Hancock County State’s Attorney Dies of Heart Attack

Authorities in western Illinois say preliminary reports show the Hancock County State's Attorney has died after suffering a heart attack.

Hancock County Sheriff Scott Benzinger says 39-year-old Jason Pohren of Carthage died Monday after complaining of feeling ill. Hancock County Coroner Kendall Beals says preliminary indications are that Pohren died of a heart attack.

Pohren became state's attorney in December 2014. He ran unopposed as a Republican, succeeding Stephanie Hilton who was appointed to the post in January 2014 after state's attorney Jim Drozdz died in a traffic accident in Georgia.

Pohren grew up and graduated from high school in Keokuk. He is a Southern Illinois University School of Law graduate and was a judicial intern for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier.