Overview

• David Powers, 37, was convicted in absentia on April 22, 2025, for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, and domestic assault in Washington County, Minnesota.
• Powers fled his trial on April 21, severing his GPS monitor before he could be cross-examined, prompting an arrest warrant and manhunt.
• He was found deceased on April 24 after reportedly jumping from a highway overpass near San Antonio International Airport, with his death confirmed by authorities on April 25.
• The charges stemmed from a May 2023 incident in which Powers held his then-girlfriend hostage in her Lake Elmo home, assaulting and threatening her over several hours.
• Powers' flight and subsequent death have drawn attention to the challenges of pre-trial release monitoring and the broader issues of domestic violence and sexual assault.