overdoses as a deterrent.

Chief Fleury described the situation as “a tragic and senseless loss of human life,” highlighting warnings about fentanyl's dangers often go unheard. He reiterated the importance of investigating overdose cases as criminal acts rather than mere tragedies.

Jacob is set for arraignment on October 28, 2024, before Judge Brian Telander. Authorities remind that charges are not proof of guilt and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.