Two people are in custody on possible drug-related homicide charges, including the daughter of a state lawmaker.
Twenty-eight-year-old Cassandra Nygren and 33-year-old Shawn Gray were booked into the Brown County jail early this morning on several potential charges. They include two counts of first-degree reckless homicide by dealing drugs, manufacturing or selling heroin, and maintaining a drug house.
Nygren’s father is Republican Rep. John Nygren of Marinette. The 28-year-old Nygren has struggled with drug abuse for several years, and her father worked on a number of bills to combat drug use. Many of them focused on heroin and opioid prescription drugs.
The Brown County Sheriff’s department is planning to release more information on the arrests during a press conference tomorrow morning.
Rep. Nygren released a statement this afternoon:
“First and most importantly, I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences for the loss of life. There are no words that we as a family can offer to give any real comfort for the tragic loss.
“To the family and friends of the victims of this tragedy, please know that you are in our prayers and that our hearts are heavy.
“Cassie has publicly struggled with addiction and recovery for several years. This is a strong reminder of how fragile the road to recovery is. We will continue to support and pray for her recovery.
“This is just another example, in a seemingly endless line, of the disastrous and destructive consequences addiction continues to have on families and communities nationwide. These stories are the motivating factor behind all our work in the legislature to fight this epidemic.
“In this time of extreme sadness and sorrow, I request that privacy and respect be extended to those grieving from their loss.”
