More than two years after Allison Lussier was found dead in her Minneapolis apartment, prosecutors have charged her former boyfriend with murder, crediting her family and community’s continued demands for accountability.
Charles Henry Foss, 36, was charged Oct. 22 with second-degree unintentional murder and stalking in the death of Lussier, a 47-year-old Indigenous woman. He is already serving a prison sentence for an unrelated case.
Lussier’s family repeatedly raised concerns about domestic violence and the police response after her body was
discovered in February 2024. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said their advocacy helped investigators reach witnesses who had been reluctant to speak with police.
Prosecutors initially received the case in June 2024 but said the evidence was insufficient to bring charges. The county attorney’s office then pursued additional investigation.
A city audit released in April identified 22 issues in how Lussier’s case was handled. She and people close to her had contacted police 12 times. Few calls led to investigations, and none resulted in criminal charges. Auditors also found missed opportunities to investigate stalking.
Lussier suffered an acute subdural hematoma, or bleeding between the brain and skull. The medical examiner could not determine the manner of death. Although toxicology testing found drugs in her system, Moriarty said they did not cause her death.
According to the criminal complaint, Foss allegedly told multiple people he had killed Lussier. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Her family now plans to advocate for state legislation requiring police to interview relatives when someone with a history of domestic violence dies under suspicious circumstances, including deaths classified as overdoses or suicides.
For Lussier’s loved ones, the charges mark a long-awaited step toward accountability.
Sources:
- CBS Minnesota, Stephen Swanson and Jason Rantala, “Man charged with murder 2 years after Allison Lussier found dead in Minneapolis,” updated Oct. 22, 2026.
- MPR News, “Murder charge filed in Allison Lussier’s death after years of family pressure.”
