BELLEVILLE — Police are investigating the deaths of two adults found dead in a Belleville home as possible drug overdoses.
The bodies of a 24-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were found by police about 7:47 a.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of Laurette Lane. The pair were unconscious and not breathing, according to the Belleville Police Department.
Christopher "Chris" Wayne Bailey, of Belleville, was pronounced dead at 9:37 a.m. and Mika Moore, of Bethalto, was pronounced dead at 9:38 a.m. by the St. Clair County Coroner's office.
The coroner's office will wait on toxicology test results, which could take four to six weeks, before confirming the cause of death.
Officials found drug paraphernalia in Bailey's bedroom, where the bodies were found lying next to each other on the floor, said St. Clair County Deputy Coroner Dean Darnell.
Darnell said he does not suspect foul play and believes the deaths are accidental.
Bailey and Moore both had a history of drug abuse and had sought treatment.
According to Bailey's obituary, he loved being with friends, listening to music, fishing, four-wheeling, shooting pool and fast cars.
"He loved his nephew, Rylan (Hoefler), more than anything in life," the obituary stated.
Visitation for Bailey will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lake View Funeral Home, 5000 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights. Funeral services will follow at the same location.
Funeral arrangements for Moore were not immediately available.
So far this year, at least 27 people have died of drug overdoses in St. Clair and Madison counties, according to county coroner's offices. If this trend continues, the metro-east could top 100 overdose deaths for the first time in at least the last decade. In the last couple of years, drug overdose deaths have risen to more than 90.
In an unrelated incident in January, a man and a woman were found sitting side by side in a Belleville home.
Toxicology results later showed that Ward Noeninger, 46, died of fentanyl and cocaine toxicity and Lisa Patterson, 39, died of fentanyl toxicity.
Noeninger was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was on pain medicine.
Contact reporter Jacqueline Lee at jlee@bnd.com or 239-2655.
