MARSEILLES, IL – Brian Mulcahy, a 55-year-old grandfather from Lake Barrington, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug-induced homicide.Â
Mulcahy was charged with supplying alcohol, cannabis, and heroin laced with fentanyl to his 15-year-old grandson in Marseilles, resulting in the tragic death of the teenager two years ago. Mulcahy was entrusted to care for his grandson at the time.
Mulcahy’s arrest came after a thorough investigation by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, who linked him to the overdose death of the Marseilles teenager. Bond for Mulcahy had been set at a million dollars. He pleaded guilty on Friday, and his 20-year prison sentence will be credited for time he has already served in the county jail, potentially resulting in around 14 years of imprisonment. Mulcahy also has the possibility of having his sentence reduced for good behavior while in prison.
The tragic incident occurred on April 14th, 2021, when the 15-year-old boy died after allegedly taking a lethal dose of heroin and fentanyl. Prosecutors believe Mulcahy delivered these drugs, which contributed to the victim’s death.
The National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse Advancing Addiction Science reports a rise in drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2021, with a staggering 106,000 deaths reported in 2021 alone. Notably, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, primarily fentanyl, have continued to surge, with a staggering 70,601 deaths reported in 2021.
