Former Oswego Resident Charged With Drug-Induced Homicide

A man under investigation for the 2010 drug-related death of an Oswego woman has been charged in what likely is the county's first drug-induced homicide prosecution, according to an Oswego Police news release and prosecutors.

Jason E. Kidd, 36, was taken into custody Monday at about 12:30 p.m. at his home in the 0-99 block of Margarets Lane, Aurora, and charged with the Class X felony. He was transported to Kendall County Jail with bail being set at $500,000.

Kendall County State's Attorney Eric Weis said he was "about 99 percent positive" Kidd was the first person charged with drug-induced homicide in Kendall County. The charge targets those who sell, hand or otherwise transfer controlled substances to someone who later dies after ingesting any amount of that substance.

“It’s the first one that I can remember since the law went into effect," Weis said.

Oswego Police responded to a death investigation at about 6:30 a.m. March 7, 2010, at the home Kidd then shared with Meredith Castro, 36, in the 100 block of Canterbury Court. Castro was found unresponsive and pronounced dead on the scene.

An investigation revealed that prior to her death, Castro had taken cocaine purchased by Kidd, the release said. Kidd delivered the cocaine to Castro and ingested the drug with her, Weis said. She was voluntarily taking cocaine, Weis said.

An autopsy and toxicology test revealed that she died from an overdose of cocaine and opiate.

If convicted, Kidd faces up to 30 years in prison.