Rochester, MN — An Iowa resident was charged this week in connection with the murder of their former partner, whose body was discovered wrapped in bedding and concealed in a vehicle following a car accident in southern Minnesota, Hennepin County court records show.
Early Saturday, law enforcement responded to a report of a collision along Interstate 90 near the Eyota exit. At the scene, they found 32-year-old Margot Lewis sitting outside the crashed car. Witnesses who had stopped to assist at the accident site informed officers of a deceased individual in the vehicle’s back seat.
Upon investigation, deputies established that the victim had not succumbed to injuries caused by the accident. They found the body covered with a mattress and tarp, indicating a deliberate attempt to hide it. An examination revealed a puncture wound to the victim’s neck, and the body was notably cold.
Law enforcement identified the deceased as Liara Tsai, a 35-year-old woman from Minneapolis, who also owned the vehicle in which her body was discovered. Tsai, a well-known figure in Minnesota’s trans community, worked as a DJ, producer, and crisis counselor.
A statement issued by LGBTQ advocacy group OutFront Minnesota celebrated Tsai’s contributions to her community, especially in music and public advocacy. They expressed their mourning and called for a thorough investigation into her untimely demise, underneath the memories of joy she brought to many.
An autopsy later revealed that Tsai had suffered multiple injuries from a sharp object. Police then executed a search warrant at Tsai’s apartment in Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside area, around 100 miles from where her body was found. The gruesome scene at the apartment included blood-soaked bedding and traces of blood throughout, along with a bloody object found in the bed.
Further investigation indicated signs of struggle and premeditation, as a knife from the kitchen was missing, which was not recovered during the search. Lewis, who had recently arrived from Boston to visit Tsai, was linked to the scene through airline tags found in the crashed car and airport surveillance footage showing Tsai’s vehicle retrieving Lewis.
Despite the nature of the crime and the identities of the victim and suspect, both of whom are transgender, the Olmsted County Sheriff, Kevin Torgerson, indicated there was no evidence to classify the murder as a hate crime. He also hinted that the car crash might have been staged.
Following her arrest, Lewis exhibited uncooperative behavior with law enforcement, which was further complicated during evidence collection when she resisted providing fingernail clippings.
Currently detained in Olmsted County, Lewis faces charges related to concealing a dead body. The legal process is ongoing, with a warrant requested for her transfer to Hennepin County as the investigation continues.
The tragic events highlight the importance of vigilance and support for individuals in potentially dangerous domestic situations. A statewide hotline for domestic violence in Minnesota is available 24 hours for those in need.