East Dundee man charged in drug-induced homicide

An East Dundee man is accused of killing a woman by arranging for her to meet with a dealer who sold her drugs containing fentanyl.

Nathan R. Kellenberger, 30, of the 300 block of North River Street, is charged with drug-induced homicide and manufacturing/delivering a controlled substance containing fentanyl.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney David Belshan told Judge Lark Cowart Monday Kellenberger set up a meeting between Miranda Eakins and a drug dealer, for Eakins to buy drugs. Kellenberger drove her to the meeting, Belshan said.

Eakins, 28, died on Aug. 10, 2023, several days after the purchase, Belshan said. Belshan asked that Kellenberger be detained pretrial.

Kellenberger’s attorney, Liam Dixon, argued that prosecutors did not provide proof that the drugs she bought were the same as the drugs that killed her. But Belshan said police examined her phone and did not see any indication that she tried to buy drugs again in between.

Dixon also argued there was no evidence Kellenberger dealt drugs, and said Kellenberger has undergone inpatient rehabilitation for a narcotics addiction and now lives in a halfway house, while working for his father in a gutter business.

Cowart agreed to release Kellenberger pretrial, but ordered he be confined to home except for work. He also will have to take several random drug tests each month.

Elgin police investigated the case.