OD victim's dad grieves as man who dumped her body gets probation

For 14 months, Mike and Marianne Dominick lived with the hope of getting justice for their daughter, Gina Dominick, who died of a drug overdose last summer.

The Prospect Heights man who dumped Dominick's body in a parking lot after she died of a heroin overdose in his home pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor battery charge.

Thomas Young, 22, was originally charged with concealing a homicide in the June 29, 2008, death of Dominick, 20, of Mount Prospect. Her body was found in her car in the parking lot of the Prospect Heights Public Library.

Young, who was facing two to five years in prison if convicted, received 24 months probation instead.

Minutes after sentencing, a tearful and trembling Mike Dominick said the justice system failed his daughter.

"The system is broken or at least, at minimum, needs some work," he said.

While Mike Dominick was pleased with the Prospect Heights Police Department and the task force that investigated Gina's death, he expressed frustration with the way the case was handled by prosecutors early on.

He said the previous state's attorneys handling the case pursued a charge they could not prove, when he feels there were other charges that could have been filed against Young.

"The evidence was likely insufficient to support that (concealing a homicide) charge," Mike Dominick said. "The current state's attorneys did the best they could with a bad hand they were dealt."

The plea agreement was reached with the Dominick family's consent, yet was not to theirs or the judge's satisfaction.

"I am going to go along with this agreement somewhat reluctantly," Circuit Court Judge Kay Hanlon said while sentencing Young at the Rolling Meadows courthouse.

Young must submit to random drug testing, enter a drug-treatment program and pay court costs and fines.

As part of the plea agreement, Young admitted to striking Dominick in the face although no mention was made in court as to why.

Mike Dominick, however, said he believes his daughter was beaten, not just struck.

Prospect Heights Police Cmdr. Al Steffen, the investigating officer, said Dominick had bruising on both eyes and a lump on one side of her head, indicating she had suffered multiple blows. She also had small cuts and bruises on her arms, legs and lip, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's report.

"There was definitely wounds there but the wounds were not the ones that caused her death and that was the opinion of the medical examiner's office," Steffen said.

Last month, Andrew Hall, 22, a former resident of Mount Prospect who supplied the heroin to Dominick and Young, was sentenced to four years in prison. Hall, who originally faced charges of drug-induced homicide, pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance.

Authorities say that after taking the heroin, Young said he fell asleep and woke up later to find Dominick unconscious in the bathroom. Believing her to be dead, he drove her body to the library.

Young "did not do anything affirmative such as call 911, in which case it would be likely that Gina would still be here," Mike Dominick said.

Young's attorney, Thomas Glasgow, said the agreement was made because the earlier charge of concealing a homicide did not fit the crime. Young, who was dating Dominick, hadn't realized that her death would be considered a homicide, he said.

"The actions that occurred were incredibly unfortunate. It was clear from the police account of the events he didn't have a direct hand in her death. She died of a drug overdose," Glasgow said. "(Young) is incredibly sad that this occurred."

Eight to 10 family members and friends of Dominick who were in court Thursday cried and hugged one another after leaving the courtroom.

Marianne Dominick was at the cemetery where Gina is buried Thursday morning because she couldn't face going to court, Mike Dominick said.

"Regardless of how this matter might have proceeded and ultimately ended, it won't bring Gina back," Mike Dominick said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>Full Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=314400">Guilty plea in Mt. Prospect student's overdose death <span class="date">[8/18/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=237888">Second Dominick case suspect to be extradited from Arizona <span class="date">[09/25/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=234267">Second man arrested in death of Mount Prospect woman <span class="date">[09/11/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=233535">Arrest made in drug overdose death of Mount Prospect woman <span class="date">[09/08/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=232235">Prospect Heights police still waiting for reports on 20 year old found dead <span class="date">[09/03/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=216429">Police await toxicology report in Prospect Heights death <span class="date">[07/09/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=214733">Services held for woman found dead outside Prospect Heights library <span class="date">[07/04/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=214733">Police questioning person in Prospect Heights death <span class="date">[07/03/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=214197">Girl found dead in Prospect Hts. sought ride after car was towed <span class="date">[07/02/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=213741">Death of Mount Prospect 20-year-old under investigation <span class="date">[07/01/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>