Shorewood Funeral Director Charged with Felony Drug Possession

The owner of a prominent funeral home is facing more than three years in prison on felony charges after authorities said they found marijuana, painkillers and other drugs in his Shorewood home while responding to a call of a heroin overdose.

William Feerick, 52, who co-owns Feerick Funeral Home with his brother Patrick, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, in connection with a February incident in which a 22-year-old friend of his overdosed on heroin.

Feerick was charged June 9 after police say they found a host of drugs and drug paraphernalia in his home at 4322 N. Wildwood Ave. Police went to the home after Anthony Vitrano, of Milwaukee, overdosed on heroin, authorities say. Vitrano was charged the same day with possession of heroin.

According to the criminal complaint:

Feerick told police he came home from church with Vitrano on Feb. 19 around 6 p.m., left to go upstairs alone around 9 p.m. for 15 to 20 minutes and came back downstairs to find Vitrano unconscious on the floor and called 911.

After a search of Feerick's home, police discovered several pipes used to smoke marijuana, a metal bottle containing traces of cocaine, a pill bottle containing marijuana, bottles containing prescription narcotic pills Oxycodone and Diazepam, one empty syringe and one syringe filled with heroin.

Vitrano admitted to injecting the heroin and told police he had smoked crack cocaine four hours earlier with Feerick. Vitrano said he had $20 worth of crack cocaine and two bags of heroin delivered to Feerick’s residence, although he said Feerick didn't know about the heroin.

Feerick told police he was an interventionist for Vitrano and that he knew him through a mutual friend. Feerick said Vitrano stayed overnight so he could help him with his drug problem.

Feerick told police most of the drugs found in his home were Vitrano's, with the exception of the Oxycodone and Diazepam, which were found in unlabeled prescription bill bottles.

Feerick said he had a prescription for the Oxycodone and purchased the Diazepam for $1 a pill, but police say he couldn't produce an Oxycodone prescription.

Police also recovered text messages between and Vitrano and Feerick referring to obtaining Oxycodone pills for a good price.

When reached for comment Tuesday, Feerick told Shorewood Patch that none of the drugs found at his residence were his and that he was simply trying to get Vitrano to check into a hospital and seek help for his drug addiction.

Feerick also said he believes the charges against him will be dropped soon.

Feerick and his brother now owners and directors of a funeral home that has been serving Milwaukee since 1896. They are the fourth generation of Feericks to operate the businesses, located at 2025 E. Capitol Dr. in Shorewood.

If convicted, Feerick faces a maximum penalty of 3-1/2 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine on the felony charge and six months in jail or a $1,000 fine on the marijuana charge. He could also have his driving privileges suspended for up to five years.

His initial court appearance is July 19 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Vitrano faces a maximum sentence of 3-1/2 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine.