PIERRE, S.D. >> A woman found dead and wrapped in a blanket in the back seat of a car driven by her son was a case of homicide, preliminary autopsy results reveal.
Michelle Nanette Walsh, 58, was killed by a blunt force injuries to her head and neck, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Monday. “This confirms this is a homicide and will continue to be treated as such,” Jackley said in a statement.
Walsh had moved to Palm Springs in recent months after living for decades in Santa Cruz, in a house on King Street.
A South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper began pursuit of Walsh’s son, 30-year-old Tosten David Walsh-Lommen, on Jan. 1 after the Santa Cruz man was seen driving over 100 mph eastbound on I-90 in Lawrence County.
The trooper was unable to pull Walsh-Lommen over, beginning a police chase in which speeds reportedly reached as high as 118 mph. Officers used a spike strip to deflate one of the car’s tires, after which it continued driving on a rim for three miles before coming to a stop. Walsh-Lommen was apprehended as he attempted to flee from the vehicle.
Walsh was found dead and wrapped in a blanket in the back seat of the vehicle, a white 2013 Honda CRV registered in her name. Alcohol and prescription drugs were also found in the vehicle.
Walsh-Lommen was initially charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, aggravated eluding law enforcement, resisting arrest and speeding.
He remains held Pennington County Jail with a bail set at $2.5 million.
As of Monday afternoon, no new charges had been filed against Walsh-Lommen. A spokeswoman for the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office did not return multiple requests for comment.
HISTORY
Walsh-Lommen was born and raised in Santa Cruz, records show. In 2015, his then-girlfriend received a domestic violence restraining order against him after accusing Walsh-Lommen of throwing her down stairs, breaking her collar bone, holding guns to her head and dousing her in gasoline. Santa Cruz County court records show he had previously been arrested for vandalism and petty theft.
Writing that he wanted a “fresh start,” Walsh-Lommen petitioned to change his name in 2016.
From 2008 to 2011, Walsh-Lommen worked as a kayak and stand-up paddle board instructor and tour guide in Santa Cruz, according to his Facebook page.
The page lists his current occupation as “Being a Good Son.”