MN Realtor Trapped, Killed at Fake Home Viewing
On New Year's Eve 2019, what should have been a routine day for 28-year-old realtor Monique Baugh turned into a nightmare that would haunt Minnesota for years. In Maple Grove, a quiet suburb of Minneapolis, Baugh answered what appeared to be a legitimate home viewing request. Instead, she walked into a deadly trap — a fake listing carefully orchestrated by Lyndon Akeem Wiggins and his co-conspirators Elsa Segura, Cedric Berry, and Berry Davis. The chilling plot ended with Baugh's brutal kidnapping and murder, her body found discarded in an alley, hands bound with duct tape. Six years later, justice caught up with Wiggins, who was convicted on multiple counts, including first-degree murder and kidnapping. This is the harrowing story of a young woman's life stolen in a cruel urban horror show — and the long fight for justice by her family.
A Job Turned Deadly
For many real estate agents, meeting clients for home viewings is part of the daily routine. It's a job that requires trust, professionalism, and a keen eye for opportunity. For Monique Baugh, it was no different — until December 31, 2019. On that day, she was lured to a Maple Grove home under the pretense of a legitimate showing. But the listing was a ruse, a trap set by Wiggins and his co-conspirators.
According to court documents and reports, Segura and Wiggins set up the fake home viewing to lure Baugh into their deadly plan. When Baugh arrived, two men abducted her, forced her into the back of a U-Haul truck, and later shot her multiple times. Her body was found in an alley, her hands duct-taped, a grim testament to the violence she endured.
The horror didn't end there. The attackers drove the U-Haul to Baugh's boyfriend's home, where a masked gunman shot him with a .45 caliber pistol. Though he survived, the boyfriend identified Wiggins as someone he believed wanted to harm him, adding another layer of menace to the case.
The Long Road to Justice
The legal battle surrounding Baugh's murder has been as complex as it is tragic. Wiggins was initially convicted in June 2022 and sentenced to life in prison. However, the Minnesota Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2024 due to incorrect jury instructions during the trial. This setback was a painful blow for Baugh's family, who had already endured years of grief and uncertainty.
Despite the reversal, the fight for justice did not end. Wiggins faced a retrial that began in October 2025. After weeks of testimony and deliberation, a Hennepin County jury found him guilty once again on multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, kidnapping, and aiding and abetting.
The other defendants faced their own fates: Cedric Berry and Berry Davis were sentenced to life without parole, while Elsa Segura, who pleaded guilty to kidnapping to commit great bodily harm, received a 240-month sentence. Wiggins is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2025, to life without parole, closing a dark chapter in this tragic saga.
On the day he was scheduled to be sentenced, Wiggins' lawyer filed a motion requesting a third trial. This is a pending legal motion and has not yet been granted, underscoring that the legal process continues even after the conviction.
The Emotional Toll and Community Impact
The story of Monique Baugh is not just a crime headline; it's a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary life can spiral into horror. For Baugh's family, the years since that fateful New Year's Eve have been marked by pain, resilience, and an unwavering demand for justice. The emotional weight of losing a loved one in such a violent and senseless way is unimaginable.
For the community of Maple Grove and beyond, the case has sparked conversations about safety, trust, and the vulnerabilities faced by professionals who work closely with the public. Realtors, in particular, often meet strangers in private settings, relying on the assumption of good faith. Baugh's murder shattered that assumption, leaving a lasting scar on the industry and the community.
A Final Reflection
Monique Baugh's story is a somber chapter in the annals of crime, marked by betrayal, violence, and a long quest for accountability. The conviction of Lyndon Akeem Wiggins and his co-conspirators brings some measure of closure, but the emotional and societal ripples will be felt for years to come.
References: Couple Set Up Fake Home Viewing to Abduct, Kill Real Estate Agent Who Was Found Dead in Alley on New Year's Eve | Lyndon Wiggins found guilty again in 2019 kidnapping, killing of Minneapolis realtor Monique Baugh - CBS Minnesota
