Woman arrested after police find body in back seat of crashed car

A 32-year-old woman was arrested after police found a dead woman in the back seat of her car. Authorities believe the death was not caused by the car crash she was involved in.

The Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota was responding to a single-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 7 a.m. Saturday morning on eastbound Interstate 90 near the Highway 42 exit in Olmstead County when police encountered Margot Lewis, a 32-year-old woman who was being assisted by a passerby, according to a statement released Monday by the Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office.

“The driver of the vehicle, identified as Margot Lewis, a 32-year-old woman of unknown address, had exited the vehicle and was being cared for by a passerby. When we checked to see if anyone else was in the vehicle, we found a dead person in the back seat, a 35-year-old woman,” police said. “The condition of the deceased was suspicious and it was immediately clear that the death was not due to the car accident.”

Police were eventually able to identify the victim, but said the deceased’s name will not be released at this time until her next of kin has been notified.

“Ms. Lewis was transported to the hospital by Mayo Clinic Emergency Medical Services (MCAS) where she was medically evaluated. Ms. Lewis was then transported to the Adult Detention Center (ADC) and arrested for tampering with a corpse,” authorities said.

According to the Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis is expected to appear in court in the case sometime Tuesday.

The Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Eyota Fire Department and Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service assisted with the initial 911 call, and officials with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office said they “extend their sincere condolences to the friends and loved ones of the deceased.”

The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.