Pressing charges for a summer death ruled homicide is now in the State’s Attorney’s hands.

Last Thursday, a coroner’s jury in Champaign County ruled the summer car accident death of Eastern student Sheila Sue Henson a homicide.

The homicide ruling is then submitted to the state’s attorney in the county the accident occurred.

“Depending on circumstances, sometimes they will press charges and sometimes they won’t,” Champaign Deputy Coroner Duane Northrup said.

“The state’s attorney does not have to prosecute unless they feel there is enough evidence to prosecute a homicide.”

A homicide ruling means the jury viewed a death occurred as the result of someone else’s actions.

“Homicide is not an actual offense, it’s a matter of death,” Northrup said. “It can lead to different charges, different forms, such as reckless homicide or vehicular manslaughter.”

According to Illinois statutes, reckless homicide, when the offender is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is punishable with three to 14 years imprisonment.

Henson died June 21 at Carle Hospital in Champaign from injuries sustained in a single-car accident the night before on Illinois Route 316 in Charleston.

At the Sept. 11 inquest, Detective Sgt. Tad Freezeland of the Coles County Sheriff’s Department, reported the driver of the vehicle, Trisia A. Jones, had a blood alcohol content of 0.22 percent along with the presence of cocaine in her system.

Henson was the only passenger in the car when Jones drove it off the road.

Henson was air-lifted to Carle, where she was pronounced dead less than eight hours later.

Bill Fabian, deputy coroner of Champaign County, said Henson’s toxicology results showed a 0.14 blood alcohol content and evidence of opiates and cocaine.

Henson was 34 when the accident occurred. She is survived by her parents, Brenda Colman, Dan McGrew and children Kasandra Sue Henson, Kaleb Lee Kuhlman and Kodie Kristopher Henson.

Coles County Asst. State’s Attorney Duane Deters has not yet offered comment.

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].