In a mysterious twist following the shocking murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the transgender partner of the accused assassin has vanished. This development comes just six weeks after Kirk’s untimely death.
Twenty-two-year-old Lance Twiggs shared a living space with Tyler Robinson, the alleged gunman charged with shooting Kirk in the neck on September 10 at Utah Valley University. Although there’s been no official link between Twiggs and the assassination, his absence adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing investigation.
Since the shooting, Twiggs has remained elusive, with no sightings near the Utah apartment he once shared with Robinson. His vehicle, however, is reportedly parked at his parents’ house, suggesting a possible reconciliation after years apart, as per reports from The New York Post.
Despite this, neighbors claim they have not observed any signs of Twiggs at his family’s residence since the incident. The lack of activity raises questions about his current whereabouts and whether his disappearance is connected to the tragic events surrounding Kirk’s death.
His car is parked in his parents driveway, with reports that they had reconciled after years of estrangement, according to The New York Post.
However, a neighbor said they hadn’t seen any activity from Twiggs around the family home since the tragedy.
‘It definitely is a shock it happened here. It’s a quiet neighborhood. You know your neighbor on your left or your right, but people are pretty isolated,’ said Jesse Riley.
FBI sources have told Daily Mail Briggs is being treated as a ‘significant and essential witness’ and not a suspect.
Lance Briggs (pictured), the transgender lover of the man who assassinated Charlie Kirk has disappeared just six weeks after the shocking murder of the conservative activist
Tyler Robinson is accused of shooting Turning Point USA founder Kirk, 31, in the neck on September 10 during a discussion of trans issues at a campus debate at Utah Valley University
Last month, the Daily Mail spoke to the mother of many of Twiggs’ friends, who said it was ‘simply unfathomable’ that Twiggs could be involved in the murder.
Jackie Nielsen insisted: ‘I’m certain Lance wasn’t involved. I just don’t believe it.’
Nielsen, 41, told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview: ‘Trans or not, Lance was a good-hearted boy.
‘He wasn’t violent or cruel. He didn’t push his ideas on people. He didn’t want attention – in fact, what’s happening now is his worst nightmare.
‘The version of Lance that’s being talked about in the media is not the kind, shy boy that I’ve known for years.’
Jackie’s six kids all went to the same high school in Washington, Utah as Twiggs.
And they all knew Robinson – his live-in lover turned accused assassin now facing a possible death sentence for gunning down Kirk in front of his audience with an antique rifle.
Two of Jackie’s boys were also part of a chat group with Twiggs and Robinson on the app Discord.
Twiggs (pictured), 22, who shared an apartment with Robinson, hasn’t been seen near the pair’s Utah residence
Kirk was shot during a speaking engagement on the campus of Utah Valley University
They were both interviewed by the FBI in the wake of the killing but there’s no suggestion they’ve done anything wrong.
‘It was just boys being ridiculous boys, saying silly stuff to one another,’ insisted Jackie, who lives in St. George with her husband Nathan, 35, and her six kids aged between 19 and 23.
‘I asked my son directly if Tyler or Lance ever said anything political or anything that worried him. He said no,’ she added.
‘My boys are in shock. One of them wakes up every morning and doesn’t think the world around him is real.
‘He’s so sad for Lance. And never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined Tyler doing something like this.’
Twiggs was just a shy, awkward teenager when he came over to hang out and play video games with Jackie’s sons, she said.
They were in the eighth grade at St. George Academy, a charter school in Washington, Utah, where Twiggs was considered one of the smartest kids in school.
‘The rest of the world sees Lance as quiet and shy but when you get to know him, you realize he’s kind, bubbly and funny,’ Jackie said.
FBI sources have told the Daily Mail Twiggs is being treated as a ‘significant and essential witness’ and not a suspect
‘He spent regular time at our house, hung out with our kids. When his parents kicked him out he came to live with us for a little while.’
Twiggs had clashed with his insurance broker dad Tyler Twiggs, 49, and former college gymnast mom, Amy, 50, over their strict Mormon beliefs, she said.
‘I do believe extreme religion is not healthy. When he spoke up and said he didn’t want to go to church they kicked him out,’ Jackie said.
‘But I did not see any rebellion or disrespect. He was a kid in turmoil. It’s scary when you don’t align with the beliefs that your family have.
‘They seem like kind, humble parents. I don’t have anything ill to say about them. I just took him in because he’s a great kid and he’s really kind.’
Among his closest friends it was long accepted that Twiggs was gay.
But Jackie only heard recently that Twiggs was transitioning to become a woman and was growing his hair longer.
‘I know that as an adult he struggled more. He was working through some mental health issues,’ she said.
Robinson is seen at the university the day Kirk was fatally shot
‘After high school he did some marijuana and mushrooms and did have an occasional drink. But he was still the same kind, caring person.
‘I considered him a phenomenal role model for my children. If they went out together, I knew they would come back on time, they would come back sober, if Lance was with them.
‘I think only a handful of friends and family knew he was transitioning. Lance was doing what was right for him.
‘He was so far from pushing his ideas on other people, he just accepted people the way they are.’
Jackie said two of her boys were able to call Twiggs before he was taken into police custody in the wake of Kirk’s shooting and Robinson’s September 12 arrest.
The gamer nerd was led away for questioning when police swooped on the smart three-bed condo he shared with Robinson and has not been seen since.
‘They haven’t spoken to Tyler. They have spoken with Lance,’ Jackie said of her sons, whom we have agreed not to name.
‘He was still in his apartment right before it was raided. I don’t know what was said in that conversation, but everyone was in shock and disbelief afterwards.
‘Neither of my boys have been able to reach him since. They are both very concerned about his wellbeing. We all are.’
Robinson faces the death penalty if he’s found guilty of the aggravated murder of Kirk, a father-of-two, influential Trump ally and a vocal Christian critic of trans ideology.
A lengthy text exchange between Robinson and Twiggs released by prosecutors last week appeared to confirm the latter had no idea of his partner’s plan.
‘You weren’t the one who did it right????’ asked Twiggs.
‘I am, I’m sorry’ came Robinson’s reply, before later urging his partner to ‘delete this exchange’.
However, there was another text from Robinson that raised questions about what Twiggs knew in advance: ‘Remember how I was engraving bullets?’
That is presumed to be a reference to the anti-fascist slogans etched on shell cartridges found with the alleged murder weapon, a decades-old rifle that belonged to Robinson’s grandfather.
Robinson had been living at a St George apartment complex with Twiggs at for the past three years, according to neighbors.
A third roommate moved out of their three-bed property – owned by Twiggs’s family – leaving just Robinson and Twiggs, who became romantically involved and were spotted kissing.
Despite the apparent fallout with his parents and three siblings, Amy and Tyler have continued to support their son via Venmo, a US payment app.
They regularly deposited cash into his account for insurance, piano lessons, prescriptions, and a visit to the doctor.
Robinson appeared briefly in court on Monday, where he successfully argued to be allowed to wear civilian clothes at trial, citing Luigi Mangione in his argument.
The 22-year-old, who is accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist at Utah Valley University on September 10, was granted the legal victory on Monday afternoon.
Though he did not appear on camera, when asked by District Court Judge Tony F. Grant Jr. if he could hear, Robinson said: ‘Yes I can.’
Robinson was also allowed to not show his face in the Provo courthouse at a planned in-person hearing on Thursday. But, that hearing has since been canceled.
District Court Judge Tony F. Grant Jr. said he has allowed Robinson to wear civilian attire because ‘the presumption of innocence remains.’
Although he will be allowed to avoid jail clothing, Robinson will have to wear handcuffs and shackles in the courtroom, the judge decided.
‘The court recognizes that Mr. Robinson has no criminal history and no record of misconduct while in custody, however the charges he faces are extraordinarily serious, carrying potential penalties of life imprisonment or death,’ Judge Grant Jr. added.
Cameras have also been banned from showing ‘him entering, exiting or standing in the courtroom.’ His restraints are not allowed to be photographed or recorded, per the judge.
These decisions follow suit with two of the most recent prolific murder trials involving convicted murderer Bryan Kohberger and alleged assassin Luigi Mangione.
The defense argued a jury could be swayed by the sight of Robinson in jail clothes and shackles, as reported by Court TV.
