Francis Emanuele, 36, of the 6100 block of Carpenter Street in Downers Grove, was ordered jailed in lieu of $1 million bail as a suspect in the drug-induced homicide of a 15-year-old girl exchange student from Spain.
The girl, who died on Tuesday May 3, 2016 while staying with host parents in Glen Ellyn, knew the suspected killer when she became friends with another exchange student who was living with Emanuele’s family in Downers Grove, where Francis Emanuele in May was a married father of two.
In addition to the homicide count, Emanuele is charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, indecent solicitation of a child, grooming and possession of child pornography, officials said. Emanuele allegedly had a relationship with the girl.
CHARGES
DRUG INDUCED HOMICIDE
MANU/DELIVER CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE – SCHED I, II NARC – ANY OTHER AMOUNT
INDECENT SOLICITATION OF A CHILD-AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE
GROOMING
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – POSSESS VISUAL REPRODUCTION ON COMPUTER – VIDEO (3 COUNTS)
On May 3, 2016 the victim told her host parents she did not feel well and stayed home from school. That evening, she was found unresponsive and not breathing in her bedroom, and later was pronounced dead, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors allege Emanuele supplied the drug and instructed the female victim how to ingest the drug.
Glen Ellyn police found a syringe and a prescription bottle with a partially torn label containing a clear liquid. Preliminary tests indicated the substance was methadone. The prescription bottle was later linked to Emanuele. Surveillance video at Glenbard South High School also showed Emanuele picking the girl up from school, prosecutors said.
On the female victim’s cellphone, police found hundreds of text messages she allegedly sent Emanuele, including some sexually explicit images, authorities said.
Methadone is usually taken by mouth and rarely by injection into a muscle or vein.
Emanuele was taken into custody Tuesday, October 24, 2016, and is scheduled to appear in DuPage County court November 7, 2016.
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