FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese announced today that the Honorable Judge Joel Berg granted the State’s petition to deny pretrial release for Karl Petermann, 43, of Lake in the Hills, Illinois. Petermann appeared in Initial Appearance Court on May 29, 2026, charged with Drug Induced Homicide, a Class X felony, along with additional drug possession charges.

Evidence presented in court established that on July 28, 2025, Petermann provided crack cocaine to a woman at his apartment in Lake in the Hills. After ingesting the crack cocaine, the woman suffered a fatal overdose later that same night. The investigation determined that cocaine toxicity caused her death.

"The loss of life resulting from illegal drug distribution continues to devastate families and communities," said State’s Attorney Freese. "Our office remains committed to working alongside law enforcement to investigate every overdose death in McHenry County and to hold accountable those who provide the drugs that lead to these tragic and preventable fatalities. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.”

Petermann remains detained pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 4, 2026, in Courtroom 302.

The charges against Petermann are the result of an investigation conducted by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office, with assistance from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint contains only allegations and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, during which the State bears the burden of proving the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

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