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Dyersburg State Gazette

Sheriff confident Swift murderer will be brought to justice

Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Swift

Although no charges have been made in the five-month-long murder investigation of Karen Swift, Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box says he is certain he and his team of investigators will undoubtedly make an arrest.

"We are confident we will bring the person, or persons responsible, to justice," said Box. "The investigation is still active and ongoing."

As the investigation enters its 156th day, Box said he would not release any details about the investigation due to the fact it would jeopardize the investigation.

"Our office has collected much evidence in the case and investigators still are confident that an arrest will be made when the investigation is complete, but not until then," stated Box. "We will protect the integrity of this case up to the arrest and maintain this integrity during the trial to see that a conviction is received. This case must and will be tried in a court of law and not in the media, not on the Internet, and not in the newspaper."

Swift, a 44-year-old mother of four was reportedly last seen early Sunday morning, Oct. 30, 2011, by her husband David Swift at their home on Willie Johnson Road. She had filed for divorce from David Swift, on Oct. 10, 2011, but still resided with him and their two daughters at their residence. Her white 2004 Nissan Murano was reportedly found abandoned several hours on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, on Millsfield Highway near the intersection of Harness Road with a flat tire. An investigation into her disappearance continued until Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, when her body was found by a cemetery caretaker near Bledsoe Cemetery in Dyer County, which is just off of Harness Road. After the body was positively identified as Karen Swift, Box stated the case was being investigated as a murder. An autopsy was performed on Swift's body by the Shelby County Medical Examiner's Office in Memphis and she was buried in Pocahontas, Ark on Feb. 11.

The Dyer County Sheriff's Department is still asking anyone who had contact with Swift before her disappearance, recalls seeing anyone near her vehicle on Millsfield Highway on Oct. 30, 2011, or has any other information about the case to contact the Dyer County Sheriff's Office at 731-285-2802 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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  • sounds like the sheriff has an idea of who the killer may be but has no real evidence to back up his suspicions. better make a stab at it sheriff before election day!

    -- Posted by closerlook on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 10:41 AM

  • Great job Sheriff Box! Getting your stuff together so the case is cut and dry and cant be picked apart! I applaud you and your dept.

    -- Posted by chaserx on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 11:19 AM

  • If all else fails and arrest may happen that will lead to more details coming out that will help convict the person or persons. You never know just how much others could remember if they knew who the suspect is. So we will wait and see

    -- Posted by shayjbell on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 2:17 PM

  • I thought I was reading the March story that sounded exactly like this one. What in the world more could be required to get ducks in a row? Autopsy complete for months. Are we, general public, in danger with perp still free?

    -- Posted by fhurst on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 3:21 PM

  • It will all come together by election time...wanna bet?

    -- Posted by Belle123 on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 3:39 PM

  • I thought he was in office until 2014?

    -- Posted by fhurst on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 4:37 PM

  • The Sheriff seems to be following the saying popular in WWII, "Loose lips sink ships." He is completely right in keeping the evidence collected under wraps. Too many things can mess up a good case when everything is allowed to be discussed by everyone.

    -- Posted by buddy'smom on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 5:59 PM

  • I know to alot of you an arrest is important for his reelection, but not to us. he is still a good sheriff whether or not an arrest is made. Look at some of the other things he has done good for the community. all the drug busts he's made. don't that count to some of you? does to us...

    -- Posted by seniorcomment on Tue, May 15, 2012, at 6:40 PM

  • Lips can still be pursed as an arrest is made. By now whoever did this has had ample time to get out of Dodge. Five months after finding her body and allowing a murderer to be free on the streets isn't that long in the grander scheme of the judicial system but still, its longer than what I would be comfortable with if I lived in that community. I hope they make an arrest soon. I live 2 hours away, and I did not know Karen Swift or her family, but I have not forgotten this case and I think a lot of people feel the same way I do. We want whoever did this off the street like yesterday.

    -- Posted by LisaDe on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 12:20 AM

  • I think an arrest may be coming soon. This new lawyer seems to think there is enough there to clear David. Also you noticed Jeff said person or persons that may be a hint of things to come. Maybe soon this will happen.

    -- Posted by shayjbell on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 5:48 AM

  • "Loose lips"? Saying what? I haven't heard a thing that might endanger the case. That just sounds like a law enforcement official(s) wanting to stop the talk about the case? And why? To keep people from remembering that the case is getting cold? What did the autopsy show? Anything that the public should know?

    Unfortunately a lot of people don't share the confidence that the case will be solved. I certainly hope so. It would be be horrible for the killer to get away...

    -- Posted by Dude2010 on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 6:56 AM

  • Not one to spread gossip, but from what i hear, they had a lot of dna to sort through.

    -- Posted by seniorcomment on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 8:42 AM

  • Allow Box to do his job,if the autopsy finding

    were released,the suspect could start alibingg

    up,if he or they dont know a defense will harder to get,lets hope that Box uses the right stitch

    to sow up the case

    -- Posted by tank2 on Wed, May 16, 2012, at 8:42 AM

  • I guess our pal who said there would be an arrest in a week or so was way off.

    hmmmm wonder where that poster went ?

    -- Posted by LadyKim on Thu, May 17, 2012, at 12:32 PM

  • What a shame this woman has been dishonored in this way.

    But look at Karen Duenas and April Kauffman; both were found dead IN their homes. Yet nobody has been arrested.

    -- Posted by sophiebelle on Sat, Jul 28, 2012, at 8:07 AM
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