Aurora Man Indicted for Reckless Homicide in Death of Naperville Woman 

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett and DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba announced that the DuPage County Grand Jury yesterday voted a true bill indicting Grant R. Owen, 37 (d.o.b. 7/25/67) of 509 S. Gladstone Avenue in Aurora, on four (4) counts of Reckless Homicide and one (1) count of Aggravated DUI in connection with the motor vehicle collision which resulted in the death of a Naperville woman.  The victim, Elena Gheorghe, 30, was the driver in the car that the defendant hit.  A warrant for Owen’s arrest was signed last night by Judge Brian McKillip, with bail being set at $250,000 – 10% to apply. 

This indictment alleges that at approximately 12:36 p.m. on February 28, 2004, Owen was driving a 2003 Chevy Pick-up traveling northbound on Naperville Road in unincorporated DuPage County, near Wheaton.  The defendant, who is alleged to have been under the influence of cannabis, crossed over four lanes of traffic and hit an oncoming 2003 Honda that was traveling southbound on Naperville Road.  The victim, Elena Gheorghe, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove where she was pronounced dead shortly after 1:00 p.m. that afternoon.  The defendant was also transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was treated and released.    

Officers of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and immediately began an investigation.  Evidence was gathered from the scene and from Good Samaritan Hospital, some of which was sent to labs for analysis.  Additional evidence was recently obtained by the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office.  That evidence was reviewed by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and the case was then taken to the DuPage County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment returned yesterday.

No future court information will be available until the defendant turns himself in to the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and appears in bond court.

If found guilty, the defendant faces penalties of from 3 to 14 years for the Reckless Homicide, a Special Class 2 felony, and from 1 to 12 years for the Aggravated DUI, a Special Class 4 felony.

“When you mix alcohol or drugs with driving a several thousand pound vehicle on the highway, the results can be deadly,” commented State’s Attorney Birkett.  “This victim was driving her car in the middle of the afternoon through a suburban community.  The defendant is alleged to have crossed three lanes of traffic while he was traveling in the opposite direction, then crashed into this woman’s car, tragically taking her life.  It’s plain and simple - drugs and driving do not mix.”

State’s Attorney Birkett thanked the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough and professional investigation.  He further thanked the Assistant State’s Attorney’s of his office for their assistance, as well as the staff at Good Samaritan Hospital for their cooperation throughout the course of this investigation.

“The laws are there,” State’s Attorney Birkett continued.  “But people have to follow them in order for society to be protected.  Our sympathies go out to the Gheorghe family.  Hopefully this indictment will answer some of the questions they have had about this crash that took Elena’s life.  It is now up to the criminal justice system to ensure that justice is done.”

Members of the public are reminded that this indictment 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.