March 29, 2024
Local News

Police 'hopeful' for upgraded charges in New Lenox Township battery case

Will County Sheriff officials are hopeful charges will be upgraded in a case where a Park Forest man has been charged with attacking a man who later died from his injuries.

On Thursday, sheriff spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said the investigations division of the sheriff’s office was awaiting the formal autopsy report from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office concerning the death of Wayne Deutsch, 39, of Orland Park. She said investigators have received that report.

“We are hopeful that upgraded charges will be forthcoming,” Hoffmeyer said.

Devon Ward, 27, of the 500 block of Blair Street remains charged with two counts of aggravated battery in connection with Deutsch’s death. An indictment filed Sept. 10 accused Ward of striking Deutsch about the body and hitting him with a cylindrical metal object on June 12.

Deutsch died June 17 at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights from injuries he suffered in the incident.

Deutsch's case was closed on Sept. 3, according to Natalia Derevyanny, Cook County Medical Examienr’s Office spokeswoman.

The medical examiner’s office ruled Deutsch’s death a homicide that was caused by a left hemothorax from multiple rib fractures from an assault.

A hemothorax is a collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung, according to Medline Plus.

Will County State’s Attorney spokeswoman Carole Cheney said Ward’s case is still under investigation and review when she was asked why he was not charged with murder or a homicide-related charge and if it was still under investigation.

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver covers crime and courts for The Herald-News