* The latest from the Chris Kelly case. He may have taken rat poison…
Christopher Kelly placed a mattress in a rented trailer at a suburban lumber yard Friday night, set up photographs of his children around it, then ingested pills and possibly rat poison, 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.
Horrible. Just horrible.
* The Sun-Times has some interesting background on Kelly’s death…
Just days before he died of an apparent overdose, a defiant Christopher Kelly was resolved to fight a corruption trial he faced, if only to thumb his nose at federal authorities.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s fund-raiser and adviser suddenly flip-flopped, however, after faced with another point of pressure. On the eve of trial, the government asked a judge to revoke Kelly’s bond, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
“The motion pushed him over the edge,” leading him to plead guilty, said a confidant, who asked not to be named. […]
The government’s request came after Kelly got into what one source described as a shouting match with an owner of VLive Club. Kelly had demanded to see the club’s books. He had invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the business through his girlfriend, Clarissa Flores, sources familiar with the exchange said.
Sneed fills in another blank…
: A top source tells Sneed “there was a prior attempt by Kelly to kill himself a week before he died . . . apparently with pills.”
* The Tribune editorial board wonders aloud…
Something that’s key to questions about his treatment: Kelly was lucid enough to speak to police and was stabilized at one point early Saturday. Later that morning, his condition apparently deteriorated and hospital officials sent him to Stroger Hospital, about 25 miles away. […]
But acute aspirin overdoses are generally treatable. It’s surprising for a person to die of an aspirin overdose today. It’s also very unusual if you reach the hospital and are able to receive treatment. A majority of people who die of drug overdoses expire before they reach a hospital, experts say.
That’s not something that I had found in my own reading these past few days. The Southtown straightens it out…
It may seem strange that Christopher Kelly would be talking coherently, then die several hours later, but Oak Forest Hospital physician Srinivas Jolepalem said it’s rather common in overdose cases.
“You can’t say someone’s stable just because they’re sitting up. That’s not the criteria they would use to figure out his condition,” said Jolepalem, who was not on duty the night of the incident. “Once a toxin is absorbed, and it goes to the kidney and brain, many things might start happening. The person would have difficulty breathing and can become comatose then die from kidney failure or brain damage.”
Depending how much of the substance the person ingested and how strong their body is, it can take up to several hours for this to happen.
Dr. Michael O’Mara, chairman of the emergency department at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, said some drugs work quickly while others might take several days to kill a person.
And then there’s this from the Sun-Times…
When Kelly appeared stable and calm, Dr. Basava Ancha, who treated Kelly, decided it was best to transfer him to Stroger Hospital, where the county’s top toxicologist was on duty. [emphasis added]
One can’t help but wonder if Kelly just didn’t tell the docs about any poisons he may have taken. The Tribune editorial board, as usual, probably should’ve waited for more facts before blundering into this topic.
* Meanwhile, the key witness in the case, Clarissa Flores-Buhelos, was interviewed by Country Club Hills police, and the local chief of police said she was “cooperating.” AP…
[Defense attorney Terrence Gillespie] had said earlier Monday that Flores-Buhelos called him Friday night and told him that police wanted to question her. He said he agreed to meet with her and the police in his office on Saturday morning. But when she called police back to set up the appointment, they said Saturday morning would be inconvenient and suggested meeting on Monday.
[Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch] told reporters on Sunday that Flores-Buhelos had “lawyered up” and was no longer cooperating with the police — something Gillespie challenged. She was always willing to cooperate, Gillespie said, but merely wanted to be accompanied by her lawyer when questioned.
Gillespie also criticized Welch for holding up Flores-Buhelos’ driver’s license at a news conference over the weekend and suggesting she was unwilling to cooperate.
“It’s outrageous — I’ve never seen anything like this in 30 years,” Gillespie said.
He’s right about that.
…Adding… Patterson has posted the video of Kelly’s speech during Rod Blagojevich’s first inauguration.
- Wilecoyote - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:15 am:
Mayor Welch is really stretching his 15 minutes of fame. He comes across poorly. Does he have law enforcement or forensic experience? It is bizarre how this is playing out.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:17 am:
Welch and Blago have no shame.
Shakedowns, kickbacks, bookies, tax evasion, Vegas, millions in debts, bid-rigging, girls on the side… What a cautionary tale. You can lead a fulfilling life without burning the candle at both ends.
- Anon - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:26 am:
Wordslinger, where is the logic in your comment? I dont even understand what one word has to do with the next.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:29 am:
The guy lived a frantic, reckless life pursuing action and money. And now he’s dead. A cautionary tale.
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:30 am:
The juxtaposition of Blago & Patti frolicking in New York City while Kelly was puking his guts out in a lonely parking lot is striking. It’s amazing to think that Kelly thought Blagojevich deserved his loyalty. If Kelly had gotten some good guidance at some point maybe he would be alive and a productive citizen today. But people like Kelly give advice, they don’t take advice.
These people are going to put the fiction writers out of business, it’s not fair. What will Thurow and Paretsky do now?
Is everyone waiting to be “pleased” by Mayor Welch’s next performance this afternoon?
- I'm just saying - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:31 am:
May god rest his soul, and lets try to temper our remarks today as we think of that……
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:41 am:
Blagojevich should have just said I am sorry to hear this and feel sorry for his family. END but no, he had to inject other venum.
Are they really going to let Welch go on with the press conferance after that last dissaster? Certainly one of some investigating agencis should try and stop it. (State Crime, FBI, any)
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:42 am:
A popular new expression is “teachable moment” and it seems to me that we are in one such moment at present. To gloss over this event with bland treacle does not do it justice, in my opinion. If we don’t take note of the psychology, politics, and legal aspects of what happened we simply condemn ourselves to dull acceptance of whatever happens.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:43 am:
Third, I can’t see how the feds or state would have any jurisdiction. It’s a local death investigation.
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:45 am:
3GCN, there IS some fascination to watching train wrecks….
- Anon - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:49 am:
I’m Just Saying — well said.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:52 am:
this is enough of a train wreck without the speculation about what the medical care was. wait for facts. the Tribune was irresponsible in writing that editorial. and they wonder why people file lawsuits? it’s because they think out loud like that editorial and call lawyers. wait. just wait. there’s enough that is actually, factually happening before our eyes and ears to talk about.
- Pat collins - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 10:56 am:
Welch
He should see how the police are handling the Yale students death. Short, to the point statements of fact. And not much until they have facts, and have investigated them.
placed a mattress in a rented trailer
Incredibly sad.
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:01 am:
TW, good point. Not much premeditation. Probably in great turmoil.
I feel sorry for the guy for getting to that condition, but let’s not lose track of the fact that this (the whole Blagojevich mess) is the result of hubris and corruption.
- winco - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:03 am:
Welch used to be a police officer, I read somewhere. But he needs to realize he isn’t anymore. Mayors should only talk about investigations, during investigations, if there are reasonable allegations that the police did something wrong. Otherwise, they simply politicize a law enforcement operation.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:07 am:
Two deletions so far, and I have no time for this.
Lifetime commenting ban for the next person I delete. If you think you’re being cute, then don’t post it.
I’m serious about this. A lifetime ban is a very long time. And there’s no appeals process. You’re out for good.
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:09 am:
Rich, you are a saint. I just realized why you deleted TW’s post.
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:11 am:
I don’t think TW was being smart. It was just a mental lapse IMO.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:17 am:
I found out from just a few minutes of checking various medical websites on the topic of aspirin overdose that this condition isn’t easy to treat — mainly because aspirin/salicylates take several hours to reach peak levels in the blood, and sometimes more than one blood test has to be performed to determine how serious a case it is. This is particularly true if the patient is unable to tell or refuses to tell the doctors exactly what medication/substance he took or how much.
Toss Tylenol or other prescription drugs or non-drug substances into the mix and you have even more potential complications such as liver or kidney failure that can result.
Nevertheless, a lot of blog commenters (not here, of course) assumed that either medical incompetence or foul play “had to” be involved purely because Kelly didn’t die immediately and/or two different hospitals were involved.
Bottom line is it’s a horrible way to go and an awful memory for his wife, kids, and girlfriend to live with.
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:19 am:
Welch was on John Stroger’s security detail (bodyguard) years ago. Obviously the handling of press conferances, investigations, evidence, etc. was not used a lot in that function, and it shows by his press conference.
- just sayin - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:28 am:
I’m guessing that rat poison is a particularly painful way to go. Might explain why he soon had second thoughts and maybe was seeking help.
I just wish the local authorities would stop the bungling. The crazy conspiracy theories are going to match those we heard about Vince Foster during the Clinton years.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:34 am:
IIRC, Kelly held the Bible while Blago was sworn in the first time — an indication of the esteem in which Blago held him at that time. (I don’t recall who did this at the second Blago inauguration; Pat Quinn gave the honor to one of his sons at his own hastily arranged inaugural ceremony.)
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:39 am:
I’m amazed that Welch would say that there’s some aspect of this that we would be “pleased” about. Unreal.
- Anonymous45 - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 11:43 am:
This is a side of the political game that is played for keeps…careers, families and life itself can hang in the balance…the influence and necessity of big money to win a campaign is the underlying “teachable moment” that this story for me at least drives home without a doubt…Blago’s fundraising machine was legendary, and maybe has claimed it’s first victim…this will no doubt continue to play out over the course of the next months and years…
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 12:34 pm:
I find it strangely quirky that the feds (the FBI, for cripes sake) admit there is anything left they don’t have jurisdiction over.
- Been There - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 12:47 pm:
===I find it strangely quirky that the feds (the FBI, for cripes sake) admit there is anything left they don’t have jurisdiction over. ===
Steve, sometimes there are things they don’t want to have jurisdiction over. This probably being one of them. If they think he was responsible for his own death they probably want the local police to have the jurisdiction. They got all they were going to get from Chris and any other conspiracy theories from this case are not going to help them in their current investigations. If they wanted to be involved they would be.
- ahem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 12:54 pm:
WGN said last night that the press conference is at 4pm. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/investigators-looking-for-chris-kellys-cell-phone.html
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 3:27 pm:
–I find it strangely quirky that the feds (the FBI, for cripes sake) admit there is anything left they don’t have jurisdiction over.==
Steve, upon further review, if the feds wanted to mix it up, they could probably try to assert authority because of Kelley’s status as a convicted felon. Based on the Mayor Welch Show, I don’t think they have.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 4:25 pm:
been there, ws-that’s really my point; they assert jurisdiction whenever/wherever they want to, so they have chosen to leave this alone. They had already bled Kelly dry, and dead, he is of no further potential value to them..
- PPHS - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 4:41 pm:
I keep thinking back to last week, when Kelly pled guilty and someone said that Chris could do 8 years “standing on his head.” I can’t shake that comment.
I hope that his wife and kids are not left in a real financial crisis. I feel so bad for his family.
- Thomas Westgard - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 4:54 pm:
Not sure if I’m being “smart” or not. I just don’t think there’s any chance someone would come here for that kind of information.
- Justice - Tuesday, Sep 15, 09 @ 5:24 pm:
So sad. Many who commit …suicide do not realize the “ripple” effect that has on all the people that have walked through your life. May he no longer be tormented. My prayers go out to his family and especially his children.