Father of three children who died in a dragging death and is remembered as a beacon of love

Funds are being raised to help cover costs for the 31-year-old man’s family following the tragic incident last month.

May 8, 2024, 7:05am CDT | Updated May 8, 2024, 8:19 am CDT

GURNEE, IL – The investigation continues into the death of a Gurnee father of three remembered by his family as a “beacon of love.”

Luis Guzman, 31, was found unresponsive at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and Estes Street in Gurnee around 3:40 a.m. April 29 after he told his wife he was going outside to smoke, authorities said with. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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As of Wednesday, little information is known about the circumstances that led to his death. Steve Newton, chief deputy of the Lake County Coroner’s Office, told Patch that further details about Guzman’s cause of death will not be released as the case remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, donations are being collected for the three children Guzman left behind. The funds can also be used to cover the costs of a funeral.

Rodriguez’s sister, Nashaly Ramirez, started a GoFundMe that raised $285. She calls her “beloved brother” “a pillar of strength, a beacon of love and a devout believer in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“On April 29, our hearts broke as we said goodbye to our beloved Luis Manuel. He was more than a father of three, more than a brother – he was a guiding light to all who knew him. “His gentle strength, his unwavering love, will forever be enshrined in our hearts,” Ramirez wrote on the GoFundMe.

Ramirez shared other fond memories of her brother:

From my earliest memories, Luis’ presence filled our lives with joy and warmth. After a family tragedy, he moved with us to Chicago, and despite the hardships, our bond remained unbreakable. Luis was our protector, our confidant, our rock. We shared laughter, jokes and precious moments and found comfort in the embrace of our family.
His love for life was infectious. We joked, danced to reggaeton, and watched our favorite TV shows together. But it was his passion for horses that truly illuminated his mind. Luis dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and cultivated his love for animals every time he visited Puerto Rico, where he cared for them alongside his family and friends.

She noted that her brother “never lost heart.”

“Like a resilient horse, he weathered every storm with grace and resilience. And just when things were getting better, he was taken from us in the blink of an eye,” she wrote on GoFundMe.

Anyone interested in donating to the GoFundMe can do so here.

Marisol Hernandez, Rodriguez’s sister-in-law, also set up a GoFundMe that had raised $1,487 as of Wednesday morning.

Here’s what she had to say about her brother-in-law:

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the tragic death of my brother-in-law. He leaves behind his beloved wife, my sister and three beautiful children, who now face the enormous challenge of organizing his funeral. As we come together to mourn his loss, I sincerely ask for your assistance in covering funeral costs during this difficult time. I’m trying to raise money for my sister and her family. Every contribution, no matter how small, will help ease the financial burden on her family during this heartbreaking journey. We greatly appreciate your generosity and kindness as we honor and remember Luis.

Donations to this fundraiser can be made here.

Authorities in Gurnee responded to the call at 3 a.m. April 29 in the 3800 block of Dorchester Avenue and found Rodriguez unresponsive in the street, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to authorities, he had told his wife before the incident that he was going outside to smoke.

According to the news release, police worked late last month to gather information and evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding Guzman’s death. The Lake County Coroner’s Office has not released preliminary results of Guzman’s autopsy because his death is an “active investigation,” officials said April 30.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Gurnee police. Anonymous tips can be left with Lake County Crime Stoppers by phone at 847-662-2222, online at www.lakecountycrimestoppers.com or via