Oswego man traded fatal dose of heroin for guitar, police say

A three-year investigation into the fatal overdose of a 19-year-old Crystal Lake man culminated Friday with the arrest of an accused drug dealer who police say traded the dead man heroin for a guitar.

Crystal Lake police arrested Mark S. Seranella, 21, at his Oswego home on a charge of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony which, if he is convicted, could land him in prison for up to 30 years.

The charge stems from the Jan. 26, 2007 discovery of Ryan A. Maxwell, of the 1500 block of Birmingham Lane in Crystal Lake, dead from a heroin overdose in a friend's apartment.

Ongoing efforts to determine how he acquired the drugs received new life late last year when investigators developed information linking the transaction to Seranella, police said Friday. The investigation, police said, determined Seranella provided heroin to the victim in trade for a guitar.

Seranella, who is on parole for burglary and a weapons offense, was transported after his arrest to the McHenry County jail, where he was being held on $400,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Saturday morning.