Jurors convict Twin Cities woman of killing romantic partner

Jurors convicted a Twin Cities woman of murder for the shooting death of her romantic partner inside her home.

Jennifer L. Lieber, 45, was found guilty on Jan. 30 in Scott County District Court of second-degree murder in connection with the death on March 4, 2024, of 45-year-old David J. Nanovic in the home near Prior Lake in the 6800 block of Century Lane.

Lieber was taken into custody after the verdict was read and remained jailed ahead of sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint:

Stuart Lieber called the Sheriff’s Office to report that his soon-to-be former wife “was acting weird,” the charging document read.

A friend of Lieber’s met a deputy in front of the home and said Lieber told her she made a big mistake. Lieber told her friend she was arguing with Nanovic, who was her cousin, and kicked a gun from his hand “and it went off and hit [him],” the complaint continued.

Lieber met deputies outside the home. They saw a bloodied Nanovic down at the bottom of the stairs and a handgun next to his body. Medics declared him dead at the scene.

The 10-year-old said all three of them were watching television that evening together, when Lieber, who had been drinking beer and brandy much of the night, became agitated. She got a gun and was yelling and threatening to kill them, so the father and son left the house.

The two teenage sons of the Liebers alerted Nanovic and his son that Jennifer Lieber was acting unstable. Nanovic and his son approached the house, and Jennifer Lieber fired a shot and told them not to come in.