A Wisconsin man is facing charges of drug-induced homicide for allegedly killing a McHenry man with counterfeit pills containing Fentanyl, authorities said.
Ashton C. Cowart, 29, of the 4800 block of 36th Avenue in Kenosha, is currently being held in Kenosha County Jail awaiting extradition to Lake County, authorities said.
Cowart was criminally charged in connection with McHenry drug-induced homicide, a class X felony, McHenry Police Chief John R. Birk said in a news release Tuesday.
If found guilty at trial, Cowart could be sentenced of to 30 years in prison.
Authorities said McHenry Police and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded to the 5100 block of Prairie Ave on February 14 for an unconscious male subject discovered by a family member.
Authorities said counterfeit “Percocet 30mg/Oxycodone” pills were discovered in the victim’s bedroom during the investigation.
The victim’s cellphone was located at the scene and data from the cellphone led to the identification of Cowart, authorities said.
The McHenry County Coroner’s office later advised toxicology reports showed traces of Fentanyl in the victim’s system and reported the cause of death as “diverse effects of Fentanyl,” authorities said.
Kenosha County’s Drug Operations Group and McHenry Police conducted a search warrant at Cowart’s residence in the 4800 block of 36th Avenue where Cowart was taken into custody.
Through continued investigative efforts and additional search warrants, probable cause was established to criminally charge Cowart in connection with the McHenry Police Department’s Investigation, authorities said.
Birk said he would like to thank the Kenosha County Drug Operations Group and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for their assistance and being an instrumental part of the investigation.