Key Blagojevich adviser Christopher Kelly dead :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: suntimes.com.
Kelly was Blagojevich’s “go-to guy” who once was the mastermind of the ex-governor’s lucrative campaign fund.
Kelly’s death comes just four days after he pleaded guilty to a scheme involving $8.5 million in fraud at O’Hare Airport. It was the second conviction this year — he still faced trial along with the ex-governor, in June. Kelly had been indicted three times since 2007 but refused to become a cooperating witness. When he pleaded guilty to the O’Hare scheme Tuesday, Kelly spoke of feeling intense pressure by prosecutors to abandon his loyalty to Blagojevich and cooperate with the feds.
Chicago police are investigating Kelly’s death. A source familiar with the investigation told the Chicago Sun-Times that Kelly, who is married, called a woman identified as his “girlfriend” and told her that he took some pills and was going to kill himself.
The woman picked up Kelly near 170th and Cicero in Country Club Hills, where Kelly reportedly vomited. Police were taking samples of the vomit and searching for evidence, the source said.
The girlfriend then drove Kelly to Oak Forest Hospital, dropped him off and called police to report she did so, the source said.
Oak Forest Hospital does not have a trauma unit and was unable to treat Kelly, who then was rushed to Stroger Hospital in an ambulance.
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