Sheriff Provides New Information on Discovery of Minneapolis Woman’s Body in Crashed Car Near Eyota

Update: Woman Found With Body at Scene of Eyota Crash Now Charged with Murder 

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson has given an update on the death investigation of a Minneapolis woman, whose body was found in a crashed car over the weekend. 

Read More: Iowan Charged After Deputy Finds Body in Crashed Car Near Eyota

32-year-old Margot Lewis was identified as the driver of the crashed car. She is charged with interference of a dead body. 

Lewis has been in custody since Saturday when an Olmsted County Sheriff’s deputy found the body of 35-year-old Liara Tsai wrapped in the back of the North Liberty, IA woman’s crashed vehicle at the Hwy. 42/I-90 interchange south of Eyota, according to the criminal complaint. 

Tsai had what the complaint describes as a large wound around her carotid artery on the right side of her neck and was cold to the touch. The autopsy indicates Tsai had died of multiple sharp force injuries before the crash. 

So far Lewis has not given a statement to investigators. A search of Tsai’s home in Minneapolis on Saturday revealed evidence of a violent scene that had occurred at the residence, Torgerson said. 

Get our free mobile app

Olmsted County Sheriff Shares New Information On Death of Minneapolis Woman

During a news conference on Wednesday, Torgerson said Lewis and Tsai knew each other and that Lewis was at Tsai’s home before driving through Olmsted County. 

The Minneapolis Police Department is leading the investigation into Tsai’s death. The agency has not immediately returned a request for comment on the death investigation. 

Torgerson said investigators are still trying to determine Tsai’s time of death. He said the State Patrol, which is investigating the crash that led to the body discovery, has seized the vehicle Lewis was driving. 

State Patrol Public Information Officer Troy Christianson said Wednesday afternoon that the crash is still under investigation. 

Torgerson says it’s not yet known if any weapons were found in the vehicle or at Tsai’s Minneapolis home. 

Lewis made her first appearance in Olmsted County Court on the body interference charge on Tuesday. Her bail was set at $1 million and she’s due back in court on July 5.

More Minnesota News:

• Not Guilty Plea Entered by Rochester Man Facing Murder Charge 
• Man Convicted of Kidnapping That Ended at Cannon Falls Store
• 5 Charged With Attempt to Bribe Jury During Minnesota Fraud Trial