Wood Dale teen charged in near-fatal overdose

A teen remained in jail Monday on a $200,000 bond on charges he sold morphine to another minor who languished in a coma after taking the pills at a party in Roselle.

Christopher J. Grzeca, 19, 411 Walnut Ave., Wood Dale, is charged with drug-induced infliction of great bodily harm and possession of a controlled substance.

He faces a possible sentence of probation or four to 15 years in prison if convicted. Grzeca is due in court Aug. 17.

Paramedics rushed to a Roselle home April 5 after receiving a 911 call. Rescuers found an unresponsive 16-year-old boy in the home. They said he remained hospitalized in a coma for two weeks, and still is receiving rehabilitative therapy three months later.

DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said Grzeca sold the morphine, a powerful opiate, to the boy after getting it from an acquaintance whose father had a prescription for the pills while battling cancer.

Grzeca was arrested July 10. So far, the acquaintance who gave him the morphine pills has not been charged. Both the Roselle police and DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group investigated the near-fatal overdose.

"This case demonstrates the need for family members to be extra vigilant when prescribed dangerous medications," Roselle Police Chief James Kruger said Monday in a statement. "The results could have been tragic for all of the families involved."