DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Wheaton Police Chief Bill Murphy announced today that an Aurora man has been charged with supplying cocaine to an acquaintance resulting in a fatal overdose. Markwon Wilson, 21 (d.o.b. 5/31/2002) of the 1700 block of Ravine Park Lane, appeared at a bond hearing last week in front of Judge Michael Reidy, who set bond at $500,000 with 10% to apply. On July 12, 2023, Judge Joshua Dieden issued a $750,000 with 10% to apply arrest warrant for Wilson. Wilson was arrested by Wheaton detectives and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputies on July 26, 2023. He is charged with one count of Drug Induced Homicide, a Class X Felony, in the death of 62-year-old Raul Torres of Wheaton.
It is alleged that March 29, 2021, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Wheaton police officers and paramedics responded to a call in the 2000 block of W. Roosevelt Road for an unresponsive male, later identified as Torres. Upon their arrival, authorities found Torres, unconscious and not breathing, on the living room couch with a pipe in his hand and a white powdery substance, later identified as cocaine, on the floor in front of him. Torres was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Through the course of their investigation into Torres’s death, police identified Wilson as the individual who allegedly supplied Torres with the illegal narcotics. It is alleged that on March 29, 2021, Wilson went to Torres home and sold him crack cocaine. It is further alleged that Torres ingested the drugs Wilson supplied to him and died as a result of a drug overdose. Wilson was taken into custody on July 26, 2023, and charged the same day. He appeared at his bond hearing the following day. Wilson is currently facing a Manufacture/Delivery of 400-900 Grams of Cocaine charge (Class Super X) out of Winnebago County.
“Illegal narcotics continue to take thousands of lives each year,” Berlin said. “These souls are lost forever while those who supplied the deadly doses make money from death, as alleged in this case. The charges filed today should send a shiver down the spine of anyone who makes the mistake of selling drugs in DuPage County, where we look at every illegal narcotics overdose case as the potential result of criminal action committed by the supplier. My sincere condolences go out to Mr. Torres’ family and friends as they grieve their loss. I thank the Wheaton Police Department for their thorough investigation into this unfortunate death as well as the Winnebago Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandria Levan for her work on this case.”
"This investigation is an excellent example of the diligence and tenacity of our officers and detectives,” Murphy said. “I specifically want to commend Detectives Jacquelyn Johnson and Kayte Witten for their skill and professionalism during this investigation, including locating and arresting Mr. Wilson. Through their hard work and with the assistance of State's Attorney Bob Berlin's staff, justice will be served for Mr. Torres and his family."
Wilson’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 23, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Reidy.
Markwon Wilson
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.