Lake County jail inmate choked in jail fight dies

A Lake County jail inmate who suffered strokelike symptoms after being choked by another inmate has died, authorities said.

Jeffrey R. Weiss, 60, of the 300 block of South Waukegan Road in Deerfield, died Friday at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago after he went into medical distress, authorities said. Weiss' family had a do not resuscitate order with the hospital, authorities said.

An autopsy is scheduled to take place with the Cook County medical examiner's office to determine if Weiss' death is associated with a March 9 fight in the jail with inmate Timothy R. Adams, 36, of North Chicago, authorities said.

Additional charges could be filed against Adams, depending on the results of the autopsy and the investigation, authorities said.

"Our condolences go out to the Weiss family on the loss of their loved-one," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said. "If his death is attributed to being battered by Adams, we will do everything possible to hold Adams accountable for his actions."

Adams was charged March 9 with felony aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm for choking Weiss and for punching another inmate, authorities said. Before the fight, Adams was in jail on $500,000 bail for aggravated vehicular hijacking of a person with a disability or over 60 years old, court records show.

Weiss, who was in Lake County jail on charges of felony indecent solicitation of a child, was found by a corrections officer on the floor of his cell and having trouble breathing, authorities said. He was taken to Vista East Hospital in Waukegan, and later transferred to Rush with what appeared to be strokelike symptoms.

Detectives learned from jail witnesses that Weiss and Adams had a verbal argument when a corrections officer was away doing rounds. Adams choked Weiss, then punched a 40-year-old inmate in the face, authorities said.

Weiss was interviewed at the hospital March 10 and corroborated information provided by other inmates, authorities said. Weiss then had a medical procedure performed at the hospital to remove a long-term blockage in one of his arteries.

He was placed in a temporary-induced coma with a ventilator after a second procedure March 11, authorities said.

Weiss was removed from the coma and ventilator March 21. His next of kin made the decision to not continue medical care should he not be able to continue living without the support of the ventilator, authorities said.

Detectives will work with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office to determine if additional charges will be filed against Adams stemming from Weiss' death, authorities said.