Feral teen repeatedly freed by 'America's wokest DA' before killing girl, 11, in crash is finally charged with homicide
Conner Michael Iversen, 18, even allegedly went on to commit yet another heinous act days later, a violent stabbing, marking his third alleged offense in under three months.
Iversen was charged with criminal vehicular homicide in the February 26 death of Lilyana Loycano after initially being let off the hook by Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty.
Moriarty, a career public defender before becoming district attorney, has faced mounting criticism for her soft-on-crime approach, often prioritizing leniency over public safety.
She appears to have changed her tune after the case was brought back to her office's attention in mid-July.
'After this case was submitted to our office in mid-July, we conducted a thorough review and are confident in our charging decision,' she said in a statement.
'Lilyana should still be with her family. This terrible incident serves as another reminder of the devastating impact dangerous driving has on our communities.'
On February 26, at approximately 8 a.m., he allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of County Roads 6 and 110 in Independence, T-boning an SUV carrying the Loycano family.
Lilyana, 11, was critically injured and died two days later. Still, he was able to walk free.
Just 48 hours after Lilyana's death, Iversen allegedly stabbed a man at Theodore Wirth Parkway and Olson Highway in Golden Valley on February 28.
The victim, who had attempted to help Iversen by offering him a ride, suffered stab wounds to the leg and facial injuries after being struck with a large stick, according to a criminal complaint.
Police later tracked Iversen to a nearby maintenance building, where he had allegedly broken in and was found covered in blood and scratches.
Before authorities located Iversen, investigators suspect he may have broken into a home in the Hidden Lakes neighborhood, stolen an e-bike, and attempted to enter several other residences.
'Golden Valley is currently investigating multiple burglaries possibly connected to Iversen,' the complaint noted.
'This was surprising because Golden Valley is a real quiet community — you don't see these things happen often and when they do it kind of alarms people,' said Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green.
Despite his alleged pattern of violence, it took multiple offenses before he was finally jailed — only after public outrage.
Since taking office, Moriarty has repeatedly faced backlash for decisions that prioritize leniency over justice.
In her first week in office, she dismissed charges against a 35-year-old man accused of raping a 14-year-old girl due to a legal technicality, preventing him from ever being retried.
She also pushed for probation instead of prison for Jesse Lietzau, whose fentanyl-laced pills killed 25-year-old Kailey Caspersen, leaving her grieving mother demanding justice.
In the case of Stephen Markey, a man gunned down during a carjacking, Moriarty offered one of the teenage killers just five years of probation, meaning he may never serve a single day in prison.
Despite repeated pleas from victims' families and public officials — including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison — Moriarty has refused to change course.
Even when Governor Tim Walz intervened to remove her from a case involving a brutal home invasion murder, she remained defiant. 'I stand by my decisions,' Moriarty told the press, dismissing public concerns as mere 'pushback.'
Only after multiple crimes, including the fatal crash and brutal stabbing, has Iversen finally been held.
Her originally not charging Iversen despite his seemingly reckless disregard for the law has sparked further outrage.
Iversen's alleged criminal history is lengthy. On December 16, 2024, authorities said he led police on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph while recklessly weaving through traffic.
Witnesses reported that the driver was recklessly disregarding traffic laws, illegally passing in a no-passing zone, speeding, using the shoulder to overtake vehicles, and swerving erratically across the road.
He was eventually stopped with police spike strips and arrested, but was still allowed to walk free.
Iversen remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail ahead of a court appearance on September 8.
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