Inset: Kirby Graham (Haliburton Funeral Chapel). Background: The Illinois auto shop accused of letting Kirby Graham drive away with a defective exhaust system, leading to his death and the death of a co-worker from carbon monoxide poisoning (Google Maps).
A routine trip to an Illinois auto repair shop ended with a deadly defect left in a vehicle and two people dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a lawsuit.
The family of Yeisimar Morales-Sanchez, 20, is suing Amerimex Mufflers, Brakes & Auto Repair, Inc., in Grayslake, alleging its failure to properly fix exhaust problems in a car belonging to her co-worker, Kirby Graham, 32, before letting him "leave its facility and continue driving" it led to their deaths.
An amended complaint filed last month, which was obtained by Law&Crime on Tuesday, says Morales-Sanchez was riding with Graham when the pair was "overcome by carbon monoxide" while sitting inside his parked car in Crystal Lake on Nov. 4, 2025. Someone saw the pair, thought they were "possibly asleep," and then made a report, according to a police press release.
Police officers and a firefighter found Morales-Sanchez and Graham unresponsive in the vehicle. Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful, and both were pronounced dead at the scene.
"As a direct and proximate result of defendant's negligence [Morales-Sanchez] was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes while sitting in Kirby Graham, the deceased's automobile," according to the complaint filed by Morales-Sanchez's family. Both Graham and Morales-Sanchez died from "carbon monoxide toxicity," the complaint says.
Workers at Amerimex Mufflers, Brakes & Auto Repair allegedly "permitted" Graham to leave its retail location "with his automobile exhaust system in a defective condition" after he brought the vehicle in for an "exhaust system inspection," according to the complaint.
"Despite defendant addressing Kirby Graham, deceased's exhaust system, defendant allowed Kirby Graham, deceased to leave its facility and continue driving his automobile," the complaint says, alleging the exhaust system was "defective" and "allowed excessive levels of carbon monoxide" to seep into the car's interior.
"As a result of defendant's inspection … defendant knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care, should have known that the exhaust system … was defective and in an unreasonably dangerous condition," the complaint continues. "Defendant, knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care, should have known that there were excessive levels of carbon monoxide entering the automobile."
Morales-Sanchez and Graham died later that night and were found around 5:32 a.m., according to police and the complaint.
The McHenry County Coroner's Office determined that "carbon monoxide toxicity" killed both co-workers. Their deaths were classified as accidental, and investigators allegedly identified a "defective exhaust system" in Graham's vehicle.
The victims worked together at a local manufacturing facility.
Morales-Sanchez's family is seeking compensation not only for her death but also for what the complaint describes as the suffering she experienced before she died. The lawsuit alleges she was conscious and endured pain as the carbon monoxide overcame her.
It also raises separate allegations under the Illinois Automotive Repair Act, including claims that the business failed to provide a written estimate, obtain consumer authorization and supply an accurate invoice.
The lawsuit seeks more than $100,000 on each of two counts: a wrongful death claim and a survival claim. The family is also requesting court costs and interest.
Amerimex has not yet responded to the lawsuit. Court records indicate a special process server made three unsuccessful attempts to serve the business. No attorney has entered an appearance on its behalf.
The case is scheduled for another court hearing Nov. 5, when attorney Guy D. Geleerd Jr., representing Morales-Sanchez's estate, is expected to ask a judge to authorize an alternative method of service.
Reached for comment Tuesday about the lawsuit, an Amerimex manager told Law&Crime, "We're aware of it," and said the owner "is the one dealing with that situation."