Sycamore police probe man's death at hotel

SYCAMORE – A day after his body was found in a Sycamore hotel, family and friends remembered Charles "Chuck" Williams, as a warm, giving man.

Williams, 30, and his wife, Dalia, of DeKalb, were spending a night away together at the Jane Fargo Hotel, 355 W. State St., when she found him unresponsive about 4 a.m. Thursday and called police, she said. Chuck Williams, of the 1700 block of Kent Place, was pronounced dead at the hotel.

"He had a pure heart of gold," Dalia Williams said. "He was a good friend to everyone. I loved him so much. Everyone loved him."

Sycamore police are continuing to investigate the death, but said Friday they did not suspect foul play.

DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller oversaw an autopsy Friday afternoon, but said the cause of death could not be determined until toxicology tests are finished in about two weeks. He said there were no unusual marks on Williams' body, and he appeared to be healthy.

Chuck and Dalia Williams were starting a new chapter in their lives, Dalia Williams said. The couple married in June and graduated from the DeKalb County Drug Court in November, although they knew each other before they were involved with the specialized program that dismisses or reduces criminal charges in exchange for defendants completing drug treatment and other requirements.

"We had recently graduated from drug court and we were trying to move forward with our lives," Dalia said. "We were starting to think about having a family."

Williams also leaves behind three stepchildren.

He was admitted to the drug court program in August 2012 after twice being charged with cocaine possession, court records show. He tested negative for drugs throughout the program, Marilyn Stromborg, special court administrator for the program, said.

Stromborg said Williams was a model participant.

"I can't say enough good things about him," Stromborg said. "He was a really, really nice guy. He always had a smile on his face."

Stromborg said he was very active in the drug court's alumni association and participated in events that benefitted the Salvation Army.

"When it came to returning things to the community," Stromborg said, "Chuck was always somebody you could count on."

Tara King, the president of the drug court's alumni group, said she was surprised to learn of Williams' death. She mentored Dalia Williams through the drug court program and thought things were going well for the couple.

"He's one of the sweetest guys I've ever met," King said.