DeKALB – A 31-year-old Aurora man has been charged with drug-induced homicide after a Montgomery man to whom he allegedly sold a fentanyl-laced drug suffered a fatal overdose at the DeKalb Oasis.
An Illinois State Police trooper found Nicholas J. Hessling, 28, of Montgomery unresponsive about 11:57 p.m. Dec. 10 in the men's bathroom at the 7-Eleven at the DeKalb Oasis, 2700 N. Crego Road, DeKalb, according to a news release from Illinois State Police District 15.
Paramedics later determined that Hessling had died, and his toxicology reports revealed the his cause of death was a drug overdose with high concentrations of fentanyl. The synthetic opioid pain reliever frequently has been produced illegally and mixed with heroin or cocaine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Investigators determined that Victor D. Peters, 31, of Aurora sold Hessling the drug and arrested him without incident at 11 a.m. Friday at his Aurora home, according to the release. Aurora police assisted Illinois State Police in the arrest.
DeKalb County Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Schwertly approved a drug-induced homicide charge for Peters and, if convicted, he could face six to 30 years in prison.
Peters was taken to the DeKalb County jail before his bond hearing.