On March 10, 2019, Sheriff’s Detectives met with the victim, Jeffrey R. Weiss, 60, of the 300 block of South Waukegan Road, Deerfield. The meeting took place at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, where Weiss had been transported due to his stroke-like symptoms.
At that time, Weiss spoke with detectives and corroborated information detectives learned from other inmates, who witnessed the incident.
Later in the day on March 10th, Weiss had a procedure to remove a long-term blockage in one of his arteries. On March 11, 2019, Weiss had a procedure to reduce swelling on his brain and medical staff placed him in a temporary-induced coma with a ventilator, to help with the swelling reduction.
On March 21, 2019, hospital staff removed Weiss from the induced coma and ventilator. At that time, Weiss’ next of kin made the decision not to continue medical care, should Weiss not be able to continue living without the support of the ventilator. On March 29, 2019, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives were informed Weiss went into medical distress and he was not resuscitated, per the wishes of his next of kin.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner in an effort to determine if Weiss’ death is in any way associated with the battery which took placed on March 9th.
Following the results of the autopsy, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives will work with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to determine if additional charges will be filed against Timothy Adams.
Sheriff John Idleburg said, “Our condolences go out to the Weiss family on the loss of their loved-one. If his death is attributed to being battered by Adams, we will do everything possible to hold Adams accountable for his actions.”
ORIGINAL RELEASE: Jail Inmate Charged with Aggravated Battery (issued 3/11/19)
On March 9, 2019, a Lake County Jail Inmate was found by a Corrections Officer to be suffering what initially appeared to be a medical emergency. The inmate, a 59-year-old man of Deerfield, was found on the floor of his cell, having labored breathing. An ambulance was summoned and the inmate was transported to Vista East Hospital in Waukegan. The inmate was subsequently transferred to another hospital with stroke-like symptoms.
Further investigation revealed the stroke-like symptoms were caused following a physical altercation with another inmate, Timothy R. Adams, 36, of the 2000 block of 20th Street, North Chicago.
Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to the Jail and conducted further investigation. Preliminary investigation shows the 59-year-old inmate was in a verbal argument with Adams. Following the argument, while the Corrections Officer assigned to the jail-pod was conducting rounds, Adams choked the 59-year-old inmate. Adams then punched a 40-year-old inmate in the face.
Adams was charged with Aggravated Battery – Causing Great Bodily Harm (Class 3 Felony) and Battery (Class A Misdemeanor). Adams, who is currently being held on $500,000.00 bail for his other charges, is due in court this afternoon regarding his new charges.
The 59-year-old inmate is due to be discharged from the hospital this week and will return to the Lake County Jail.
Sheriff John Idleburg said, “We will seek prosecution for any inmate who makes the unwise decision to engage in a physical fight. We will absolutely not tolerate inmates fighting with other inmates, fighting with our staff, or violating jail rules.”
Sheriff Idleburg reminds the community all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.