Karen Swift Missing: Body Found Believed To Be Tennessee Mother of Four
Dyer, TN- This afternoon, Dyer County Sheriffs recovered an unidentified and decomposing body in what appeared to be a shallow grave along the fork of Burnt Mill and Harness Roads.
The location is just off Route 78, and approximately 3 miles from the home of Karen and David Swift, which is located on Willie Johnson Road.
Karen Swift disappeared October 30th after returning home with the couples youngest daughter, who asked to be picked up early from a sleepover.
David Swift, Karen’s estranged husband, told police his wife was having an affair, had filed for divorce, and likely was “shacked up” with her boyfriend as the reason he waited almost an entire day before reporting her missing, although many of Karen’s friends were concerned about her whereabouts immediately. Ms. Swift’s friends were quick to provide police details that would contradict Mr. Swift’s assertions about his wife.
Karen’s 2004 Murano was located on Millsfield Hwy with a flat tire without any evidence of foul play, fueling speculation the scene appeared staged. As reported exclusively by www.blinkoncrime.com, clothing later determined by DNA testing belonging to Karen Swift was found in early search efforts to find her.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity to www.blinkoncrime.com, a source inside the investigation has confirmed that conversation on a police scanner earlier this afternoon indicated the remains are believed to be that of Karen Johnson Swift, and they were found based on a tip from an undisclosed source. It is not known if that source has ties to David Swift.
Jeff Box, Dyer County sheriff, refused to answer any questions regarding the recovery and said the Memphis Medical Examiner will determine positive identification and cause of death on Monday.
David Swift hired a criminal defense attorney within 48 hours of his Karen’s disappearance, and refused to answer any further inquiry or allow the property to be searched until search warrants were served last month.
Mr. Swift has not been named a suspect in his wife’s disappearance.
Contributing Editor: Jacqueline Beaufort
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I agree that there will be a swift (pun intended) arrest and that LE is not releasing specifics because they do not want to tip the killer off.
My thoery on the obvious wounds (which seemed to evoke the on site death comment) is that they were either inflicted postmortem to throw LE off or they were inflicted when killer was disposing of her and realized she wasn’t all the way dead.
On this one, twink, we may disagree. I think it will be in the autopsy findings that Karen was killed elsewhere and dumped at this location.
B
This is an article just released interviewing the man that discovered her body…
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/267203/20111214/karen-swift-murder-body-missing-dyersberg-mother.htm
Hope this clears up the rumors that she was “buried in a shallow grave”…she was not…
Edward –
Don’t believe it was a hit and run…
“Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said in an interview with WMC that the body was likely concealed until the vegetation began to wilt in the cold weather. He said authorities believe Swift, a 44-year-old mother of four, was killed elsewhere and her body was placed in that location.”
http://nancygrace.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/14/men-describe-finding-missing-tennessee-moms-body/?hpt=ng_mid
Just thought I would share this.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1794468.html
This is an article just released interviewing the man that discovered her body…
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/267203/20111214/karen-swift-murder-body-missing-dyersberg-mother.htm
Here is another article interviewing the gentleman that found her…
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1794468.html
Hope this clears up the rumors that she was “buried in a shallow grave”…she was not…
I think the shallow grave issue was an observation thing.
B
Is it possible the kudzo vine grew and covered the area after her body was placed there? Maybe her body was in a very shallow grave that the kudzo vine grew over after burial and then recent weather eroded some of the dirt, frost killed the kudzo and her body became visible.
This is really frustrating and after so much time. Blink, would cadaver dogs not picked this up so close to home? First husband was suspect, took kids, then gave kids back and he is not a suspect??? Does is appear that someone chased her out of her home after a fight, did the deed right there, then backtracked with marker like car, phone, clothes? She was a gorgeous young lady. Such a sad thing. So many kids having to grow up knowing mommy was murdered.
Ladies, Moms and girlfriends who have been threatened….carry mace at all times and do not tell everyone.
Let’s clear the air a bit. I’m a local, first of all. So…let’s get started.
Her body was NOT buried at all. She was placed off the side of the small gravel road leading to the cemetery. She was placed in Kudzu that is VERY thick and grows VERY quickly. There was also lots of tall grass in that area. So, basically she was dumped on the side of the road and exposed besides some vegetation. No word on whether or not she was wearing clothes when they found her. Blood residue was found at this crime scene. The idea of her being hit and thrown off the road is not very plausible. This was a small gravel road with no traffic. It was not anywhere near her car. She would have had to pass her home to get to the cemetery from her car. So, I’m not holding that as even a possibility. The kudzu is an excellent place to hide a body if the area under it is deep enough. This wasn’t really. Once it starts dying off after a few frosts (around here that was about mid-november), it will start to whilt. When it does this it kind of compresses down a little and leaves fall off. And in this case revealing a body part. The men who found it didn’t know what they were looking at when they first saw it. So, they got a bit closer. When it became apparent that this was a body part, they backed away from the scene, pulled away from it and called the Dyer Co Sheriff’s Dept.
Now for the cell phone/tower/neighbor confusion:
The cell phone being found in the neighbors yard is a rumor. If it were, he most likely would have been held longer and questions far more thoroughly…as would Mr. Swift. Karen’s phone pinged off the tower close to the Mississippi River. But what I know from living in the area is that in the area her body was found any activity close to their home or that crime scene discussed above, would have pinged off that tower. Yes, he was questioned because of the allegations of him poisoning the Swift’s dog, JackBoots and residing so close to the victim. He has not been convicted of poisoning her dog. His vehicle was temporarily impounded and searched with no useful evidence gained. Both, Hogshooter and his vehicle, have been released from custody for some time now.
http://nancygrace.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/14/men-describe-finding-missing-tennessee-moms-body/
Interesting article on the fellows who apparently found Karen’s body.
To David:
I understand your intended message was to say that you are sorry, and that Karen, your wife and the mother of your children was worthy of a proper burial. I get that.
Not easy, and not all your fault.
What happens now, is.
You HAVE a beautiful family, and they are innocent. They need you to do this for them now.
P, D, K, A- restore the way they remember Mom, and you, and allow them the dignity to face the life you chose for them.
You did not mean for this to end this way, and you are grieving for what you cannot take back.
Do this because all can be forgiven. But only now, and only once. You know this.
God Bless You in your journey, and if you choose this path, I will support your kids opinion of you in any way that I can.
They need this from you, I promise. Ask ( ).
My deepest prayers, and my deepest sympathy for your loss.
B
I was over at Topix reading the posts.There is the usual bickering with
the posters.Then I ran across this comment.I didn’t realize you were
making such headlines Blink.(2 hours ago: Interested Dyersburg, TN )
Who is blink on crime and how do they know so much. Is it a blog by the Nancy Grace show?
Tell Nancy I said hi Blink:)
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/dyersburg-tn/TU89FIR5OP3F39I43/p232
lol.
You wanna know how much weight I have with Nancy? I told her the dancing show was a big mistake, lol.
B
Your message to David was beautifully written and I agree,he needs to restore their relationship now.I do believe he loves his kids.I think
he lost it in one fuel raged moment and did something he thought he could never do.The fact is if God can forgive us for the worst of sins,
then anyone can do the same.One thing about this.”You have to ask for
forgiveness before you can receive it.” It will be too late to be believable when all is said and done.By being honest with our children
we show them how to become better human beings.Self sacrifice shows them
compassion.
I believe in forgiveness. I could never do this work without it, and it is different than justice. I hope those familiar with my work see both.
B
I have to believe (sadly) that the husband is responsible for her death. That being said, I truly hope the local Sheriff department does what is necessary and brings this case to a resolute conclusion. I have concerns about the “good ole boy” system in TN and with the apparent “high praises” the Sheriff has said about David Swift, it makes me wonder.
3 miles is to far to walk without witness.
“IF” her body was found without clothes and it is an obvious homicide then the stranger abduction must be considered.
I do hope some surveillance cameras off private property is available to investigators. 3 miles has good possible of a camera.
I know her personal situation but if she was found in that manner, I would keep an open mind.
“IF” she was found fully clothed then the motivator may be closer to home.”anger”
jmho
RE:
twinkletoes says:
December 14, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I agree that there will be a swift (pun intended) arrest and that LE is not releasing specifics because they do not want to tip the killer off.
My thoery on the obvious wounds (which seemed to evoke the on site death comment) is that they were either inflicted postmortem to throw LE off or they were inflicted when killer was disposing of her and realized she wasn’t all the way dead.
On this one, twink, we may disagree. I think it will be in the autopsy findings that Karen was killed elsewhere and dumped at this location.
B
********************
It’s interesting after watching NG, she repeatedly states that Box said the murder was committed elsewhere and the body (RIP Karen) was placed after wards. I swear an original article said the opposite b/c I was kerflunkled over that. But, then they talked about wounds & body limbs. I am wondering about what you said twinkletoes- about postmortem injuries. B/c I had felt certain she would have been killed elsewhere. And I think someone would have been arrested if she had bleeding at the home. ( fact disclaimer- NG) The other show stopper was the reveal, if true, that the tire was separated from the rim. That might, if true, open other avenues I wouldn’t have considered likely before. Thoughts?
I have heard Box incorrect on 3 different areas to date.
1. No foul play observed wrt to Karen’s vehicle.
2. David Swift was being cooperative.
3. It did not appear that the homicide could have occurred elsewhere.
Does this guy even meet with investigators? I understand that on occasion that LE may release erroneous information to progress a case, but that is certainly not the case here.
There is one more thing I want to underscore. There are MULTIPLE witnesses that have spoken to LE that David Swift was abusive publicly, had threatened Karen openly, and that he cut off her access to marital funds. There was no amicable agreements, and no “friendly understandings”- David did not want a divorce and she was so frightened of him that she took the girls to a friends condo while he was being served. I seriously wonder if the “dog issue” sent her over the top- she refused to sign the affidavit, I am told.
B
Memory page for Karen, I think put in place by her Mom.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Loving-Memory-of-Karen-Swift/206465489434822
I have learned over the years, probably the most important lesson of my lifetime, that HONESTY is the only place from which a person can begin. Anything other than honesty is just wandering sideways down a path that is not your own. I too believe in forgiveness. FEAR is not as powerful as TRUTH. The only thing David can do to protect and honor his children at this point is to surrender himself to the truth. If he truly loved Karen, if he truly loves his children, he will give them the heartbreaking, soul-crushing honesty that they deserve. And then will come the healing.
I agree completely, there is no other way to save the love his children will always have for him except through honesty and asking for forgiveness. It is entirely more for them, but imo, is the least he owes his family.
B
@investigator – I too have concerns about Sheriff Box’s ability to remain objective about Mr. Swift.
http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-dyer-sheriff-swift,0,5848889.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wreg-news+%28WREG+-+News%29
snipped from article:
So far the sheriff says Swift’s husband, David, has cooperated in the case.
“That includes DNA samples, he’s come in and was interviewed,” said Box. “He allowed us to interview one of the children. So far he’s submitted to every request for search of anything on that property.”
1. “He has come in and was interviewed.”- translation, there is a reason that Swift was interviewed at the DCSO, and while I agree that MAY be protocol and should not be taken as anything nefarious or that might point to him as a suspect, he does not mention that he was with his attorney, and that Swift refused to answer questions without one immediately after a detective asked him a question that was clear his story as provided, was not accurate.
2. That means DNA samples- translation, again, could be a standard discussion wrt to an insurance claim on the car, exclusionary, etc. However, if they were requested via subpoena, it is because the chain of evidence to process same requires that the search warrant to order them can and usually will be sealed. It is a consideration that if someone were to voluntarily give samples upon request that those samples could be suppressed if at the time of the submission the person is actually considered a POI or suspect. UNLESS same was disclosed to Swift in writing, and since we know he had representation within 48 hours of the last time he saw his wife, my money is on via subpoena. I know that he REFUSED to give any belongings of karen’s to match DNA, they had to get that from her Mother.
3. “submitted to searches”- Yeah, he had no choice.
Again I say, where is the local press in this case? It shocks me given the mess that occurred with a former Sheriff here.
B
Blink it sounds like you are clearly thinking husband rather than serial killer or random perp. Based on inside info or your experience and intuition?
Great question lawkat-
I cannot exclude the husband based on my experience, inside information and tuition. There is no known intel indicating the possibility of a serial killer, and a random perp has never even been a logical consideration that I am aware of.
But to your point, yes, I believe that Mr. Swift is a suspect in the murder of his wife.
B
lawkat says:
December 15, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Blink it sounds like you are clearly thinking husband rather than serial killer or random perp. Based on inside info or your experience and intuition?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great question lawkat-
I cannot exclude the husband based on my experience, inside information and tuition. There is no known intel indicating the possibility of a serial killer, and a random perp has never even been a logical consideration that I am aware of.
But to your point, yes, I believe that Mr. Swift is a suspect in the murder of his wife.
B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, yes, ma’am, Miss Blink. Like we say in the South, “I think this thang is gonna be over with pretty darn quick. I just feel it in my bones.”
Yes ma’am indeed. My heart hurts for the Swift children- especially the little girls at such tender ages.
B
David swift is IMO knee deep in this murder. He has not cooperated. Anything that LE was able to do was by warrant.
If the Sherrif is making these kind of mistakes in press releases, this tells me he is either doing it deliberately or he is incompetent when speaking to the press. Maybe even incompetent at everything except getting elected.
The fact that David refused to help by donating items of Karen’s that would contain her DNA makes me believe that he either killed her and dumped the body himself, or he had someone dump the body after he killed her. It makes no sense that he did not report Karen missing until the afternoon of the day she went missing and only then because some people pressed the issue. Twelve or more hours is plenty of time to do the deed and hide the body.
I think most of us probably suspected the husband immediately, but have had to patiently wait and pray that the process would lead to the correct perp. this is so heartbreaking, especially for the young girls.
i was also disturbed by some of the older son’s comments, but i seem to be the only one? it really skeeved me when he said, his dad told him all about the divorce, etc. it just sounded to me like he was aligned with his dad, and dad was sharing his version of the divorce events and the son was accepting it as fact. it just felt like it was inappropriate personal information to share with your kids, even if they are adults.
still praying for justice and that authorities are led to the right person. it will be so hard for kids to have to accept it was their dad. praying for them all.
This might be a really dumb question but I’m asking anyway. Would LE be postponing an arrest until after Christmas for the sake of the children? I can’t imagine the emptiness they already feel after the tragic loss of their Mom. But to lose their Dad at this time too, could just be too much. Prayers for these four children. I sure hope they have a strong support system.
This case makes me so angry because there is absolutly no excuse for Karen to not have been found early on. Where the car was abandoned, where he home was should have been searched with cadavar dogs. The inside of her vehicle would have been enough to let the dogs get her scent, and should have been walked up Harness Rd toward her home, it wasn’t all that far away.
interesting question jane. i can’t decide what would be worse..to have dad arrested before christmas, or to spend the holiday with him, only to have it happen afterward and then remember this christmas as a lie.
hopefully, if they are quietly making arrangements, they are making sure the girls are placed with the grandparents or family before the arrest. how would that work, since they live out of state?
blinkkkkk???? any insight into what happens to the children in cases like this? ( sorry, i am new to this site and following cases like this. there are so many heartbreaking stories and decisions that have to be made )
Re: #21
@ Marnie
I agree. I listened to the son’s interview. There seemed an indifference to his mother’s dissapearence. Odd very Odd. My immediate impresseion as wild as it may sound was that he had some kind of involvement, maybe not in a physical sense, but in silence.
katts
Re:#21
Marnie, The adjective that come to mind is “agreeable,” he was agreeable to her demise.
Most men convicted of killing their wives never admit it…and their children are often split as to their father’s guilt, thus breaking apart the remaining families…they are cowards from beginning to end…
A person on another site who has been verified as a friend of KAren has stated that LE is working on a specific POI…which to me means this is not thought to be a random boogie man…
No one can explain why she would have gone out again…I don’t believe the “out for medicine” theory I’ve seen…if her child was that sick she would have told the other adult in the home, her husband, to stay with the child or go himself for the meds. And if she was going out for any other reason I think she would have left a note for her kids, as it was known they awoke at 6am, so I’ve read…
I don’t believe she left the house under her own power, my opinion only.
I see that my comment is still awaiting moderation so I’ll add this to it, since when in a missing person case, isn’t a radius of at least 5 miles not conducted?
Questioner says:
December 17, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I see that my comment is still awaiting moderation so I’ll add this to it, since when in a missing person case, isn’t a radius of at least 5 miles not conducted?
—————————————–
JMO, but this appears to be the “standard” in the State of TN. LE & TBI have a horrible track record in that State. If you google it, you will find a lot of shocking information.
Hi,Blink. Just been reading here for a couple of months, but I appreciate your insight, wisdom, conscience, and heart! Concerning Karen’s son, who was interviewed…remember, other posters, that the son loves both his parents. I am sure he is and will be loyal to his mother’s memory as well as try to be responsible in his reactions for the sake of his other siblings…Of course he doesn’t want to believe that his father killed his mother. What child would want to accept that until he absolutely had to? I felt that he was trying very hard to keep his composure in that interview and hold out hope that his mother would be found safe. Can you imagine having to deal with all of this at such a early age of adulthood? Please be gracious toward all of Karen’s children as their world has been turned upside down. It is going to be very difficult to process all of this, much less have what everyone will consider to be appropriate responses in the wake of this devastation. Pray for them!
Look at “tarabull, 153 am”.
Why the LE comments on a “tremendous amount of electronic data”.
Why looking for anyone with SIMILAR TEXT MESSAGES.”
what does similar text messages mean?
Could it relate to another business other than pickup housekeeping?
Could she have business sponsors? Meaning her business sponsor could have provided a cell as LE reference is possible here “may have sent from another phone.”
Was landscaping her only business?
With all respect to Blink, I don’t think hubby is at present the only possibility.
Investigator says:
December 17, 2011 at 11:32 pm
JMO, but this appears to be the “standard” in the State of TN. LE & TBI have a horrible track record in that State. If you google it, you will find a lot of shocking information.
—————————————-
I don’t really need to Google it, I already know. What I’d like to know is why LE continue on this path. It’s really very troubling, and it’s no wonder in many cases the family will go out and conduct their own searches even if it’s not the standard grid search. It’s not only in the states above mentioned, it’s happening everywhere. Here is another gross example:
The body of a 19-year-old Rainier woman missing for more than a month was discovered Saturday in a crumpled car on an embankment near the road where she disappeared.
http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=132418541847809700
hi mama bear
just want to clarify the comment i made about karen’s older son. i was not trying to disparage him in any way. i commented at a time when the topic was intuition and experience, and i was trying to verbalize something that has been bothering me, and wondering if it were just me since no one else had mentioned it. there was something in the tone when he said, my dad told me all about it ( or something to that affect ). it really has more to do with the dad and making the son feel he knows the inside details of the divorce and their private life. the only word i could think of was “aligned”, and i do NOT mean that in the sense that he was involved in this in any way – just that he obviously feels he trusts his dad and knows alot. other interviews did not give me that impression.
i was trying to be brief in my comments and did not state as you and others did, that he is in a very difficult position, no matter the outcome and cases like this sometimes either shatter families with people taking different sides, or they come to see the truth.
if it does turn out that the father is convicted for this crime, that betrayal of trust will be yet another level of reality that has to be processed. i agree with your comment and aplogize if mine came accross in a negative way.
i do continue to pray for all those children and for the truth to be revealed. i have my own opinion and gut reactions, but am trying to keep them to myself since i do not have all the facts.
Rose, what is “tarabull, 153 am”?
Prayers for the family of Karen.
It is sad when a young person is killed in a single car accident such as the one linked by questioner. The article states that the police and family searched for weeks in the area and did not find the car.
In hilly and mountaineous areas of the country, searches need to be made on foot. Driving and looking from a vehicle are not sufficient.
The public needs to get training on how to properly search along roadsides and in fields and creek bottoms. Too many have lived only in a metro area where there is seldom an opportunity to actually spend time in a wooded area. Those who hunt regularly in woods soon learn to see a lot more than those who do not.
One of the newspapers in Sarasota, Florida is spending some time investigating the process that Florida uses to monitor police activity. What they are finding is not pretty. This is probably true of most police agencies throughout the country.
This goes right along with the statement by questioner regarding the sucess or lack thereof of the Tennessee agencies.
“We the people” have been very lax in how we monitor LE and the criminal justce systems (courts and lawyers) in the cities and towns across our country. The internet provides information to a wide audience that have the ability to take action to correct the situation. Will we do it? IDK.
I have done a preliminary review, is the family willing to discuss with me personally?
B
@Len. Sorry, I thought I gave the url, which is required here:
I referenced a post from Websleuth’s (a post by Tarabull at 1:53 am @
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157601&page=4 )
only because the post quoted Jeff Box in the State Gazette providing the mainstram media link.
If the poster, who seems to be prominent on that site, was not directly quoting & linking the Star Gazette story, I would not have cited a “water cooler.”
Hello Marnie
I very much understand what you mean. I think my concern and frustation for Karen’s children all came out in that post…
Didn’t mean to direct it at anyone. May God hear all of our prayers and bring comfort to that family and community, as well as give direction to LE.
MamaBear
“frustration”
Texas Grandfather – We NEED to do it, the question is HOW? This has been a thorn in this old woman’s side for years now. A family shouldn’t need to find their loved one but it’s come to just that because in any missing persons case, there are too many possibilities. Did they walk away, run away, crash their vehicle or were they abducted? It seems that LE will take on searches for just so long and I understand that they have other cases to attend to, BUT, why can’t it be that the general public can’t be taught to help? And for that matter why doesn’t LE attempt to learn from their mistakes, are they just way too high headed for any thought of being the ones to make a mistake? Something needs to change and in all honesty if I had anyway to make people see this problem and do it on a larger scale, I’d do it.
All I can say is “Please dear Lord before my last breath, help me to get through to allow the help of people out here in the public to help LE take off their blinders and understand they aren’t always doing the correct things, and permit us to help them, which in turn will help families find answers”!
Re: Rose, December 18, 2011 at 11:41 am
Len, Rose (and others)– I did a quick search. Rose is referencing a post on Webslueths by a poster named tarabull. The sspecific post in question is Post # 87 (The first link below is to the discussion board containing the above referenced post).
Tarabull and Rose are talking about things that are written in an article about Karen (second link below). The article has interviews with 3 or 4 friends and acquaintances of Karen’s. These people talk about upcoming plans they had with Karen– mostly odd jobs like cleaning houses, small landscaping jobs, work as an aerobics instructor, etc. The statements these people make are supported by text message exchanges that Karen had with each of these individuals about specific plans.
The reason LE is looking for “similar text messages” is simply to gather more information. The article was published on December 8th– five days before they recovered Karen’s body. At the time LE was probably trying to create a timeline of Karen’s most recent and planned activities. These messages– and the fact that there are many of them– also support the statement made by friends that Karen did not “run away,” but that something bad had clearly happened. I’m not sure if LE is still seeking text messages like these anymore, but I would guess that if her husband is ever charged with her murder then these texts messages can serve as evidence that Karen was lining up jobs in an effort to generate income, which she would need following the divorce from David. These jobs (and perhaps these text messages) may have tipped David off to the fact that Karen wasn’t going to reconcile with him and that she was done with him for good.
informationhttp://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7446968
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1792485.htm
@ Rose, December 18, 2011 at 11:41 am
In regards to the statement about messages possibly being sent/received from a different phone, the sheriff is simply trying to make sure that LE has all communications sent to or by Karen, as it helps paint a more complete picture.
The article (link below) states: “There may be some messages that didn’t show up in our phone records. And she may have sent them from another phone.” I recall reading somewhere that Karen had a second cell phone. I can’t remember if it was discussed by us Blinksters on one of the message boards, but I seem to recall one of her close friends saying that in an article (I can’t find it now, but will try to look for it and post links if I find anything). I don’t know if this was ever confirmed publicly on Blink’s boards or by any media outlets.
I don’t think that this additional cell phone was provided by a business sponsor. I doubt that she had business sponsors– aside from instructing exercise classes, it seemed that the house cleaning and landscaping were more like odd jobs that were– at the present time– somewhat infrequent. I think she was trying to build what I’m calling “odd jobs” into a business of her own to support herself and her children post-divorce.
The second cell phone, if there was one, was probably so that she could: (A) have some amount of privacy from David given that they were divorcing but still living together, and possibly still had cell phones that were on a “family plan”– meaning Daivd would have access to her cell-phone records; or (B) as a “back-up” or “safety” phone in case David prevented her from using her other phone for some reason. There have been some allegations that David was verbally aggressive/abusive towards Karen, though I don’t know if this ever turned physical. If Karen feared David, or what he might be capable of doing to her, then it would make sense that she might keep a second “secret” cell phone. In order to keep the phone a secret from David, it could have been a pay-as-you-go phone, a separate account/contract whose bills she paid in cash, or could even have been paid for by a friend who was concerned for Karen’s safety.
This is all conjecture and/or my opinion, of course, regarding the possibility of a second cell phone.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1792485.htm
@Black Pearl. Thank you for the help & lucid analysis.
Imo one can’t say KS was given a paid (as to hardware & minutes bill) phone
together with an advance for divorce loan for pure altruism.
Questioner
I feel your frustration. In a metro area it may be difficult, but in a rural setting it may be easier. Those who care simply need to organize and go visit the local sheriff or invite him to meet with the organized group.
LE has many duties and community responsibilities and they try to meet them with limited resources (personnel and money). Many counties in Texas have volunteer sheriff posses that must attend a training program.
IMO LE often overlooks the desire of everday people to help police their communities. Today there are plenty of retired people who are in good enough physical shape to assist with searches. They just need training.
Sometimes because of experience, these retired people can out think LE. The fear that LE has from the public is that if they are not real compentent, the public will discover it. The good agencies are run buy those who welcome the public even though some officers are not onboard with the program.
Hello Blink and Blinkers! Surprised about so many RSO in Dyersburg
and not convinced about DS involvement in the murder of Karen.
Perhaps wish thinking because of the children, although everything seems pointing
to him but perhaps just because everything points in his direction that i am not
convinced about his involvement in this crime.
I hope Mr Jeff Box will make a statement soon as to the status of their findings and to
their evaluation. I hope they have some strong leads to what happened to Karen and
that they will come forward with them thinking that a lot of women living in this aera might
be afraid for their own safety right now.
@ Rose. I don’t know anything about an advance / loan for the divorce, which you mention. But if such a loan was given to Karen, I believe that someone could have given her that loan for altruistic reasons.
First, I think that it shouldn’t be ruled out that Karen could have purchased a pre-paid cell phone herself (For example, for $9.99 Walmart sells a pre-paid cell phone that comes with up to 3 hours of “talk time”, up to 240 hours of “stand by”, has voicemail, can send/receive text messages, and can browse the internet). She could have kept it turned off and saved it only for emergencies, or she could have purchased a more extensive/expensive pre-paid phone which she used to communicate with friends on a more regular basis. My point is that she could have had an additional cell phone at minimal cost, if necessary.
Second, several people could have given her a phone or a divorce loan for altruistic reasons. These people include:
– Family (parents or siblings, if there are any)
– Friends (close girlfriends or others)
– A new beau if there was one (I hesitate to even say this,
lest it start rumors… as far as I know, there is no
evidence that she had a new beau).
Honestly, anyone close to Karen would be concerned for her wellbeing or safety, in general. If anyone had inside knowledge about her marital situation that made them more concerned for her wellbeing, then that individual might be more inclined to make sure she had a cell phone which was entirely hers and was possibly unknown to others (aka David).
If the second phone was (1) a pre-paid phone and (2) given to her by someone else, it could have been a very inexpensive gift (though they also could have spent more money on it if they bought a fancier phone or a larger pre-paid calling plan)
With regards to paying monthly for a cell phone account or providing a loan for the divorce, I think the contributing factors would be closeness with Karen and personal finances. So many of the news articles about Karen have mentioned how many projects she had lined up. The article which started this conversation between you and I is the best example of what a hard worker Karen was– how she was already setting out on her own, and how she was committed to creating a stable income for herself and her children. I think that anyone who knew her– at all, let alone well– knew that she was a hard worker. Therefore, its totally plausible imo, that a family member or a close friend who was financially able to do so could have given Karen a loan with complete confidence, knowing that she would work hard to pay it back. The reason, obviously, is to support and protect a family member / friend who is in need… not ulterior or sinister motives at all.
Blink, I hate to post off-topic on Karen’s page, but would you consider looking into this abduction:
Aisha Khan, a student at Johnson County Community College, was last heard from shortly before noon on Friday, Dec. 16 and was last seen on the University of Kansas, Edwards Campus at 12600 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas.
She left a frantic message on her sister’s voicemail saying that she had been assaulted by a man. When her sister arrived on campus to look for Aisha, she found her books, cell phone, bag, etc. but not Aisha. The campus has no CCTVs.
She is only 5’2″, so she is very tiny, and beautful(like so many of these other women who are abducted or harmed). She is also Muslim, so there is potential for the assualt and/or abduction to be “hate” motivated.
Please help if you can.
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_kansas/overland_park/op-police-searching-for-missing-student?hpt=us_bn6
Unfortunately Black Pearl, I may have to take a few days off through the Holidays, although I would love to help out.
B
Hi Blink,
I don’t have an email for you so I am posting this here. Have you seen this? I live in Monmouth county and I know you too live in New Jersey.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/video_homeless_man_beaten_in_w.html
I am so angry and disturbed by this, and I was hoping that you could do a feature story about this incident. Maybe if enough people see this and get angry…
Thank you.
Marnie & Katts – or anyone else, please – would someone be able to provide a link to the video of the son making the statement about the parents’ divorce. I’ve treid doing a search. Thanks
-Annie
Hmm, I wonder whats up?
~snip~
Chief Investigator Terry McCreight stated on Monday the medical examiner’s office in Memphis had not sent their findings and noted it may take awhile before they complete it. He added the detailed process is time consuming and coroners were doing what they could to finish the report.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1796485.html
Grand Jury
B