Sentencing for Richmond man in son’s overdose death postponed until March

The sentencing of a Richmond father has been moved to March after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of his 14-year-old son, who overdosed on fentanyl and xylazine, court records show.

Eric Ullrich, 52, entered a guilty plea before McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen Friday to involuntary manslaughter and communicating with a witness. In exchange for the plea – which came on the one-year anniversary of his son Trent’s death – murder charges against Ullrich were dropped. It is a so-called blind plea, meaning he did not get a set sentence, as is often agreed to in negotiated pleas, and he is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 5 after a pre-sentence investigation is completed, according to court documents. The sentencing had been set for Monday.

Involuntary manslaughter, a Class 2 felony, can result in a sentence ranging from three and 14 years in prison, and the Class 3 felony of communicating with a witness can carry a term between two and five years; Ullrich could be required to serve the sentences consecutively, according to a McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

Prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentencing of 19 years, according to court records.

Ullrich’s former wife and Trent’s mother, Cara Ullrich, 46, of Round Lake Beach, is currently being held in the county jail while awaiting trial in connection with her son’s death. She is charged with first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, four counts of endangering the life of a child, two counts of possession of drugs and two misdemeanor charges of endangering the health or life of a child.

Cara Ullrich, who has pleaded not guilty on all counts, is scheduled for a status update in court Jan. 15. It’s unclear if Eric Ullrich will testify against her.

Prosecutors said in a McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office news release that Eric Ullrich “consistently provided false information” to police, and “medical personnel subsequently opined that the minor would have survived if he had received medical attention during the overdose event.”

An Antioch man also was charged in connection with the child’s death. Jose Limas, 69, is accused of selling the fatal doses of fentanyl and xylazine to Cara Ullrich, court records show; he is charged with drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony. If convicted, he could spend up to 30 years in prison. Limas has been in custody at the jail since his arrest in July.