Indictment alleges Schnagl unintentionally responsible for woman's death

Chisago County authorities are releasing few details following a grand jury indictment of Aaron Schnagl, the Chisago Lake Township resident who has long been a suspect in the death of 27-year-old Danielle Jelinek. A grand jury indictment of Schnagl for third degree “unintentional” murder was opened in Center City court Monday this week.

If convicted Schnagl faces a maximum penalty of 25 years, according to County Attorney Janet Reiter. He is incarcerated at this time at the correctional facility in Moose Lake for possessing cocaine. Information developed in the investigation, which has been underway since Jelinek was reported missing a year ago, is being held closely.

Reiter stated in a news release that the indictment for third degree murder means the grand jury determined there’s probable cause to believe Schnagl provided a controlled substance to the victim which was the proximite cause for her death. Jelinek’s body was located last May in a slough near Schnagl’s home at 11232 261st St. south of Chisago City.

According to details released upon her going missing, local authorities had been told she walked away from the residence in frigid winter weather, after spending time at Schnagl’s. Certain personal items of hers were found at the house but there were no leads for months, until a state patrol air search team had success in locating her.

County Attorney Reiter, citing an on-going investigation, only stated the county is thankful for volunteers who helped in the multiple searches for the missing woman and commended the sheriff’s office for its persistence in the case.