Richmond dad pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in son’s overdose; mom still facing murder charge

A Richmond dad pleaded guilty Friday to involuntary manslaughter on the one-year anniversary of the death of his 14-year-old son, who overdosed on fentanyl and xylazine, court records show.

Eric Ullrich, 52, also entered a guilty plea before McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen to communicating with a witness. In exchange for the plea, murder charges against Ullrich in the 2024 death of his son Trent were dropped.

Ullrich’s former wife and Trent’s mother, Cara Ullrich, 46, of Round Lake Beach, is currently being held in the county jail while awaiting trial in connection with her son’s death. She is charged with first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, four counts of endangering the life of a child, two counts of possession of drugs and two misdemeanor charges of endangering the health or life of a child.

Eric Ullrich did not get a set sentence as part of the plea deal. Involuntary manslaughter, a Class 2 felony, can have a sentencing range between three and 14 years in prison, and the Class 3 felony of communicating with a witness can carry a term between two and five years if sentenced to prison, which Ullrich could serve consecutively, according to a McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

His sentencing is scheduled before Judge Christopher Harmon on Monday, the same day he originally was supposed to go on trial.

Authorities said Eric Ullrich, Trent’s primary legal and medical caretaker, was present in the home when Trent overdosed and failed to respond adequately.

“Ullrich consciously chose not to obtain or provide medical treatment for his child during the overdose event and did not call 911 until Ullrich woke up the next morning, over 10 hours later,” officials said in the release.

Prosecutors said Eric Ullrich “consistently provided false information” to police, and “medical personnel subsequently opined that the minor would have survived if he had received medical attention during the overdose event.”

“Parents have not only a moral duty but a legal duty to protect and care for their children,” officials said in the release. “This senseless and tragic death of a 14-year-old was entirely preventable had medical treatment been sought for this child. The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office continues to remain committed to the prosecution of all those involved in drug-related deaths that occur in our communities, especially those involving the most vulnerable – our children."

Eric Ullrich also was charged last month with communicating with a witness after he “offered to deliver money or a thing of value” for the witness to give false information, according to the indictment. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

At 10:50 a.m. Jan. 3, 2024, the Richmond Township Fire Protection District was called to Eric Ullrich’s home for a report of a person experiencing “difficulty breathing,” officials have said.

Trent was pronounced dead in Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital’s emergency room later that day. Police found heroin, fentanyl and cocaine throughout the house owned by Eric Ullrich, authorities said.

As paramedics worked to save her son’s life, Cara Ullrich hid in a bathtub until she was found, police said. Although the couple was divorced by then, Eric Ullrich allowed his ex-wife to stay at the house, according to earlier reports.

The McHenry County coroner determined that Trent died from the effects of fentanyl and xylazine, a dangerous animal tranquilizer that authorities said began showing up in McHenry County overdose deaths in 2020.

That day, Eric Ullrich told police that he was not aware of his son doing drugs, authorities have said. The night before the child died, Cara Ullrich bought two bags of fentanyl and heroin and brought it to her ex-husband’s house, prosecutors have said during previous hearings.

Cara and Eric Ullrich argued that night because Cara Ullrich said she could not find her drugs, and she noticed that her son was in his bed and unresponsive, prosecutors said. Authorities also have said a small bag containing a grayish powdery substance was found on the floor next to the boy’s bed.

Cara Ullrich, who has pleaded not guilty on all counts, is scheduled for a status update in court Jan. 15.

An Antioch man also was charged in connection with the child’s death. Jose Limas, 69, is accused of selling the fatal doses of fentanyl and xylazine to Cara Ullrich, court records show; he is charged with drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony. If convicted, he could spend up to 30 years in prison. Limas has been in custody at the jail since his arrest in July.

Eric Ullrich’s case was prosecuted by newly elected McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese along with Chief of Staff Ashley Romito and Special Prosecutor William Bruce, according to the release.