'Highly concerning:' Kenosha County medical examiner reports 3 overdose deaths in 12 hours

KENOSHA COUNTY -- It was a tragic Memorial Day weekend in Kenosha County, with the medical examiner reporting three overdose deaths on Saturday, May 25 alone.

According to a news release, those who died ranged in age from 20s to 50s. Two were men, and the third was a woman.

Each of the cases occurred within about a 12-hour span, and the three people who died were suspected of using cocaine and/or heroin.

One case took place in Kenosha, and the other in Twin Lakes. The third was a person from Antioch, Illinois, but because they were taken to the Froedtert South St. Catherine's Medical Center Campus, this was a Kenosha County death investigation.

“It’s highly concerning that we had three suspected overdose deaths within such a short time span,” said Patrice Hall, Kenosha County medical examiner, in the release. “I’m bringing this to the attention of the public so that they are aware of what’s going on, and that treatment is available.”

The medical examiner said in all of 2018, there were 48 overdose deaths in Kenosha County -- an average of less than one case per week.

The release noted in addition to the fatal cases, first responders with the Kenosha Fire Department responded to two other cases Saturday that were non-fatal.

Jim Poltrock, the Kenosha Fire Department's EMS division chief noted the department handled an unusually high number of overdose cases in recent weeks, including 43 calls between April 20 and May 26 -- 30 of them opioid related.

The release said Kenosha County officials continue to fight the opioid epidemic with efforts including the Kenosha County Opioid Task Force, free Narcan training and supply for anyone in the community, and medication-assisted treatment.

Kenosha County officials offered this information/resources for those in need:

Free Narcan training/education: 


    Know what a suspected overdose looks like: 


      Treatment/resources:


        Prevention: