Shorewood Funeral Director Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Drug Possession Charge

William Feerick, co-owner of a prominent Shorewood funeral home, pled not guilty to felony drug charges Monday.

The 52-year-old Shorewood man was and possession of marijuana after a February incident in which police responded to a report of a heroin overdose at Feerick’s Shorewood home at 4322 N. Wildwood Ave.

Police would discover Anthony Vitrano, 22 of Muskego, passed out after overdosing on heroin and a host of drugs in the home, according to the criminal complaint.

Vitrano of heroin July 26 and is expected in court Sept. 13 for a plea hearing. Both were released on $1,000 signature bonds at previous court hearings.

A further police search of the home during the February incident revealed 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, police say.

Police also recovered text messages between and Vitrano and Feerick that referred to obtaining Oxycodone pills for a good price, according to the criminal complaint.

Feerick told Shorewood Patch in an earlier interview 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. Police said Feerick claimed he was an interventionist.

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

Feerick is expected back in court Sept. 13 for a scheduling conference.

Both Feerick and Vitrano are facing a maximum sentence of 3½ years in prison, if convicted.