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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Karen–we remember.
It seems the clock has stopped again on this investigation.
Blink, any rumblings coming from Dyersburg?
Is it really still believable the ME hasn’t finished Karen’s autopsy?
No way. Legal entanglements. Everyone has 20 days to respond, blah blah.
who was her body released to?
Is an arrest imminent?
Here’s a link about Karen’s body being released. It says she was taken back to AR, but not really who she was released to…just that DS as next of kin would be the one.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1812207.html
snipped:
The body of Karen Swift has been released from the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office and Dyer County Sheriff’s investigators are awaiting the coroner’s final report.
Swift’s body was released to her family and was taken to McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas, Ark., where Swift is originally from. The visitation will be Friday, Feb. 10, from 5 – 8 at the funeral home and the funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. at the Church of God in Pocahontas.
Dyer County Chief Investigator Terry McCreight said Swift’s husband, David Swift, is listed as Swift’s next of kin and the body would have been released to him.
Blink, do you know if Karen was released to DS?
I have not been able to verify that, I know there was some motions back and forth, but nobody is talking.
B
Interesting story posted on In Loving Memory of Karen’s FB:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=237571492990888&id=206465489434822
snipped:
~~~~~In Loving Memory of Karen Swift
I want to share this case with you all from my hometown. I am from McNairy county and in 2010 we had a horrible tragedy occur, Joanna Pegg was brutally murdered by her husband in front of her children. He proceeded to drive to Corinth, MS, across state lines when the authorities caught him. Tonight, we learned that he was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years! Justice has arrived for Joanna, we are still waiting for justice for Karen. Tonight, remember this family in your prayers, as well as everyone down here who was affected by this story. We are all happy to see this sentence, but it doesnt bring this mother back to her children. ~~~~~
Tomorrow is Karen’s funeral. God bless her kids, family and friends.
B, I know you’re uber busy, but if you get a chance to answer – do you still feel DS is involved in Karen’s murder?
I keep reading (rumor) blogs he’s been cleared.
Thank you and take care of yourself.
I am not aware he has been cleared, or anyone else has, for that matter.
I continue to believe that Mr. Swift is a suspect in his wife’s murder.
B
Thanks, B!
Interesting story – a Jackson Hogshooter was arrested for cooking meth in his home…
I’m researching to see what if any relation to John H.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1814839.html
His brother.
B
This might be an odd place to write this, but in Blink’s advocacy for victims of crimes, she sets up her website to index them by first name.
Damn straight, Lady. They have names.
Hello Blink did you hear about the rumor DS is gone with the girls and nobody can reach him by phone?
Do you know if this is true?
Have not
B
Hi, Loni, I think it’s just a rumor. No MSM have covered it.
@Yes thanks pale rider, i know now…
It’s hard to imagine that there’s still no coroners report of Karen’s murder, and her body was released to David who is listed as her next of kin. http://www.stategazette.com/story/1812207.html
Any idea what is taking so long for an arrest in this case? All reports should have been back by now. Has this turned into another one of TN famous “cold cases”? I thought that sheriff said things would progress “rapidly” once everything came in? What’s up with all this silence?
Investigator, I’m so with you on this.
How can nothing be coming out from LE?
Here’s a case from January and there are already confessions!
http://www.freep.com/article/20120217/NEWS04/120217042/Judge-continues-ruling-preventing-Gentz-from-seeing-daughter?odyssey=nav%7Chead
What gives in Karen’s case?????
Another thing I find strange is the seeming total lack of family involvement.
Nothing from her parents. Why not?
If I am guessing, they want to continue to see the children and are afraid taking a stand publicly might interfere with that. I will say I have never seen a more quiet and compliant group in my life listen to directions from a small town sheriff in a homicide investigation.
If the TBI is now running this investigation, it is their policy not to update family during an ongoing investigation except to verify the case is active.
B
Hey, B, autopsy results in but there’s a court order sealing them. Why would that happen?
http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Karen-Swifts-Autopsy-Results-Under-Wraps/1WlnpYTpM0yt78H3QC_k2Q.cspx
In Tennessee, homicide cases can only be released with the permission of the DA, otherwise it is public information. Judging from prior citations and statute- and as usual no reporters have filed FOIA the motion to seal in the first place- my guess is that the ME sought the seal at the request of the DA and it is based on the potential to jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation and will remain until it’s completion and charges are filed.
It is generally not open-ended however. I suspect it is being presented to the grand jury- the burden is on the DA to keep it sealed.
B
Thanks, B! Hope you’re taking care of yourself!!!!! <3 <3 <3 U!!!!!!
Hello Blink and Blinksters. It is for fact so frustating not to have any informations about Karen’s case.
Thank you pale rider for your info and thank you Blink for the answers. i hope they really progress in the investigation
and that Karen’ s murderer will be caught who ever he is. I hope this case
won’t turn cold. I look everyday on here to see if you are aware of some news Blink.
because i know you will keep us informed. Thank you in advance for your extraordinary work
Blink. If i could clone you i would to have one Blink in Germany:-)
Thanks, Loni ;D
You’re right about cloning Blink!!!!!
Hello Blink and Blinksters. This is a statement from the article from 4 march from the Stategazette:
“We have an active investigation where the final autopsy report still hasn’t been completed yet,” said Box. “Investigators continue to investigate this case and we are following up on any additional leads that come in. Each day that goes by is an additional day that we have an opportunity to add a potentially critical piece of evidence to this investigation.”
I don’t know how you are interpreting this statement but for me it is telling me that they have nothing concrete…
I just thought they wait for the result from the autopsy and Bingo they have the missing piece to nail their poi. i was very naive…
Loni and Pale, I too thought we’d have some info soon because they can’t keep dragging their feet. But, yes, they’re using everything in their power to keep that autopsy report sealed (“it’s not finished yet” can mean they keep testing or they haven’t finished the other interviews and data collection. Or they’re lying.)
Since the report is a medicolegal documents that not only report the anatomic findings of the postmortem examination but also provides detailed clinicopathologic correlations, the findings need to support the Cause of Death and include an “Opinion” for such cause.
I would think the pathologists/ME were told to request ‘sealing’ of the report from the very beginning to keep the investigation of any perpetrator confidential.
As much as we want to know, successful prosecution is the goal.
Arrgh. I have a feeling someone is going to get away with murder.
Again.
Thanks WG, and I heartily agree with your synopsis. I too hope you’re wrong about the getting away with.
Loni, I had those same hopes, sigh…..
As our dear Blink would say, this case is totally solvable! imho
Please not this time, they have to find who did this to Karen. so many people go away with murdering. It can’t be. Where are we going? In Europe so may cases unsolved, in America the same. It is so sad…I personally don’t think as how the case was
presented since day one that a serial killer did this. i would tend to think that someone who was very close to Karen did something to her. i could be wrong but this case must be solvable. it is very hard to believe that they have no clues.
Blink,
I implore you…please tell us. Has this case gone “cold”?
By week 2.
B
Blink~
Would you please elaborate on your statement that this case was “cold” by week 2? This is SOOOOOO frustrating.
Cupcake- it is all here in the thread, I have not changed my thoughts one iota.
B
I’m so unhappy to hear this…..
Blink, no hope here?
I have a feeling that is about to up to a grand jury.
B
I’m praying you’re right about the Grand Jury, Blink!
How often do they meet? In a case like this, say all the evidence they have is in and they’re ready to present~~can they call a special GJ session?
BTW…thanks for all the work you do. Your opinion is valued by us “lay-people”.
Autopsy completed, but results sealed.
snips:
“… he said that investigators feel the results will be helpful in their homicide investigation into the death of Karen Swift.”
“Box has said his department has been pursuing the case as a murder investigation due to injuries on her body, though they have not yet released a cause of death.”
http://www.wkrn.com/story/17202398/autopsy-completed-in-west-tenn-moms-death
Why do you think LE has not made Karen’s autopsy report public. Much like the Celina Cass case, we may never know cause of death. Don’t you think it might help the investigation if the public had more info? The secracy leads me to believe they have suspects.
Under the law it is not public, however, it has also been sealed, which means nobody has access to it, like say, a family member.
B
If LE has evidence and believes they know who did this, let’s hope they don’t drop the ball like they did with Josh Powell. If the person responsible is unstable and has much to lose with an arrest, the safety of children involved is critical.
I read on Topix (yes I know) DS sold their house. I can’t find any other more reliable info though.
Blink, do you know if that’s true?
I don’t, but he definitely could legally.
B
Hi Blink~
Don’t know if you saw it, but Steve Farese of Memphis is David Swift’s lawyer. He commented on the case today and it was stated that he is, in fact, Swift’s attorney—even though there has been no arrest. HMMMMM? Interesting. Sheriff Box also commented the same day on the fact he is confident there will be an arrest. Sorry I can’t provide links as I’m having problems updating my system. One article was from the State Gazette and the other is from WMCTV-Memphis. I’m sure you already know….Farese was Mary Winkler’s defense attorney. It’s getting interesting. I hope there is an indictment very soon. Just wondering what your thoughts were?
My thoughts are no attorney in the world is investigating a case for other suspects if his client is not one. There is no doubt in my mind that the case is proceeding as cautiously as it is because Swift has retained criminal counsel. Why is their still DNA in need of processing months later?
B
http://www.wmctv.com/story/18430806/attorney-steve-f
Yep, finally maybe some movement!!!!!
Thanks, Cupcake for posting this. I read here and topix (sigh, yes I know) daily, praying for an arrest.
J4K!!!!!
Hello Blink you were so right! This case has got cold. Unbelievable…it is so sad.
Yesterday, an article/story appeared on wmc5 Memphis. The headline reads “We’ll Throw Out The Case If You Talk.” What??? This story is mind-blowing in its implications.
http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/On-Karen-Swift-Well-Throw-the-Murder-Case-Out-if/mck1UxX4jEWWD8uAiSF43g.cspx?rss=59
Check It Out!!
What in the Hell kind of reporting is this? Their is no set of circumstances where anyone can be told not to speak to anyone and a judge has no power to throw any case out that is not even before his court or under indictment? What are these people talking about?
Again, an ill advised family with a murder victim.
Let me say this- maybe it will help things along- and I lead by example.
David Swift is responsible for the death of his wife, Karen Swift. I would encourage her family to file a wrongful death suit yesterday.
B
I agree David killed Karen.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Blink. The husband is responsible. What kind of psychopath continues to go on with his life, sit through her funeral and carry on as if he didn’t do it? LE says the now have a Person of Interest. I hope an arrest is imminent.
Hey. B, hope you’re doing well.
A little good news in Karen’s case.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1889980.html
The husband has hired Steve Farese, probably best known outside of Memphis as Mary Winkler’s defense attorney. He, along with Leslie Ballin, is one of the two “go-to” heavy hitters for the rich and/or high profile cases around here.
This would be the reason this case has taken so long, imo. The CSI theory is alive and well and has scared prosecutors “straight”, imo.
I am especially seeing this in cases with LIMITED forensic resources (TBI lab services every county in the state). This would be an example where Dyer Cty should have requested FBI assistance, as I understand they have finally sought the Secret service capability as it relates to cell ping study and deleted electronic data recovery.
B
This article, which references FBI assets, may have been posted before.
I do believe that some of these missing women were abducted in truck stop areas. Interesting read, nonetheless, and good to keep on a back burner.
Naturally, I don’t believe that anyone but Mr. Swift was responsible for Karen Swift’s death.
http://cheatersflorida.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/what-really-happened-to-petite-females-karen-swift-katelyn-markham-lauren-spierer-holly-bobo-paige-johnson-crystal-hall-and-misty-gwinner/
I am furious that the DA has not seen fit to bring charges in this case after a year. The sheriff has publically stated that the investigation has revealed ONE person, ONE suspect, but that person is still allowed to remain nameless and walk the streets as if there is nothing wrong. The sheriff has already stated that they are preparing the evidence for “courtroom presentation” and they are just waiting for a few more pieces of evidence to be returned to them from the lab. Where in God’s name is this lab? China? For crying out loud, why is it necessary to glean every minute piece of evidence and have it ready for “courtroom presentation” prior to an arrest? For all they know, the POI might just decide to plead guilty and there won’t even be a trial! What is wrong with these people? To me, it is evident that the husband murdered this beautiful woman but yet he is allowed to go about his day to day life, CARING FOR KAREN’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, and pretend she never mattered. Where is the justice in this case? And where is the citizen outrage?
A new smokescreen? Or FINALLY wrapping this one up? Notice where the Sheriff discounted and corrected the Memphis news station that erroneously stated the husband was not a suspect. Sounds to me like the husband is finally about to get a wake-up call.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1909720.html
What I can’t, and never will understand, is why this POS was left to raise those little girls all this time while they “prepared the case” for trial?
Ego, fear of failed prosecution and the CSI effect, period.
B
Sheriff: Final stages of Swift investigation, pushing for an arrest.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1909720.html
November 1, 2012
Blink,
Did you pick up or already know the details cited in this comment section? This story is a few weeks old as it commemorated Karen’s passing one year ago.
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1921468.html
That Karen’s husband was seeking to spy on her from a neighboring yard, that family members say he threatened her several times, that her head was smashed like a pumpkin, that Box pooh-poohed the missing person claim and insisted she had ‘run off’ instead…
Whew. Such a case, but I’m afraid we’ll see more and more of these as time goes by. Too many getting away with it.
WG
Yes Word Girl, I was aware early on. That was why I made the decision to publish the info about her clothing. Box Was convinced the Hog dude was involved
Blink~
What is taking so darn long? Do you think the DA does not think there’s enough evidence? So frustrated. The obvious POI is carrying on “free” for over a year now. Disgusting.
I think this case is a victim of the CSI effect, as I have stated repeatedly.
It is further hindered by the fact that Karen’s family listened to Box, who apparently lives in one, and is not screaming for an arrest nightly on you know who’s show.
I know the evidence in this case, so I presume they do as well- anyone file for custody? Anyone seek a GAL?
Can someone other than the good readers and advocates of this site get off their complacent ass please?
*apologize, I work with many who do not even have the luxury of media coverage and this woman deserves people to get outside of their comfort. These babies are living with the man who smashed the head of the woman who loved them and gave birth to them. Anybody?