EYOTA, MN – The unsettling case of a fatal stabbing and a subsequent car crash reached a pivotal moment this week when a jury found a Minnesota woman guilty of murdering her former partner and attempting to conceal the crime.
Margot Lewis, 33, was convicted Monday of second-degree murder after fatally stabbing her ex-girlfriend, Liara Tsai, 35, in what authorities have described as a violent and emotionally fraught incident in Minneapolis. The verdict, which included the finding of aggravating factors, allows the presiding judge to consider a sentence surpassing the typical statutory guidelines when Lewis appears for sentencing in November.
The events that led investigators to unravel the crime began on June 22 along Interstate 90 near Eyota, where Lewis lost control of a vehicle and crashed. Two motorists who stopped to help were confronted with a grim discovery: Tsai’s lifeless body, wrapped in bedding, a thin mattress, and a tarp, was found in the car’s back seat, her head exposed. At the scene, Lewis was sitting in a lawn chair in the highway median, further deepening the mystery for first responders.
Authorities later determined that the crash was not responsible for Tsai’s death. Instead, evidence linked Lewis directly to the stabbing. Court documents and police reports indicated the attack took place inside Tsai’s studio apartment in Minneapolis, where investigators later discovered a bloody and chaotic scene. Items found included a bloodstained plastic and metal object, traces of antifreeze, a missing kitchen knife, and a small shovel—details that painted a picture of violence and attempted cover-up.
According to testimony presented in court, the relationship between Lewis and Tsai had deteriorated in the months preceding the murder. Described by those close to Tsai as tumultuous and difficult, the situation escalated tragically on what would be Tsai’s final night. Friends recounted that Tsai had confided in them about Lewis’s impending move from Iowa to stay with her, a move that would set the stage for their deadly confrontation.
Tsai, a well-known figure in Minneapolis’s LGBTQ and music communities, was remembered by friends as a passionate DJ and advocate for social justice. Colleagues described her as “much more than just a DJ,” citing her activism and dedication to uplifting marginalized voices. Her sudden absence raised alarms among friends when she failed to appear for a scheduled event, something they said was out of character for her.
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Lewis exhibited increasingly erratic and unpredictable behavior while she was in custody, necessitating heightened observation behind bars. The jury ultimately sided with their depiction of the murder as not only intentional but exceptionally cruel, setting the stage for a possible sentence above the recommended range.
In addition to the murder conviction, Lewis is expected to face further legal consequences in Olmsted County on charges related to concealing Tsai’s body. The combination of crimes and aggravating circumstances could mean a substantially longer prison term if the court sees fit.
Sentencing for Lewis has been set for November 18. Until then, she remains in custody as the court considers the full extent of her actions in a case that has shaken the communities connected to both women.