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Ingleside man accused in drug-related death of Spring Grove woman in November

An Ingleside man has been charged with drug-induced homicide in connection with the death of a Spring Grove woman in November.

Jacob D. Mazzuca, 21, was taken into custody Friday by the Lake County Sheriff's Special Investigations Unit after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Mazzuca also was charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and is held on $750,000 bail, with a bond hearing expected on Saturday, according to sheriff's police. Drug-induced homicide is a Class X felony punishable by a mandatory six to 30 years in prison if he is convicted.

According to sheriff's police, the investigation showed Mazzuca provided a substance know as "SASS" to Cristina Villasana, 21. She was admitted to the Vista Freestanding Emergency Center in Lindenhurst at 2 a.m. Nov. 11, and was transferred to Vista East Hospital in Waukegan, where she was pronounced dead about 18 hours later.

SASS is a form of Ecstasy made from the sassafras plant, authorities said.

Police said the investigation continues concerning false information provided to the hospital staff that may have hampered treatment of Villasana before her death.

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