Daniel Schlienz
Nearly a month after the December 27, 2011 death of Daniel Sidney Schlienz, 42, at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Medical Center, the St. Louis County Medical Examiner released the final autopsy results. On January 26, 2012, Thomas P. Uncini, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner, released a statement that said the manner of death is ruled “natural” and said there was no evidence of any injuries.
Friends and family members questioned how Schlienz, who appeared to be healthy before his arrest on December 15, 2011, could become fatally ill without anyone noticing in time to prevent his death. Family members said although Schlienz had lost his spleen after an accident over 30 years ago, it had not caused medical concerns before his incarceration at the St. Louis County Jail.
Contacted at press time, a family spokesperson said they are considering a lawsuit. The family feels there are just too many unanswered questions.
Dr. Uncini reported that Schlienz died from a bacterial infection called streptococcus pneumoniae. Uncini said this is a fairly common bacterium, but on occasion it may become aggressive. “In these cases, it is called invasive streptococcal pneumoniae,” said Dr. Uncini.
The medical examiner explained that the bacterial infection led to severe complications, which resulted in Schlienz’s death.
Uncini added, “Mr. Schlienz’s spleen had been removed years ago, which is a known risk factor for the development of invasive streptococcal pneumoniae.”
Schlienz died at St. Mary’s Medical Center after being taken there from the St. Louis County Jail on December 26. According to St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman, Schlienz first reported that he did not feel well at around 8 a.m. that morning. Litman said Schlienz complained of “flu-like symptoms” and he was seen by a nurse at 11:15 a.m. and received treatment for flu-like symptoms. On a routine inmate check at about 7:30 p.m., Litman said staff determined that Schlienz’s condition had worsened and it was determined that he should be taken to the hospital. Litman said that at that time Schlienz was “conscious and alert” and that he had not asked for help.
Schlienz died at approximately 8 a.m. on January 27, 2012.
Asked if he had any comments now that the final autopsy results are available, St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman repeated what he told the Cook County News-Herald earlier. He said his staff at the St. Louis County Jail followed normal procedures during the intake and incarceration of Schlienz.
Asked if jail staff was aware that Schlienz’s immune system was possibly compromised because he had lost his spleen, Litman said his staff was not told about that medical issue. He said at the time an inmate is processed into the jail, he is asked a series of medical questions. “We ask people—are you on prescription medicines? Do you have any allergies? Is there anything we should be aware of? If he was aware that he was prone to infections, that is information that would be incumbent to tell us,” said Litman.
However, Litman said even if his staff had been aware of Schlienz’s situation, he was not sure they could have helped him. “Based on our administrative review of everything that was documented, there was a rapid and aggressive onset. I believe the staff in our jail acted appropriately.”
Schlienz was being held at the St. Louis County Jail after being arraigned and charged with two counts of premeditated attempted first-degree murder. Schlienz was accused of shooting two people—Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell, 45, and Greg Thompson, 53, both of Grand Marais—at the Cook County Courthouse on Dec. 15, minutes after the conclusion of Schlienz’s trial on charges of criminal sexual conduct.
Both men survived multiple gunshot wounds and are recovering at home.
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