We Remember 2024
We Remember is a memorial to Minnesota’s victims of intimate partner homicide. Each of these victims is someone’s child, parent, sibling, family member, intimate partner, friend, neighbor, or co-worker.
Sandra Wilson Goertz
Age 81
Lake Benton
January 4, 2024
Sandra Wilson Goertz, 81, was shot and killed by her husband, Irwin Goertz, 80, in their Lake Benton home on January 4. Irwin shot Sandra multiple times before killing himself.
Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Adam Finseth
Ages 27, 27, 40
Burnsville
February 18, 2024
Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and Adam Finseth, 40, were shot and killed in Burnsville by Shannon Gooden, 38, while responding to a 911 call "regarding an alleged sexual assault allegation," on the morning of February 18. When officers arrived, Gooden barricaded himself in a bedroom and refused to come out. After a period of attempted negotiation failed, Gooden began shooting and exchanged gunfire with police. During this exchange, Gooden shot and killed Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, and nonfatally shot another officer. Adam Finseth was killed while attempting lifesaving measures on one of the officers. Gooden then shot and killed himself. Gooden had a history of intimate partner violence and abuse. Two women who had children with Gooden filed for orders for protection against him, one in 2017, and another in 2020. In the 2017 petition, the woman stated Gooden headbutted her, causing a concussion and black eyes, and threw her down the stairs. She also said he had a history of being “emotionally and physically abusive from the very beginning," and the police were called to their residence on multiple occasions. The petition for this order was dismissed when the woman did not appear for a court hearing. The woman who filed the 2020 order for protection said Gooden caused her to fall down stairs while he cut her clothes with a knife. She also said she believed Gooden would kill her. The judge in that case dismissed the petition due to a "lack of proof" of abuse. After a 2007 conviction for assault, Gooden was prohibited to possess firearms for life. He petitioned the court in 2020 to rescind this restriction, but was denied. Seven of Gooden's children, along with his current partner, were in the Burnsville home when he shot and killed Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Adam Finseth. Some of the children witnessed Gooden kill himself. Adam Finseth and Paul Elmstrand each leave behind two minor children.
David Joseph Nanovic
Age 45
Credit River
March 4, 2024
David Joseph Nanovic, 45, was shot and killed in his girlfriend’s home in Credit River on March 4, 2024. His girlfriend Jennifer Lieber, 45, is charged with second degree murder. On the night of March 4th police were called to Lieber’s home by her ex-husband for a welfare check, where they encountered Lieber, with Lieber stating that she had “really f##ked up.” Deputies then found David’s body in the home. David’s minor son stated that he, Lieber, and David were watching TV when Lieber, who had been drinking all night, “became very agitated” and grabbed a handgun, which she pointed at them throughout the night while threatening to kill them and calling David racial slurs. David and his son later left the main house to go to the pool house. Lieber’s two minor children, who were present for part of the night, then told David that Lieber was “acting crazy.” While attempting to return to the main house, David approached with his hands up and his son reported this was the last time he saw his father before police found his body. The medical examiner determined David died of a gunshot wound to the forehead. David and his son had been living in Lieber’s home since 2022 and at some point David and Lieber had begun a romantic relationship. The son reported that living in Lieber’s home was like “living in hell” and that Lieber had a history of physically and verbally abusing David. David Joseph Nanovic is survived by his minor son.
Allisa Marie Vollan
Age 27
Duluth
March 22, 2024
Allisa Marie Vollan, 27, was killed in her boyfriend’s home in Duluth on March 22, 2024. Her boyfriend Dale Howard, 25, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, with one count citing his violation of a then-active no contact order. Further analysis regarding Allisa’s cause of death is pending, although a preliminary report indicates that her injuries are potentially consistent with smothering. Howard had previously been arrested and charged with domestic assault on March 9th after a neighbor reported him kicking Allisa in the head and slamming her head in the door. Allisa told officers on scene that day that Howard demonstrated jealousy over her past relationships, had previously been violent with her and had called her gendered slurs, and had previously threatened her about a dozen times. On March 12th a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order was issued, prohibiting Howard from having contact with Allisa. They had been dating for five months.
Allisa’s family stated that she grew up in Duluth and graduated from Denfeld High School. Her family shared that she had “an abundance of great friends that stuck with her through life. She always looked forward to her next adventures and the new friends she could meet. She’s loved and remembered by all of her family and friends.”
Amir Demarion Harden
Age 8
Burnsville
June 9, 2024
Amir Demarion Harden, 8, was shot on June 5th in his Burnsville home and died in the hospital on Sunday, June 9th. His mother stated that his father Danair Harden, 30, was attempting to shoot and kill her when Amir tried wrestling the gun away from him and was then shot in the head and neck. Amir’s four siblings were present. Danair Harden was in court the morning before the shooting on charges that he had strangled Amir’s mother on May 30 after she tried to end their relationship after a history of abuse and control. He was released on bail about seven hours before the shooting.
Amir, a student at Echo Park Elementary, will be remembered as “a leader, a protector of his siblings," and “was known for his infectious smile and kind heart.”
Toumai Gaynor
Age 21
St. Paul
May 30, 2024
Toumai Gaynor, 21, was shot and killed in St. Paul on May 30, 2024. Martavious Roby-English, 21, faces second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges. Roby-English’s ex-girlfriend had been in a car with Toumai that night. She told police that Roby-English had grown progressively more upset that she wasn’t coming over and was angry that she had turned her location off as “it was a sign of mistrust.” At one point Roby-English sent his ex-girlfriend a text threatening to walk over and shoot her. His ex-girlfriend and a witness stated that Roby-English eventually ran up to the car she was in with Toumai and repeatedly yelled “Get out of the car or I will kill you” before shooting, killing Toumai. After the shooting, Roby-English claimed to police that he had later learned Toumai had been dating his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors believe he was attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend during the shooting. Roby-English has a history of assault charges for prior shootings.
Liara Kaylee Tsai
Age 35
Minneapolis
June 21, 2024
Liara Kaylee Tsai, 35, was killed in her home in Minneapolis on or about June 21, 2024 with sharp force injuries listed as her cause of death. Margot Lewis, 32, of Iowa, described as a former romantic partner of Liara’s, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Hours after Liara was killed in her home, investigators arrived at a crash scene on June 22 along Interstate 90 in Olmsted County, where Lewis had been speeding in the median before hitting a guardrail with Liara’s body in the backseat. When police arrived, they determined Liara’s death was not due to the crash and that Lewis had not attempted to avoid the guardrail. Liara’s former spouse told police that Lewis had flown in from Boston to stay with Liara for several days beginning June 21.
Trans women deserve to live full, joyful lives free from violence. Liara was a beloved member of the trans community in Minnesota and will be remembered for her work as a DJ and her activism as a volunteer for the Trevor Project and a crisis counselor for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Liara is described by loved ones as having a “magnetic personality,” with an “incredibly unique presence” who was an exceptionally talented artist. She had moved to Minneapolis from Iowa six weeks before her death and had just booked a show in Brooklyn that would be her biggest gig yet.
