Dodge County man charged with hiding a corpse in wake of overdose death of woman
Gabriel Brandl
DODGE COUNTY -- 29-year-old Gabriel Brandl of Clyman is charged with a felony count of hiding a corpse -- in connection with the death of a 42-year-old woman.
According to the criminal complaint, officials began investigating the death of the woman on Tuesday, May 31st after her body had been brought to Watertown Memorial Hospital. The initial report indicates the woman "had overdosed on heroin and that she was at the Clyman Park when she used the heroin that killed her."
The complaint indicates Brandl was the person who drove the woman to the hospital. Brandl told investigators "he had seen (the woman) 'die in front of me.'" He was apparently "very worried about talking with the police and he was worried about what was going to happen."
The complaint indicates Brandl and the woman met with a drug dealer at Clyman Park and that he was going to "front them" some heroin. After doing the drugs, the complaint indicates the woman was "out." Brandl told police "(the woman) was snoring" and that he thought she would "snap out of it any time."
Brandl indicated he "then drove (the woman)'s vehicle through Watertown" and noticed that she had stopped breathing. The complaint indicates "he stopped the car and he started doing CPR on (the woman)." But he later realized that the woman was dead.
Brandl apparently then went back to the drug dealer to tell him the woman was deceased -- and the drug dealer told Brandl, "you gotta take her to the hospital."
Eventually, Brandl did take the woman to the hospital -- which is when investigators were called and this investigation began.
Brandl made his initial appearance in Dodge County court on Thursday, June 2nd. He is due back for his preliminary hearing on June 9th. If convicted, Brandl faces up to 12-and-a-half years in prison.