Nicholas Waikel
Nicholas Waikel, 33, was a brother to 12 siblings, a former U.S. Navy member who loved the outdoors, and was deeply loved by his family and friends. He died on December 9, 2024, in the Missoula County Detention Facility in Missoula, Montana. The autopsy attributed his death to acute methamphetamine intoxication from a bag that burst in his stomach and classed it as an accident. A coroner's inquest jury found he died from non-criminal means, but his family has pressed for months for answers about his final moments, and staff testimony about a delayed medical intake and routine checks has been reported.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose. The autopsy found acute methamphetamine intoxication from a burst bag in his stomach, and the coroner's inquest jury found he died from non-criminal means.
Reported by: autopsy; Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Coroner Jessie Sather (medical examiner or coroner); coroner's inquest jury (court).