Autopsy may tell if Roselle man died from bee stings
Authorities are awaiting an autopsy to determine if bee stings killed a Roselle man found dead Monday evening outside his home.
The Cook County medical examiner's office said an autopsy will be conducted Wednesday on Bruce Madiar, 62, who was discovered on the 500 block of Dee Lane.
Preliminary findings showed he suffered multiple bee stings, medical examiner officials said. They said Madiar was removing a bee hive on his property and was stung “multiple” times.
Roselle police reports said officers did not initially spot any bee stings or swelling on Madiar, although officials confirmed he was found with a can of bee repellent. Police said no bees were present when officers arrived.
“It's too soon to tell anything,” police spokesman John Lawson said. “He could have had a heart attack and we have no idea until the autopsy is complete.”
Results will not be released until at least Wednesday, officials said.
Madiar's wife told police she did not think he was allergic, according to police reports.
The Madiar family declined interviews and released a statement through a spokesman to address the death of Bruce, who was a father of three and grandfather of five.
“We are grateful for overwhelming support from family, friends and neighbors — a testament to Bruce's extraordinary strength, character and generosity,” the family said.
Bee sting deaths due to allergies are rare. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only about two of every 1,000 people is allergic to bee or wasp stings.
A department report said the average person can safely tolerate 10 stings per pound of body weight, which means most adults without allergies could withstand more than 1,100 stings.
Almost exactly one year ago, Jim Makris, 51, died in Elk Grove Village due to complications from a severe allergic reaction. He suffered just two bee stings while doing yardwork. Relatives said Makris developed the allergy later in life and was unaware, since he had been stung many times previously in his job as a decorating contractor
In 2003, another Roselle man died from at least 15 bee stings on the 400 block of Sycamore Avenue. Ronald Mucha, 46, died after his lawn mower disturbed a nest and he suffered anaphylactic shock and seizures from the venom.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports only 50 to 100 people die from bee and wasp venom annually, and advises homeowners to destroy any bee or wasp nests on their property.
But Tom Velat, an ecologist with the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, also has referred worried homeowners to the Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association.
Although they are hobbyists, the group has helped remove some honeybee hives in an effort to assist homeowners and save a useful insect that pollinates the majority of the food we eat in the U.S.