Exchange Student's Overdose Death Linked to Downers Grove Man: Cops

The overdose death of a teenage exchange student from Spain has been linked to a Downers Grove man who supplied her with methadone and told her how to use it, police said.

Francis Emanuele, 36, also allegedly possessed pornographic pictures of the 15-year-old Spanish girl, who was living with a Glen Ellyn family when she died in May. He still had the photos months after her death, police said.

A $1 million arrest warrant was issued for Emanuele Tuesday. Emanuele, who lives on Carpenter Street, was taken into custody that afternoon.

In all, Emanuele was charged with one count of drug-induced homicide, one count of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, one count of indecent solicitation of a child, one count of grooming and three counts of possession of child pornography, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced.

On May 3, the exchange student told her host parents she wasn’t feeling well enough to go to school that morning and went back to bed. The host parents found her unresponsive in her room around 6:40 p.m. that evening.

Police found an oral syringe in her bedroom. The syringe contained a small amount of clear liquid that tested positive as methadone. Investigation of the case by both the Downers Grove and Glen Ellyn police departments led them to Emanuele, whom they believe not only supplied the girl with the drugs but explained to her how to use them. She was introduced to Emanuele through another foreign exchange student.

Police also found that Emanuele was keeping several pornographic pictures of the girl.

“This is a heartbreaking case of a young girl who came to the United States to broaden her horizons and further her education,” Berlin said. “Tragically, she never got that chance. What she did get, allegedly from Mr. Emanuele, was a fatal dose of methadone and instructions on how to use it.”

Glen Ellyn Police Chief Philip Norton said he offered his condolences to the girl’s family back home in Spain, as well as her host family, who had grown very close to her.

“There are no words to adequately comfort these families in light of this senseless tragedy,” he said. “However, it is my hope that a successful prosecution will ensure that no other families are victimized by this man in the future.”

Emanuele is next expected to appear in court Nov. 7 in front of Judge Liam Brennan. Patch will keep you updated.

Mugshot courtesy of the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office