St. George woman arrested after telling police she stole car to see boyfriend

ST. GEORGE, Utah — A Washington County woman was arrested after allegedly punching her boyfriend in the nose a few days after officers said she stole a car to visit him.

Police say 21-year-old Lilliana Steward was booked into the Washington County Jail Wednesday on charges of assault and criminal trespassing, along with charges of theft and obstruction of justice stemming from a Jan. 14 incident.

According to court documents, Steward contacted a man who was selling a Nissan Altima on Jan. 14.

“She claimed she was interested in purchasing the vehicle and asked the victim if he would be willing to bring the vehicle to her residence to test drive it and purchase it,” police said.

Officers said the victim brought the car over to Steward, who then took the car on an extended test drive.

The victim told police he asked Steward to bring the car back, and she did.

According to police, Steward then told the victim her mother would Venmo him $1,900 and she asked to drive the car around the block one more time to park it in a different spot.

The victim told officers he was leery of her, but he agreed, saying she could if she didn’t take the car and drive away.

“The victim said he waited a few minutes and realized she took the vehicle and left,” police said. “At this time he contacted police.”

Steward later told the victim the car ran out of gas at an auto parts store, according to police, and she continued to tell the victim that that was where she left the car.

Officers later called a number Steward had given the victim and said a woman claiming to be Steward’s sister answered.

“She told me Lilliana left for California with her brother and she picked her up from Napa where the vehicle was left and ran out of gasoline,” police said. “After a short time on the phone, it was clear the female was lying and admitted the vehicle was not at Napa. She claimed the vehicle was left at a random apartment complex on Westridge Dr.”

Investigators said they later determined they were actually speaking to Steward at that time, “who was obstructing the investigation and lying.”

Officers said they located the vehicle abandoned at 1094 North 1550 West and Steward’s sister lived nearby.

According to court documents, Steward’s sister gave her a ride to her boyfriend’s house after Steward told her she bought the car but couldn’t get it to start.

Steward was located at her boyfriend’s house and police said she admitted to lying on the phone and not having any plans to get the car back to the victim.

Dispatch also told arresting officers that Steward had a warrant for her arrest out of the Washington County Justice Court for a traffic violation.

Five days later, officers said Steward was released from jail and went to visit her boyfriend.

Police said he told Steward her brother did not want her there and she needed to leave, but “she freaked out and began yelling at him to break up with her.”

According to court documents, Steward again refused to leave and punched her boyfriend in the face, causing his nose to bleed.

She was located at a residence in Washington and police said she admitted to getting heated and hitting her boyfriend.

Steward was also booked into jail on charges of unlawful use of a financial card after police said she admitted to stealing a family member’s credit card and trying to use it in her Cashapp to buy food.

According to police, Steward’s boyfriend located the stolen card on Steward’s purse after the victim reached out to him, and Steward showed officers the failed transaction attempts on her phone.