“Evans said this afternoon an “unopened box of rat poison” was found at the scene”
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Cops: Christopher Kelly tried to kill himself before
Christopher Kelly, who died from an apparent overdose this weekend, had tried to kill himself four days earlier after pleading guilty to federal charges, officials said today.
Country Club Hills Police Chief Regina Evans said Kelly apparently took over-the-counter medication just hours after entering the plea on Sept. 8. He called a friend seeking help, she said, and they drove to a hospital but didn’t go inside.
“He convinced his friends he was okay and just wanted to go home,” she said. “They decided Mr. Kelly did not need help at that time.”
But in the following days, friends and family tried to get him help, she said.
On Friday night, Kelly set up photographs of his children in a rented trailer in a lumber yard in Country Club Hills, then ingested pills, according to a source with specific knowledge of the investigation into Kelly’s death.
For some reason, he then left the trailer and attempted to drive away from the area. He made it only about 100 feet in the parking lot of the Forest Lumber yard before contacting his girlfriend, touching off a chain of events that saw Kelly taken to two hospitals before he died.
Evans said this afternoon an “unopened box of rat poison” was found at the scene. There was also “a sleeping bag, there were photos of three young girls and miscellaneous other items including food, trash and clothing,” she added.
Evans said the suburb’s investigation has concluded the death “was an apparent suicide” and no one else was involved. “There is no evidence whatsoever of involvement by other persons.”
The chief said a friend of Kelly’s gave police a note that may have been written by Kelly. She stopped short of calling it a suicide note, and declined to describe its contents in deference to Kelly’s family.
Evans described the note as rambling and “personal in nature,” but not addressed to anyone in particular.
She said it hasn’t even been confirmed it was written by Kelly, but the “implication was it may have been.” The note has been sent to the state crime lab for analysis, she said.
One of Kelly’s best friends, who had been sought by police since attempting to drive Kelly’s SUV from Oak Forest Hospital, has given a statement to police detailing what happened that night, the Tribune has learned.
The friend, Michael Allen, gave his statement to authorities on Monday, said a source with specific knowledge of the situation. He has also turned over items he removed from the trailer to police, the chief said. They included an open bottle of aspirin and an empty bottle of Tylenol.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/christopher-kelly-may-have-taken-rat-poison.html
-—I wish they would get their story straight-—
Jeff Coen Breaking News Center
September 15, 2009
According to [Police Chief] Evans, police found an open aspirin bottle and several pills which they could not identify in Kelly’s SUV.
Evans said police also found an “unopened box of rat poison” at the scene. She added that there was also “a sleeping bag, there were photos of three young girls and miscellaneous other items including food, trash and clothing.”
When Kelly was asked at the hospital whether he overdosed on Tylenol or aspirin, Kelly said “no, I only took Tylenol for pain. I had recent surgery on my private parts.”
The police have concluded the death “was an apparent suicide” and that no one else was involved. “There is no evidence whatsoever of involvement by other persons,” said Evans.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Suprises-Coming-in-Kelly-Case-Cops-59328102.html