Coroner identifies 48-year-old McHenry County Jail inmate who died at hospital

McHENRY – The McHenry County coroner is investigating the death of a 48-year-old jail inmate who died at Centegra Hospital – McHenry.

Jody T. Fortino of Spring Grove was taken about 6 p.m. Tuesday from the McHenry County Jail to the emergency room for evaluation of abdominal pain, according to a news release from McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski. Fortino was pronounced dead at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Preliminary findings from her autopsy show the presence of a perforated duodenal ulcer with spillage of fecal contents into the abdominal cavity, Majewski said. No evidence of trauma or foul play was found.

The final cause of death will be determined after results of a comprehensive autopsy, Majewski said.

Fortino’s boyfriend, Shane Colberg, made a court appearance Wednesday to ask McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather to release him from the McHenry County Jail for the weekend so he could make funeral arrangements for Fortino.

Colberg and Fortino both were arrested Feb. 7 for possession of an anabolic steroid, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to complaints filed in McHenry County court.

Colberg’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof, told Prather on Wednesday in court that Fortino had been in court Tuesday in a wheelchair and had since died.

Colberg was crying in court Wednesday, which also was his 44th birthday.

Prosecutors objected to his release, and Prather denied the request based on his criminal history.

Behof then asked Prather to reduce Colberg’s bond to $5,000, allowing him to post bail at $500 to be released. Prather also denied that request. On Tuesday, Prather reduced Fortino’s bond to $20,000.

Colberg is due back in court March 5.