Cops: Bartlett man injected friend who OD'd

A Bartlett man could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of helping inject heroin into a friend who later died.

Brad Jurek, 26, of 111 Oakwood Lane, was charged Thursday with drug-induced homicide in the April death of Elgin's Brian Denofrio.

Police have been investigating since Denofrio's body was found April 16 inside a car parked at White Castle restaurant at 7460 Barrington Road in Hanover Park. In June, the Cook County medical examiner ruled Denofrio died of a drug overdose.

According to the Cook County County state's attorney's office, Denofrio and Jurek drove to Chicago's West Side April 15 to buy heroin. When Denofrio was unable to inject the heroin himself, Jurek stepped in to help, state's attorney spokesman Andy Conklin said.

Prosecutors say that when Denofrio later passed out, Jurek shoved him into the back seat of the car, drove to White Castle and ordered food for himself. Unable to wake Denofrio up, Jurek wiped down the car to try to remove any fingerprints, called his mother for a ride and left Jurek in the car, authorities said.

Records show Jurek has at least one prior drug-related conviction, for possession of drug paraphernalia in DuPage County in 2006.

Drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony, is punishable by six to 30 years in prison.

The drug-induced homicide law is often referred to as "Kelley's Law," after Kelley Baker, a 23-year-old from Rolling Meadows who died of an ecstasy overdose in 1999. Under "Kelley's Law," which took effect in 2002, a person can be charged with homicide if he or she sells or gives drugs to a person who dies from taking them.

Jurek is being held on $750,000 bond. He's due back in court Aug. 29.