FENTANYL-HEROIN MIX BLAMED FOR MARCH DEATH HERE

Park Ridge police have confirmed that the death in March of a
22-year-old Park Ridge man was caused by a lethal dose of heroin.

Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Tom Swoboda said toxicology tests show
that Jonathan Krischke died after taking heroin mixed with the
narcotic fentanyl on March 9.

Krischke, a Maine South graduate, was found unconscious by a family
member inside his home, Swoboda said. He was taken to Resurrection
Medical Center in Chicago, where he was pronounced dead about 30
minues after his arrival, Swoboda said.

Although the police department learned of the cause of death from the
Cook County Medical Examiner in early May, the information was not
released to the press. Swoboda said the department normally does not
release information on death investigations.

Swoboda did report on the cause of Krischke's death to the Park Ridge
Health Commission and Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation
(MCYAF) at meetings in May.

Swoboda said investigators were unable to determine where Krischke
had obtained the heroin.

Fentanyl-laced heroin has been blamed for dozens of deaths in Cook
County this year, and members of the Park Ridge Health Commission
have stated that the community needs to be alerted if such deaths are
reported in Park Ridge.

Heroin is also the suspected cause of death of 17-year-old Joseph
Krecker of Park Ridge on June 6 in Chicago. Toxicology test results
in that case are not yet available, according to the Cook County
Medical Examiner's Office said.