| alphachiohmy |
09-29-2002 09:37 PM |
a sad story that broke this weekend
This was a hard story to do, considering I had to talk to this young man's girlfriend hours after she learned of his death. I'll keep advised on what develops.
Wauconda firefighter in training found dead
By Rhonda Sciarra Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted on September 29, 2002
Authorities Saturday were investigating the death of a Wauconda man who was training to help save lives and whom friends described as someone who aspired to greatness.
The body of 20-year-old Kenneth Willand was found about 8:30 a.m. Saturday lying in a parking lot behind his apartment near 113 S. Main St., Wauconda police and firefighters said.
An autopsy performed Saturday was inconclusive, Lake County Coroner Barbara Richardson said. Authorities are waiting on test results that may take weeks before they can determine how Willand died, she said.
Willand was a probationary paid-on-call firefighter trainee with the Wauconda Fire Department and was employed full time as a sheet metal worker, Fire Chief David Dato said.
The 2000 Wauconda High School graduate was taking classes to become a paramedic at St. Therese Medical Center in Waukegan.
Willand began with the department in September 2001 and finished firefighter training in May.
"He was committed to the position he had," Dato said. "There is no question about that."
A lot of questions remained unanswered late Saturday, leaving firefighters and friends shocked about what happened.
Paramedics and police were called to a report of a man "passed out." When they found Willand, he was unresponsive and had no vital signs, police said. He was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m.
"The remaining details are yet to be seen," Dato said.
No one understands how this happened, said Megan Cartwright, his girlfriend of almost three years who rushed back to Wauconda from Illinois State University in Normal Saturday when she learned of his death.
"He was so ambitious and he had so much potential," she said. "He aspired to be something so big."
The couple met in high school. Both played the trumpet in the band and went to prom together.
From their first date, they clicked, Cartwright said. The two were talking about marriage and getting engaged next year.
"He always said we were soul mates," she said.
Willand also had a love for music and travel. He played the guitar and was trying to get a band together, Cartwright said. The couple talked about going to Los Angeles so he could pursue acting.
"He had so many things he wanted to do," she said. "He was just wonderful."
Willand is survived by three brothers and a father who live in Ingleside, and other siblings and his mother who live in Las Vegas, Cartwright said.
Police are asking anyone with information on Willand's death to call (847) 526-2421.
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