Homer Glen Heroin Dealer Charged with Drug Induced Homicide

The Will County Sheriff's police Monday filed formal charges against Maximillian Kalemba, 21, Homer Glen, with drug induced homicide. Randall Witte, 23, Orland Park, was found dead of a heroin overdose on Oct. 27, 2012 in Kalemba's backyard.

According to Kathy Hoffmeyer, Will County Sheriff's Department spokesperson, Kalemba stated that the two were in his garage around 3 p.m. on Oct. 26 and ingested heroin. Kalemba then left to attend a wedding. It wasn't until the morning of Oct. 27, when he took the dog out that he discovered Witte laying unresponsive in the bushes.

Kalemba reportedly told investigators that he and Witte had been friends for four or five years and that both of them had a history of drug-related problems. During the interview, Kalemba told police that he made several trips a week to Chicago to buy heroin for he and his friends. Sheriff's police also got a warrant to search Kalemba's home.  

On March 1, the sheriff's department obtained a warrant for Kalemba on a charge of drug induced homicide. He was booked into Will County Jail on Monday. A $400,000 bond was set, and he is scheduled to appear in court on March 26.  He was also charged on March 4 with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Chuck Pelkie, spokesperson for the Will County State's Attorney's Office, said Kalemba has not yet been indicted. He did note that this particular charge—drug induced homicide—is part of a multi-pronged approach to the heroin problem that has grown exponentially in the past few years. While education and rehabilitation is integral to battling heroin addiction, the need to prosecute is also part of the process.

"In instances where the state can prove when someone delivered it, you've got to hold the dealers accountable."

The State's Attorney's Narcotics Division has been working closely with police departments to bring the dealers to court, said Pelkie.  In the past, a victim's death was classified as accidental overdose.  

Hoffmeyer said she couldn't recall another case of drug induced homicide that had been investigated by the Will County Sheriff's Department.

Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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