After watching this case on
Unsolved Mysteries and reading their brief update on Tommy Swift, I found
this online article, which goes more into detail about the relationship between Niqui and Tommy. According to the article:
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Tommy Swint and Niqui McCown both worked together at the same correctional facility in Dayton, Ohio, and there were rumors that the two may have been more than co-workers -- or at least, that Swint wanted to be.
"In speaking with family and friends it was found that they believe that he had somewhat of an obsession with her," said Det. Miller.
An obsession that revealed itself during Niqui's bridal shower, when Swint gave her an unexpected present.
"At her bridal shower he gives her lingerie," said Michelle McCown.
—What was Tommy Swint doing at her bridal shower?
"He wasn't there," said Michelle.
"He sent it," said Tammie Hughes. "Very creepy."
"And this is before she came up missing," said Michelle.
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So they both worked together in Dayton, where her car was found. I remembered that, according to
Unsolved Mysteries, Niqui was found to have made a call to a friend on the day of her disappearance to talk about beauty products, and that she could've driven over there after picking up her laundry. At first I thought maybe she ran into Tommy there, and he did what he did.
But take a look at how
the UM segment words it:
However, police later discovered that Niqui made a phone call to a co-worker who lived about a mile from where her SUV was found in Dayton. They talked about beauty products and the friend told Niqui she could purchase the items she was looking for in Dayton.
I assumed the "friend" was female because they were talking about beauty products, but the statement very carefully avoids gender—mentioning only "a co-worker" and "the friend." What if in fact she called Tommy? He lived in the area and
was her co-worker. Maybe she
did have a question about beauty products. I mean, if Tommy found and
shipped lingerie to her, then face cream or makeup shouldn't be a big deal. Or maybe she called to thank him for the (awkward) gift?
Whatever the case may be, I'm thinking she called him from the payphone for wedding-related advice, and he realized this was his chance to have his way with her, so he lured her to Dayton.