A Tragic Morning: Two Young Lives Lost in a Senseless Act
In a devastating turn of events on Thursday morning, September 4, 2025, two vibrant 25-year-old women from Minneapolis, Marisa Ardys Casebolt and Liberty Borg, were tragically killed when a carjacking suspect fleeing police at high speed ran a red light and slammed into their vehicle at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Olson Memorial Highway. The crash, which authorities say was the culmination of a violent crime spree, left not only the women dead at the scene but also critically injured a 6-year-old boy, who is the son of one of the victims.
The suspect, Troy Mike Payton, 45, of St. Paul, had allegedly carjacked a vehicle and fled from officers, running multiple lights before colliding with the women’s Ford Fusion. As of now, the young boy is being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center for a traumatic brain injury and two broken legs. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving families shattered and a city reeling from a crime that never should have happened.
A Violent Crime Spree with Devastating Consequences
Court documents and police reports reveal that Troy Mike Payton, who also goes by the alias Edward Tiki Arrington, is no stranger to law enforcement. His criminal record includes state and federal convictions ranging from illegal firearm possession to drug trafficking and multiple past instances of fleeing law enforcement. On the day of the fatal crash, Payton was fleeing police in a car he had carjacked earlier and was also armed, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota.
As the investigation unfolds, Payton is now facing state charges of fleeing police resulting in death and great bodily harm, and federal charges of carjacking resulting in death—a federal offense that may carry the death penalty. He is currently hospitalized from injuries sustained in the crash and is expected to appear in court soon.
Authorities have confirmed that the incident was not a random accident but the tragic result of a violent crime spree that claimed two innocent lives and critically harmed a child. It’s a sobering reminder of the deadly toll reckless and violent acts can take on everyday people.
Two Bright Lights Extinguished Too Soon
Marisa and Liberty were more than names in a news report. They were beloved daughters, friends, and mothers. They had dreams, ambitions, and families who now must live with the unbearable pain of loss. Marisa’s young son, who was in the car during the crash, now faces a long road to recovery—physically, emotionally, and without the comfort of his mother by his side.
“Two young women should be alive today,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson in a heartbreaking statement. “Instead, their lives were cut short by a senseless crime.”
A city mourns the stolen futures of two young women who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. As the community begins to grieve and search for justice, families now face a future filled with pain, unanswered questions, and the heavy burden of rebuilding their lives in the wake of irreversible tragedy.