Pubdate: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 Source: Rockford Register Star (IL) Copyright: 2007 Rockford Register Star Contact: http://www.rrstar.com/ezaccess/contactus/lettertotheeditor.shtml Website: http://www.rrstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/370 Author: Mike Wiser, Rockford Register Star Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) WOMAN, 36, CHARGED IN HEROIN OVERDOSE THAT KILLED BOYFRIEND ROCKFORD -- A 36-year-old Wisconsin woman faces homicide charges here for allegedly injecting her boyfriend with a load of heroin that killed him. [Name redacted]a of Albany, Wis., was in custody in Green County, Wis., Monday awaiting extradition to Winnebago County on a charge of drug-induced homicide. Her boyfriend, Max A. Huffman, 52, also of Albany, was pronounced dead, possibly from a drug overdose, at SwedishAmerican Hospital on Dec. 12, after being dropped off that day at the emergency room. A later examination of Huffman's body showed that he had died of a heroin overdose. "In this case, she provided him with a lethal dose of heroin," Rockford Deputy Police Chief Greg Lindmark said. "We found that out during our investigation following the death." Lindmark said [Name redacted], Huffman and two other people traveled from Wisconsin to visit acquaintances here. They bought some heroin and shot up at a residence in the 1000 block of South Third Street. After injecting the drug, Huffman became sick and was taken to the hospital. Winnebago County First Deputy State's Attorney Chuck Prorok said under the law, a person does not have to know that the amount or purity of the heroin could kill someone in order for the person to be charged with drug-induced homicide. Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said toxicology results didn't find any evidence of fentanyl, an anesthetic and analgesic, that was mixed with some heroin and blamed for several deaths last year. Last summer, 29-year-old Renee M. Allen pleaded guilty to a charge of drug-induced homicide in connection with the death of Matthew Raefler, 20, who also died of a heroin overdose. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison and is in custody at the Dwight Correctional Center, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Because Huffman died in December, his death was added to the 2006 totals, bringing the city's total for last year to 18. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman