Man found dead in Crystal Lake fire died of heart problem

(CRYSTAL LAKE) A man who was found dead after a house burned in northwest suburban Crystal Lake on Tuesday died from a heart problem, and not the fire, an autopsy found.

John H. Kelly Jr., 56, of Woodstock, was removed from the home where he was working in the 1100 block of North Shore Drive in Crystal Lake at 2:41 p.m. after bystanders noticed smoke coming from the house, according to Crystal Lake police and the McHenry County coroner’s office.

Police said arriving crews found a male outside showing “no signs of life.” Authorities believe he was a plumber who was inside the house with a torch doing repairs.

Kelly, of Woodstock, died of a blood clot in a coronary artery, not smoke inhalation or burns, according to the coroner’s office. There was no evidence of other trauma.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 15 minutes, but the 1.5-story coach house sustained $25,000 in damage and was rendered uninhabitable, police said.

The residents were not present at the time of the fire.

The Crystal Lake Police and Fire departments, coroner’s office and Illinois Fire Marshal’s office are investigating.