Rockford man accused of supplying fatal dose of drugs to fiancée in 2021

ROCKFORD, Ill — Felony charges have been filed against a Rockford man accused of supplying a fatal dose of drugs to his fiancée in June of 2021.

According to Rockford police, 33-year-old Alejandro Vargas has been charged with first-degree murder and drug-induced homicide in connection with the death of 26-year-old Ashley Ibarra, who died from a fentanyl overdose.

Police said just before 10:30 a.m. on June 5, 2021, they were called to an apartment in the 5200 block of Linden Road following a report of an unresponsive woman.

Crews from the Rockford Fire Department arrived on the scene and found Ibarra dead inside the apartment.

Police then responded to the scene to investigate the death and interviewed Vargas.

An autopsy performed by the Winnebago County Cornoer’s office later confirmed that Ibarra had a lethal level of fentanyl in her system at the time of her death.

According to police, detectives investigating the case received new information in late 2023, and after reviewing the facts of the case, the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s office approved the charges against Vargas.

Authorities said at the time the charges were approved, Vargas was already in custody in the Illinois Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

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