Family religious disputes led to the expulsion of Lance Twiggs, the 22-year-old transgender boyfriend of Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin Tyler Robinson, from his Mormon household during his high school years, the New York Post reported Wednesday.
Twiggs faced ejection from his family home after distancing himself from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teachings and reportedly experimenting with underage drinking and substance use. During this period, the teenager found refuge with two brothers from an extensive blended household containing six biological children and three adopted siblings, according to their sister Braylon Nielsen, who spoke with the New York Post.
Despite her brothers' current family estrangement, the 19-year-old maintains positive recollections of Twiggs, whom their household welcomed during his junior year in 2021 even though the family possessed limited knowledge about the struggling student's background, Nielsen told the New York Post.
"It was on and off. He was bouncing couches. He would live with us for a few months, but didn't like taking up our couch. He would crash with friends," Nielsen explained to the publication.
Nielsen expressed affection for Twiggs while criticizing his parents' treatment. "I loved Lance. His parents kicked him out of his house, and he lived with us. His parents never sat right with my family," she stated.
Nielsen characterized Twiggs' parents as excessively controlling religious extremists and dismissed family members' negative claims as vindictive speculation, the New York Post reported. Regarding substance use allegations, Nielsen defended Twiggs' character. "Lance, that I know of, has never done drugs. He was always like, 'I don't want to go out and party.' He just wasn't a big partier," she told the publication.
Nielsen described Twiggs as a dedicated and academically excellent student who prioritized inclusion during his enrollment at UT Success Academy, an accelerated program designed for gifted students pursuing college-level coursework, according to the New York Post.
Nielsen provided specific examples of Twiggs' helpfulness. "We went to a dance once, a high school dance, and he was very involved with it. Made sure everyone had rides. Made sure everyone had clothes. He just took care of people. My sister's car broke down once, and he came out to help her," she recounted to the publication.
UT Success Academy Executive Director Ben Kaufman acknowledged lacking direct experience with Twiggs, who completed his studies around the time Kaufman joined the institution. However, Kaufman reported receiving consistently positive feedback about Twiggs from school community members, telling the New York Post, "Everything I've heard about him, he was a great kid. He was nice. He worked hard."
Despite Twiggs' openness, Nielsen admitted to complete ignorance of his transgender identity. She vigorously defended her friend while expressing certainty about his innocence in Robinson's alleged assassination scheme. "I think that's all Tyler. The Lance that I knew would never do something like that. I could never see Lance doing that," she insisted to the publication.
Nielsen's mother Jackie similarly believes in Twiggs' innocence regarding the Kirk assassination plot and expresses hope for his future peace following the investigation's conclusion. "I don't believe Lance would have any part of that. He's a good kid. He's a kid. He's compassionate. He minds his own business. I hope the world lightens up on him and stops being so hateful until they have all the facts. He doesn't deserve this," Jackie told the New York Post.
Twiggs recently evacuated the comfortable townhouse he had shared with Robinson, who also received devout Mormon upbringing, in St. George, Utah. Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby previously indicated that Twiggs currently resides in a "safe space very far away from St. George," and requires the need "to lay low for a long time." Authorities have not filed criminal charges against him regarding Kirk's assassination, and reports indicate he continues cooperating with the investigation, the New York Post reported.
