Iowa Woman Convicted After DJ’s Body Discovered In Backseat Of Crashed Car

A jury in Minneapolis has found a woman guilty of multiple crimes concerning the death of a popular DJ.

What happened: According to a report by MPR News, a jury convicted 33-year-old Margot Lewis of murdering 35-year-old DJ Liara Tsai on Monday. The crime occurred in June 2024.

• Per a news release by the Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office from June 2024, officers responded to a single-vehicle crash at Interstate 90 near the Highway 42 exit. They identified Lewis as the driver, but found a deceased individual in the back seat.
• Authorities say it was “immediately apparent” the passenger did not die from the crash. Emergency services transported Lewis to a hospital before arresting her for Interference with a Dead Body.
• The news release identifies the victim as Tsai and reveals that officers located a potential place of residence. They entered the property with a search warrant and found “a scene indicating violence.” They listed her cause of death as “multiple sharp-force injuries.”

The Iowa Woman Faces Multiple Charges

A former love interest: Per MPR News, the jury found Lewis guilty of two counts of second-degree murder. One with the intent to cause Tsai’s death, and the other without intent, using a deadly weapon.

• The outlet cites court documents that reveal Lewis and Tsai were former romantic partners. MRP News also reports that Lewis was initially uncooperative with police.
• The Jury reportedly agreed that Lewis stabbed Tsai in her apartment, and she bled to death. Court documents warn of the suspect’s “unpredictable behavior.”
• According to a report by CBS News from 2024, Tsai moved from Iowa to Minneapolis six weeks before her death. She was a beloved DJ and a volunteer for the Trevor Project and Suicide Helpline.
• MRP News explains that the judge can go beyond sentencing guidelines as the jury found aggravating factors in the case. Authorities scheduled Lewis’s hearing for November 18.

Another stabbing incident: Earlier this month, authorities charged a Virginia man with fatally stabbing his partner. They reportedly got engaged just one week prior.

• The Howard County Police Department did not initially name a suspect. They said in a news release, “The incident is not believed to be random, and police have identified and detained a subject known to the victim.
• Investigators later revealed the suspect as 34-year-old Rondale Dickerson. Officers located him at a Walmart after store security removed him from the premises owing to “something not being right.”
• An investigation remains ongoing, but authorities have charged Dickerson with first and second-degree murder, assault, and home invasion.