Coroner: Man found in truck in Antioch died of natural causes
By Frank Abderholden fabderholden@stmedianetwork.com December 27, 2012 7:32PM
Updated: January 29, 2013 6:30AM
ANTIOCH — A man found dead inside his vehicle in Antioch after his ex-girlfriend tried to take him home to his business by the state line died of natural causes, according to authorities.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd said Thursday that David Heaton, 26, who apparently was living inside his business at Russell Road and Route 41 died of natural causes.
“He had an enlarged heart and a very high glucose (indicating diabetes),” said Rudd. The high glucose combined with the alcohol caused him to die a natural death, said the coroner.
Heaton went to visit his former girlfriend on Hawthorn Lane in Antioch on Sunday and she told investigators that he had been drinking. At around 7 p.m., she drove him to his business, but they apparently couldn’t get through the gate.
She then returned to Antioch and parked his truck in the 300 block of Hawthorn Lane, about a block from her home, and left him sleeping inside the truck.
Police found him Monday morning just before 8 a.m. and he was dead. The temperature inside the vehicle was 38 degrees and there was no skin discoloration that would have indicated carbon monoxide poisoning.
Rudd said authorities believe Heaton was staying at his business because they could not find another residence for him in Illinois or Wisconsin. He has a brother who lives in Lake Villa who was notified as next of kin.
