CHICAGO, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Christopher Kelly, the chief fundraiser for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has died of an apparent aspirin overdose, Chicago police said.
Kelly, 51, of Burr Ridge, Ill., was pronounced dead Saturday at Stroger Hospital in Chicago just four days after he pleaded guilty to a scheme involving $8.5 million in roofing fraud at O'Hare International Airport, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday.
"I know my life is over," Kelly said last week outside a federal courtroom as he prepared to enter this plea.
Kelly had been indicted three times in recent years, the most recent in April in a conspiracy case against Blagojevich. Kelly had said he would not testify against the former governor.
Kelly was to report to federal prison this week to begin serving an 8-year-sentence for a kickback scheme to bring $8.5 million in business at O'Hare to his roofing company.
Stroger Hospital officials told officials Kelly apparently died from an overdose of salicylate, the main ingredient in aspirin, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Blagojevich, who was in New York promoting a book, released a statement saying he was "deeply saddened" to hear of Kelly's death.
Police were investigating Kelly's possible suicide with an autopsy scheduled for Sunday, the Tribune said.
Kelly is survived by his estranged wife, Carmen, and three daughters, Grace, Jacqueline and Claire.
