Brother-In-Law Admits To Role In Concealing Woman's Fatal OD
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (CBS) -- A man from Round Lake Park, charged with concealing his sister-in-law's homicide, has admitted to his role in the crime and agreed to testify against his wife.
As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, Charles Best, 37, has accepted a plea deal to avoid prison time for concealing the drug overdose death of his sister-in-law, Melissa Ann Best, 34, in April of this year, the Lake County News Sun reported.
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Charles Best will testify against his wife, Sherry, who prosecutors say gave Melissa a fatal dose of heroin.
In May, Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko says Melissa Best injected herself in the arm with the heroin, and died almost immediately in the efficiency apartment Sherry and Charles Best rented at the Crosslands Motel, on Illinois 41, in Waukegan.
But instead of making an immediate call to 911 to seek assistance, Sherry Best did nothing initially, Filenko said, eliminating any chance that her sister could be revived.
Instead, the first to try to render assistance to Melissa Best was her brother-in-law, who tried CPR unsuccessfully when he arrived at the apartment 20 minutes to 30 minutes later.
By that time, Filenko said, it was too late.
Filenko said that Sherry Best also admitted to using heroin that day.
Charles and Sherry Best soon decided to move the body and make it appear that she died elsewhere, Filenko said, for two reasons. He said Charles Best was on parole and feared he would be found in violation and jailed. And Filenko said the couple's two children were already in custody of the Illinois Department and Family Services, and they feared that they would lose custody permanently.
Best allegedly told police that together, he and his wife carried Melissa's body to her van and hid it in the back.
Charles Best allegedly said that he then drove the van to a Grayslake parking lot, where it was discovered 10 days later.
Charles Best has pleaded guilty to concealment, and was sentenced to 180 days in the Lake County Jail, 150 hours of community service, 24 months probation, $3,393 in court costs, and a $500 fine that will be donated to the Drug Court, the News-Sun reported.
