Still reeling from the shock of a shooting at the Cook County courthouse and the subsequent arrest of Daniel Sidney Schlienz, 42, Grand Marais, the Grand Marais community received more bad news on Tuesday, December 27. Schlienz, incarcerated at the St. Louis County jail since being arraigned and charged with two counts of premeditated attempted first-degree murder, died at Essentia – St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth.
St. Louis County Undersheriff D.W. Phillips said Schlienz, who had been in custody at the St. Louis County jail since December 16, showed signs of medical distress on December 26. Jail staff called 911 at 7:49 p.m. and Schlienz was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to Essentia – St. Mary’s Hospital for medical care.
Undersheriff Phillips said Schlienz died at the hospital at approximately 8 a.m. on December 27.
An autopsy was completed by St. Louis County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Tom Uncini in the afternoon on December 27. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff ’s Office, Dr. Uncini ruled the cause and manner of death as “undetermined” at this time, pending additional lab tests that could take several weeks to complete.
Undersheriff Phillips said no foul play is suspected and the investigation is pointing toward a physiological or medical condition and not a traumatic cause of death. However, there are questions regarding the timeline of when Schlienz asked for medical attention, with St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman providing first one time, then another for when Schlienz requested medical attention to the Duluth FOX 21 television.
Investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are assisting the Medical Examiner’s Office in the investigation.
Schlienz was accused of shooting two people—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 now at home.
Cornerstone Community Church has announced that a memorial service will be held for Dan Schlienz at Cornerstone at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 7.
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