Menu
Box: 'We are not giving up yet. Not at all'
The investigation into the missing person case of Karen Swift is entering its 10th day and the Dyer County Sheriff's Department is still working non-stop to try to solve the disappearance.
"We are not giving up yet," said Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box. "Not at all."
On Monday, Box called on the Tennessee Highway Patrol for help with plotting the geography of the land around Swift's residence and where her vehicle was found on Millsfield Highway. The THP sent a helicopter and a Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to assist Box in his investigation. A professional photographer was used to take aerial photos of the land and the CIRT team took detailed measurements using laser total stations.
"The CIRT team is documenting the locations where evidence in the case was collected," said Box. "They will do a computer-generated diagram (of the land) that we can reference for court proceedings or review of evidence."
Also, Box said he and Capt. Joel Deal of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Chief Deputy Mike Boals and Inv. Phillip Barton went back over some remote areas of the county after flying overhead in the THP chopper on Monday.
"We rechecked some of those areas of interest that we have gone over before, but we really want to make sure we are covering every possible location," said Box.
Also, a brush-removal company was assisting the sheriff's department by removing debris alongside Harness Road and chipping it up to allow for a better search area.
Although Box is not ready to share with the public as to what type of evidence they have collected so far in the case, he said it is important in determining what happened to Swift.
"We highly suspect that much of the evidence we recovered will be connected to this case through forensic processing," said Box. "We are definitely getting closer by the potential of some of this evidence providing us with answers. I think it is crucial we maintain control in what we have recovered and we should release that information only when it is to the investigation's benefit."
Since Swift's disappearance was reported on Oct. 30, investigators have been interviewing numerous people in an attempt to gather as much information as they can. Box said even though they are continuing to gather information from residents he wishes more people would come forward who possibly saw Swift's 2004 Nissan Murano at the intersection of Millsfield Highway and Harness Road on the morning of Oct. 30.
"The 29th was open weekend for juvenile deer season and people who deer hunt, hunted on that Saturday and Sunday," said Box. "Deer hunters go hunting at 4:30-5 o'clock in the morning and we haven't heard from the first hunter yet. And this vehicle is white in color and these people are bound to have seen it sitting there Sunday morning. So, we are reaching out to hunters or anybody else going down that highway at that time of the morning to contact us."
Box said some of the sheriff's department personnel will now be tasked with sorting through all of the evidence noting everyone who has been interviewed in the case.
"We will take an in-depth look at what we have done and move forward in the areas that will be most beneficial," said Box.
Also, they will have more multi-agency grid searches of areas of interest across the county.
"We don't want to overlook any evidence that may be crucial in determining what happened (to Swift)", said Box.
Swift, a 44-year-old mother of four was last seen early Sunday morning, Oct. 30, by her husband at their home on Willie Johnson Road after she reportedly returned from a Halloween party. Her white 2004 Nissan Murano was later found on Sunday on Millsfield Highway near the intersection of Harness Road with a flat tire.
Karen Johnson Swift is described as:
Age: 44
Race: White
DOB: 1/25/67
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Green
Height: 5' 5"
Weight 138 lbs.
Anyone who has had contact with Swift, recalls seeing anyone near her vehicle since her disappearance, or has information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact the Dyer County Sheriff's Office at 731-285-2802.