Cedar Rapids man convicted in Chris Bagley’s death faces new charge

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man already convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of Chris Bagley is now charged with attempting to smuggle opioid medication into the Linn County Jail.

Drew Wagner, 34, who admitted last year to starting a fight in 2018 that led to Bagley being repeatedly stabbed to death by another, was charged Monday with introducing intoxicants or drugs into a correctional institution.

A criminal complaint states Wagner solicited another individual to mail him buprenorphine — a drug commonly used to treat opioid addiction and also used as a pain medication — at the jail.

Authorities examined a letter sent to Wagner and found a “sublingual film” attached underneath the postage stamp.

The substance was analyzed at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Lab and was identified as the opioid medication, the complaint states.

The medication commonly is prescribed as a pill that can be placed under the tongue for rapid absorption, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

During the investigation, Wagner admitted he had arranged to have the drug sent to him in jail, according to the criminal complaint.

If convicted on this charge, he faces five years in prison.

Wagner, originally charged with first-degree murder, pleaded in June to amended charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault while participating in a felony, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of prosecution. He faces up to 37 years in prison.

During last year’s plea hearing, Wagner admitted to starting a fight with Bagley for robbing their drug dealer and then holding Bagley down while another man repeatedly stabbing him to death.

Wagner also admitted to moving Bagley’s body to his residence in southeast Cedar Rapids, where he buried the body on the property.

Wagner, as part of the plea agreement, will testify against Drew Blahnik, 33, of Cedar Rapids, who is accused of stabbing and killing Bagley, 31, of Walker, in a mobile home Dec. 14, 2018.

Blahnik is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of prosecution. He will claim self-defense at his trial, which has been reset to July 13 in Linn County District Court.

Bagley, a husband and father of two, left home Dec. 13, 2018, with a woman his wife didn't know. He never returned. Authorities found his body buried in the yard at 4069 Soutter Ave. SE, where Wagner had been living, on March 1, 2019.

Many details of what happened in those early morning hours were revealed during a 2019 federal hearing involving a drug investigation of Andrew Shaw, 31, of Cedar Rapids, who provided drugs for Bagley, Wagner and Blahnik.

Shaw was convicted of large-scale marijuana trafficking in federal court and was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. He hasn't been charged in Bagley's death.

Wagner’s sentencing was reset to Aug. 8.

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