Identity of woman found dead in crashed car on I-90, who died in Minneapolis home, revealed

The woman found dead in a crashed car on a highway in southern Minnesota was the victim of violence in her Minneapolis home, officials said late Monday.

The victim was identified by the Southern Minnesota Medical Examiner’s Office as 35-year-old Liara Tsai.

A 32-year-old motorist who was at the scene of a crash on eastbound Interstate 90 south of Eyota around 7 a.m. Saturday was arrested by officers. She remains in custody pending arraignment on a charge of tampering with a corpse, possibly as early as Tuesday, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.

A report filed Saturday night by a Minneapolis police officer ruled Tsai’s death a homicide, saying the weapon used was a knife or other “cutting instrument.”

The sheriff’s office released the identity of the woman who was driving the vehicle. Minneapolis police also identified the driver and said she was from North Liberty in east-central Iowa. The Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.

The sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement that “the condition of the deceased was suspicious and it was immediately apparent that death was not the result of a motor vehicle accident.” The State Patrol said the vehicle struck a guardrail.

Minneapolis police became involved in the case Saturday afternoon when the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) requested officers conduct a welfare check at the victim’s home in the 700 block of E. 16th Street in Minneapolis. Officers searched the home and found “a scene consistent with violence,” a police statement said.

Police are asking anyone with information about the death to call CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted at CrimeStoppersMN.org. All tips are anonymous and information leading to an arrest and conviction may result in a reward.