While responding to a welfare check call around 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1534 Golf View Drive in River Falls, officers discovered the bodies of a 24-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, both dead.

Police Chief Gordon Young confirmed both people were River Falls residents but did not confirm their names, manner of death or their relation to one another.

“There is no current threat to our community,” Young said. “This is an active investigation into the cause of death and limited information is available to be released at this time.”

Young said River Falls police were assisted by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and UW-River Falls police.

Pierce County property records show the home belongs to John J. and Jacqueline B. Maher. Bakken Young Funeral & Cremation Services posted an obituary for the Maher’s 24-year-old daughter Morgan, who died Feb. 3. She is survived by two children, Leo and Athena, her parents and brothers.

“It is with incredible sadness we announce the death of our daughter, Morgan,” the obituary states. “Like so many before, her life was ended too early, taken by the person she loved the most. Although we are filled with grief, anger and a tremendous sense of loss, it is important that we focus on what made Morgan the incredible person she was – the joy she brought rather than the tragedy of her death.

“She was a mother of two beautiful children, a sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, auntie and friend. Morgan fiercely defended those she loved and had an instinct to protect those who were outcast or mistreated by others. She was quiet, loving, loyal and patient with her children, but could be feisty and fiery when necessary.”

Nicholas Scott Ryan, 29, River Falls, posted a $30,000 signature bond Aug. 3 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony first-degree recklessly endangering safety, felony intimidate victim/use or attempt force, felony strangulation and suffocation, battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct charges, all with the domestic abuse and use of a dangerous weapon modifiers.

According to police reports, a woman reported to police Aug. 2 that her husband, Ryan, had been acting erratically and had choked her and threatened her with a knife. She told officers over the course of a few weeks, his behavior had become more violent and he had smashed devices in their home with a hammer. She said he had held knives to her throat multiple times and said he didn’t want to live in this type of world anymore.

Ryan was arrested at their River Falls apartment on Aug 2 and taken to Pierce County Jail. He was released on the $30,000 signature bond. Felony bail jumping and computer message/threaten – obscenity charges were filed against Ryan in Pierce County Circuit Court Aug. 16. He was released on $500 cash bond Aug. 22.

Court records indicate both cases against Ryan were dismissed Feb. 5 because he is deceased.