Mother pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Richmond teen’s fatal overdose

An Antioch mom pleaded guilty Friday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her 14-year-old son, who overdosed on fentanyl and xylazine last year in Richmond, court records show.

Cara M. Ullrich, 46, entered a guilty plea in McHenry County court in front of Judge Tiffany Davis to one count of involuntary manslaughter and possession of less than 15 grams of fentanyl. It was a blind plea, meaning Ullrich doesn’t yet know what her sentence will be.

In exchange for the plea, murder charges against Ullrich in the 2024 death of her son Trent were dropped. She is scheduled for sentencing April 30 and will continue to be detained in the McHenry County Jail, according to court records.

Ullrich originally was charged with first-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, possession of drugs and both felony and misdemeanor counts of child endangerment, according to the original indictment.

Last month, Ullrich’s former husband and Trent’s father, Eric Ullrich, 52, also entered a blind guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter, as well as to communicating with a witness.

Involuntary manslaughter, a Class 2 felony, can have a sentencing range between three and 14 years in prison, and the Class 4 felony of possession of fentanyl can have a sentence of one to three years. If sentenced to prison, Cara Ullrich could serve the terms consecutively to each other as well as to the prison sentence she is currently serving for aggravated battery, according to a news release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Eric Ullrich’s sentencing is scheduled for March 5 in front of Judge Christopher Harmon, according to court records.

Authorities have said that the Richmond Township Fire Protection District was called to Eric Ullrich’s home at 10:50 a.m. Jan. 3, 2024, for a report of a person experiencing “difficulty breathing.”

Trent was pronounced dead in Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital’s emergency room later that day. Police found heroin, fentanyl and cocaine throughout the house owned by Eric Ullrich, authorities said.

As paramedics worked to save her son’s life, Cara Ullrich hid in a bathtub until she was found, police have said. Although the couple was divorced by then, Eric Ullrich allowed his ex-wife to stay at the house, according to earlier reports.

The McHenry County coroner determined that Trent died from the effects of fentanyl and xylazine, a dangerous animal tranquilizer that authorities said began showing up in McHenry County overdose deaths in 2020.

The night before her son’s death, Cara Ullrich bought two bags of fentanyl and heroin and brought it to her ex-husband’s house, prosecutors have said during previous hearings.

The day Trent was pronounced dead, Eric Ullrich told police that he was not aware of his son doing drugs, authorities have said. But authorities contended that he became aware of his son’s deteriorating condition and did not immediately seek medical help.

Also, Cara and Eric Ullrich had argued that night because she said she could not find her drugs, and she noticed that her son was in his bed and unresponsive, prosecutors said. Authorities have said a small bag containing a grayish powdery substance was found on the floor next to the boy’s bed.

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 and has pleaded not guilty.

Cara Ullrich’s case was prosecuted by McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese along with Chief of Staff Ashley Romito and Special Prosecutor William Bruce, according to the state’s attorney’s office news release.