Inmate who died at St. Croix County Jail had swallowed meth prior to her arrest

Mary Divine, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·2 min read

Jul. 30—The woman who died Sunday morning while in custody at the St. Croix County Jail in Hudson, Wis., told police she swallowed a bag of methamphetamine prior to her arrest a day and half earlier.

Danyiel C. Mager, 46, of New Richmond, Wis., was found not breathing and lying in her bunk late Sunday morning, according to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office. Deputies and a crew from Lakeview Ambulance performed lifesaving measures, but were not successful.

The cause and manner of death are pending toxicology results, according to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's provisional autopsy report. The autopsy found no evidence of traumatic injuries but showed Mager suffered from bilateral pulmonary edema, a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs.

According to New Richmond police, Mager was riding with her mother when their car was stopped for having its headlights off around 9:20 p.m. Friday.

Mager was covering her face and hair but the officer recognized her, and Mager gave the officer her name, police said.

The officer learned Mager was wanted on three arrest warrants and had five felony bail bonds with conditions of absolute sobriety.

As the officer was about to start searching Mager, Mager informed her she had "swallowed a bag of meth about 10 minutes" earlier when the officer had pulled them over. She said she had swallowed about a "teen," or about 1.75 grams, and had also used meth the night before.

"I asked Danyiel why she swallowed the meth, and she stated she was scared," the police report states. "Danyiel admitted to (New Richmond EMS) that she used heroin earlier in the day as well."

Mager was taken by ambulance to Westfields Hospital in New Richmond, where medical officials said she did not have a fever and her vital signs were good. She was kept at the hospital for observation till about 3:30 a.m. Saturday and then returned to jail, where she died the next day on her 46th birthday.

St. Croix County Sheriff's Office officials said Thursday they had no additional comment about the case, which is being investigated by the sheriff's office and Pierce County Medical Examiner.

Mager's family declined to comment.

According to her obituary, Mager spent her childhood years in California and moved to Wisconsin in 1998.

"Danyiel was a talented artist," her obituary stated. "She enjoyed planting flowers and gardening. She loved animals, especially her pet ferrets. She enjoyed sewing and working with her hands."

She loved her son, Gavin Bird, "with all her heart" and adored her family, the obituary said. "She accepted and loved all people, no matter their station in life."

A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services in New Richmond, with visitation at 6 p.m.