Transgender boyfriend of suspect in high-profile political figure's death tied to Mormon-faith tensions, friends say

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — The transgender boyfriend of the man identified as a suspect in the death of a high-profile political figure has emerged in new reporting. Lance Twiggs, 22, was kicked out of his family home in Utah amid disagreements over the family’s Mormon faith and has since bounced between friends’ couches and temporary accommodations as investigators pursue leads in the case involving Tyler Robinson. According to a New York Post report, Twiggs has cooperated with investigators and has remained in contact with authorities as part of the inquiry.

Braylon Nielsen, 19, said Twiggs spent extended periods living at her home in St. George during his junior year in 2021 and beyond, sometimes bouncing between couches at various friends’ houses. Nielsen described Twiggs as a reliable friend who went out of his way to help others. 'Lance was the kind of person who made sure everyone was included,' Nielsen said. 'He would make sure people had rides to dances, that they had clothes, and he never wanted anyone left out.' Nielsen said Twiggs is transgender, though she added she did not realize that detail at the time and still defended him. She emphasized that she believes Twiggs had no part in the alleged plan tied to the case.

Twiggs was close with Nielsen’s brothers, and Nielsen recalled he was a straight-A student who avoided drugs or partying and was not a big partier, according to her account. He attended UT Success Academy, an accelerated program for gifted students seeking college-level coursework, and colleagues described him as hardworking and inclusive. The UT Success Academy’s Executive Director Ben Kaufman said Twiggs did not overlap with the school during his tenure there, but added he has heard glowing reports about him from the school community. 'Everything I’ve heard about him, he was a great kid. He was nice. He worked hard,' Kaufman said.

Twiggs recently abandoned the townhouse he shared with Robinson in St. George, Utah. Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby said Twiggs was in a 'safe space very far away from St. George' and needed 'to lay low for a long time' as investigators continued to pursue leads. Officials have not charged Twiggs with a crime in connection with the death and the case remains active as investigators gather more information. The case has drawn national attention given the prominence of its subject matter within the broader U.S. political landscape. The UT Success Academy’s leadership emphasized that Twiggs had recently left the school’s orbit before the incident and that they had heard consistent praise about him from former peers and staff.

As the investigation proceeds, authorities say Twiggs has cooperated with law enforcement and provided information to help authorities piece together the sequence of events leading up to the case. Officials stress that no charges have been brought against Twiggs and that investigators are pursuing all credible leads. Twiggs’s status remains fluid as law enforcement continues to assess his potential role and any connections to Tyler Robinson, the case’s identified suspect. The public and political sphere has watched closely how personal relationships intersect with religious, social, and political identities in cases with national attention.