SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A Sioux Falls man accused of stabbing and killing his ex-girlfriend and then putting her in the back of her SUV made his first court appearance Wednesday.
Tyson Christians is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of 23-year-old Emily Eirinberg.
In court Wednesday, Christians appeared before the judge, his voice was raspy and he swayed back and forth as the judge explained the charges against him. A plea of “not guilty” was entered for him. Police arrested Christians Monday night and say he has admitted to the murder. The call to police Monday evening came from a friend of the suspect.
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“There was a man that he was there with that had killed his girlfriend,” said Lt. Aaron Nyberg of the Sioux Falls Police Department. Christians had asked to meet the friend at the Empire Mall. Court documents say Christians knew the friend would call police. When officers arrived, they found Emily Eirinberg dead in the back of her SUV. Additional officers went inside. When they approached Christians, he placed his hands behind his back and let officers put him in handcuffs. According to court records, moments before the arrest he had been talking to the clerk at Famous Footwear and said “Sorry man, I had to do it.”
Later, detectives say he repeatedly told them he “killed” and “murdered” the victim. He told them he had been planning on killing Eirinberg for several days.
Christians said went to her apartment on Sunday and used the passcode to break into her SUV. He hid in the back, but she never went to work that day. On Monday, he went to her workplace and hid in her vehicle while she was inside.
After her shift, he surprised her but convinced her he just wanted to talk. He told police they drove to a parking lot on South Louise. It was there he pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed her once. He told police it was then he realized he had to kill her because she would report him to police. Christians then said he stabbed her several times in the chest, neck and groin, then stayed with Eirinberg until she died.As for a motive, Christians told police he was angry with Eirinberg because she had recently ended their 7-year relationship.
KELOLAND News has confirmed Christians has a long criminal history, including reports of domestic violence involving the victim. The judge set his bond at $2 million cash only. Christians could face a maximum sentence of life in prison or possibly the death penalty.
