TN - Karen Swift, 44, murdered, Dyersburg, 30 Oct 2011 *husband charged in 2022* #4

New Posts

The interview with detectives was interesting. David is swift to blame Karen for doing everything wrong while he is trying to trick cops into believing he needs crutches and tends to the children. A witness testified today about David using crutches when it behooved him, then walked normally when he thought he was not in sight of onlookers.
The mother of four was found dead on December 10th, in an abandoned cemetery more than 12 years ago by hunters. It wasn’t until 2022 that David Swift was indicted on a 1st degree premeditated murder charge. Now, almost 13 years later, all eyes in a Weakley County courtroom were watching David Swift as he stood trial for the murder of his wife Wednesday.
Attorneys prosecuting the case said this is not one of the cases where the jury will see positive DNA results, fingerprint analysis, or ballistic testing.
Click to expand...
Cliff notes on cellular data:
Places of interest: the Swift resident, Walmart, Dyersburg Mall and Bledsoe Cemetery

David's cell phone data #1577
His phone was in Walmart area around 8:19-9pm on Oct 29

Karen's cell phone data #5549
3G [remember those days?] Dyersburg area had 10 cellular towers. Swift used Verizon.

David's company, w/ whom he was employed, provided the Swift residence with a wifi network extender for better cellular coverage in this rural area. The wifi network extender boosts wifi coverage by about an extra 50' radius or about 7500 sq' in wifi service.

October 30 - the wee hours after Karen picked up her daughter:
* Victim's phone was home at 2:08am and connects to the network extender.
* Victim's phone stops using the extender at 4:38am. Indicates device may have left the residence.
* Victim's phone has a 15 second wifi connection at 5:04am, then a final data session with a tower at 5:09am. Indicates when device was destroyed, perhaps.
This data indicates the phone did not travel far on Oct 30 from the places of interest: the Swift resident, Walmart, Dyersburg Mall and the Bledsoe Cemetery or it would have touched more towers.

moo
 
Cathy Bona reminds me of Angie McDowell.
Her hair, her voice, her bravado.
I like that she smiles when she talks about karaoke with Karen. Sad she lost such a good friend they tried to help.
It’s obvious what happened IMO
 
Not watching this trial and also not familiar with any of the details; however, wanted to post a few of these X posts from May 29.


"I found Karen naked in bed with Kathy one night." Police interrogation of defendant #DavidSwift from 2011 when his wife #KarenSwift disappeared is being played for the jury. Swift immediately starts telling investigators that his wife started "sneaking out of the house" to be with friends Bill & Kathy. Swift says he tried to warn Karen not to go over there. "Then I caught her over there another time naked in the hot tub.."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1795849300829982968



Swift says he and his wife slept in separate bedrooms. (We know she had filed for divorce in the weeks leading up to her disappearance). They were still living in the same house. #DavidSwift tells investigators that Karen had gone out with friends. He said their daughter was spending the night at a friend's but had called her mom around 1am saying she wanted to come home. He said Karen texted him saying she was leaving the party/house she was at to pick up their daughter. He said Karen arrived home and he assumed she went to bed. #KarenSwift disappeared. Her body was found about 6 weeks later.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1795854092885258423
 
I’m late to this case/trial. I don’t know the background. Just saw a new trial pop up from L&C. I’m watching openings now and MY GOD the defense is putting me in a coma.

What a bizarre case! She divorced him after he had a baby with another woman but then remarried and had 2 more kids with him! Then she wanted to divorce him again and he killed her?
 
The State had a tire expert testify today. The Murano's tire was taken to his lab by the Sheriff's Office Staff. He stated as his expert opinion that the screw found in the Murano's tire was intentionally and manually inserted into the tire either with a power tool or a hammer. The screw insertion into the tire did not happen organically.

The screw was not the reason nor the cause for the tire to be flat. Evidently, air was manually extracted from the tire, then the flat tire was driven for almost a mile until the tire separated from the steel rim. The noise made from driving on a flat tire awakened a lady who lives in a metal barn on Harness Rd. It was early morning and without light on the street she could not see anything. However, by the time church services ended on Sunday and folks had driven home, many people had seen Karen's abandoned vehicle.

A poignant moment occurred when the lady who got Karen the cleaning job with Habitat for Humanity testified that Karen was owed funds for working many hard hours but disappeared before she could be paid. However, a decision was made, posthumously, by HforH, to write a check to Karen's mother that was presented to her at Karen's Memorial Service.

October 30 - the wee hours after Karen picked up her daughter:
* Victim's phone was home at 2:08am and connects to the network extender.
* Victim's phone stops using the extender at 4:38am. Indicates device may have left the residence.
* Victim's phone has a 15 second wifi connection at 5:04am, then a final data session with a tower at 5:09am. Indicates when device was destroyed, perhaps.
This data indicates the phone did not travel far on Oct 30 from the places of interest: the Swift resident, Walmart, Dyersburg Mall and the Bledsoe Cemetery or it would have touched more towers.
Click to expand...
 
Weki said:
I’m late to this case/trial. I don’t know the background. Just saw a new trial pop up from L&C. I’m watching openings now and MY GOD the defense is putting me in a coma.

What a bizarre case! She divorced him after he had a baby with another woman but then remarried and had 2 more kids with him! Then she wanted to divorce him again and he killed her?
Click to expand...
Yes. DS had begun stalking his wife. Evidence was presented by her divorce attorney that stated she sought 1/2 of the sale of their marital home that held $50,000 equity. Standard calculations for child support would be made. DS would pay $1400 per month from his salary of $8000 + bonuses.

It was also stated that the house mortgage was apparently in arrears so Karen wanted that debt paid before they'd sale the home. The child support payments could be easily handled on an income such as DS earned. He just hated the fact that she didn't want him anymore.

MOO
 
There's a log onto the laptop at the residence at 2:46am and continues for some time or til 3:30am. The person using the laptop inserted a thumb drive in order to view pictures requiring physical activity. Some of the pictures viewed on the thumb drive were family photos. The expert stated the laptop showed activity during this time period.

The reason this data is important because the defense's alibi is that David Swift was asleep between the hours of 2am and 10am when the children woke him up. David can't be asleep at 2:46am while at the same time a thumb drive is accessed on the laptop.

2:46am - 3:32am continual laptop usage
Then, Karen's body is moved, or at least, her phone is disconnected from the enhancer network at 4:38am.

Morning Witness - IT Expert - Day Five

State rests their case.

Defense asked the Judge for dismissal of charges on the basis that the evidence is insufficient. State argued their case: goes thru timeline of cellular data, witness hears flat tire on car, screw intentionally inserted into the tire, Karen's bodily injuries (ie, strangulation, closed head wound injury, etc). State feels premeditation has been proven for a strong circumstantial case.

Acquittal Denied!

October 30 - the wee hours after Karen picked up her daughter:
* Victim's phone was home at 2:08am and connects to the network extender.
* Victim's phone stops using the extender at 4:38am. Indicates device may have left the residence.
* Victim's phone has a 15 second wifi connection at 5:04am, then a final data session with a tower at 5:09am. Indicates when device was destroyed, perhaps.
This data indicates the phone did not travel far on Oct 30 from the places of interest: the Swift resident, Walmart, Dyersburg Mall and the Bledsoe Cemetery or it would have touched more towers.
Click to expand...
 
DeDee said:
There's a log onto the laptop at the residence at 2:46am and continues for some time or til 3:30am. The person using the laptop inserted a thumb drive in order to view pictures requiring physical activity. Some of the pictures viewed on the thumb drive were family photos. The expert stated the laptop showed activity during this time period.

The reason this data is important because the defense's alibi is that David Swift was asleep between the hours of 2am and 10am when the children woke him up. David can't be asleep at 2:46am while at the same time a thumb drive is accessed on the laptop.

2:46am - 3:32am continual laptop usage
Then, Karen's body is moved, or at least, her phone is disconnected from the enhancer network at 4:38am.

Morning Witness - IT Expert - Day Five

State rests their case.

Defense asked the Judge for dismissal of charges on the basis that the evidence is insufficient. State argued their case: goes thru timeline of cellular data, witness hears flat tire on car, screw intentionally inserted into the tire, Karen's bodily injuries (ie, strangulation, closed head wound injury, etc). State feels premeditation has been proven for a strong circumstantial case.

Acquittal Denied!
Click to expand...
Just "having conversation" with the laptop, I suspect! Maybe "trying to fit in" like the last witness said?
 
Defense calls a friend of Karen's [Ms Alford]. Describes going to 40th birthday party with Karen. They got dressed at Alford's home.

David took Karen home after she was found without clothes inside the party house after this witness sees the host, BB staring at Karen in an awkward manner.

Witness offered that she saw David on crutches when he dropped the 2 daughters off at her house for Halloween. She helped get the girls ready for trick or treat. Karen was missing at this point.

Witness agrees David was controlling. Agrees Karen never left her children alone.

Defense calls BD, a Forensic Engineer w/ 15 yrs exp. A professional mechanical engineer degree. Tire specialist. Given 20 depos; testified once. Inspected thousands of tires. This [on the white Murano] tire ran flat or while in a low inflation condition.

Witness, BD, looked at all evidence made available to him including the state's report on the tire. Describes the screw in the tire shown in photo as rusty, weathered.

Front Right Tire - BD states his opinion is that the screw could have become inserted into the tire organically. Additionally, a rock could have forced the screw further into the tire. Both happening at about the same time.

Argues a bunch of stuff from the state's report and also that only one photo of the screw is available showing the inner portion of the tire so he can't know what's on the other side of the screw. He's serious.

Defense and BD discuss tire tread. Passes the witness.

Cross of forensic engineer after the Judge and BD engage in casual conversation. BD, in his favor, resembles a little like StevenMnuchin former Treasurer of US.

State pushes BD's theory on a rock inserting the screw further into the tire while it was being driven.

Witness: ER, a latent print unit examiner issued report in 2018
Compared fingerprints in this case against numerous data bases.
Witness processed the Murano and 2 cell phones

Found 2 fingerprints [different?] in 3 places in Murano NOT belonging to David

No comparisons made on the cellphones; insufficient sample.

Next witness, DSomerville, worked at same company with DS; interacted on daily basis; knew DS had knee surgery and returned to work on crutches. Claims DS was reinjured by collapsing a week before Karen went missing. Used one crutch. Loaned DS $100 because Karen took all of their money day Karen was at Orange Beach with her girls.

Witness NBishop with TBI - issued a search warrant of David's home on Nov 10, 2011
Violent Crime Unit responded with SW. Occupants left home. Stayed at home several hours. Photos, swabs etc taken.

Jury sent out. Report composed w/ a TBI file maintained. Defense claims TBI witness, NB, did not watch the search even though he was on site.

Judge denies admitting the contents of the TBI report. It will not to be included as evidence because there is no official seal of TN on document, the TBI official, NB, did not personally collect any of the items listed in the report and for other reasons.

Witness continues with Defense. Discuss search but doesn't ask what was found or taken as evidence. Searched David's BMW.

Return Search Warrant would have been prepared by TBI Agent NB. Passes the witness.

Law and Crime Live - Afternoon- Day Five
 
DeDee said:
There's a log onto the laptop at the residence at 2:46am and continues for some time or til 3:30am. The person using the laptop inserted a thumb drive in order to view pictures requiring physical activity. Some of the pictures viewed on the thumb drive were family photos. The expert stated the laptop showed activity during this time period.

The reason this data is important because the defense's alibi is that David Swift was asleep between the hours of 2am and 10am when the children woke him up. David can't be asleep at 2:46am while at the same time a thumb drive is accessed on the laptop.

2:46am - 3:32am continual laptop usage
Then, Karen's body is moved, or at least, her phone is disconnected from the enhancer network at 4:38am.

Morning Witness - IT Expert - Day Five
Click to expand...


Karen arrived at the home around 2:00 AM and could have been the person using the laptop since her phone was connected the extender from 2:08 AM until 4:38 AM.

Obviously the extender can be looked at to see what devices connected to it, since the prosecution has told us Karen's phone was connected to the extender. That means there is a log of the IP address that have connected to the extender, since no data could be recovered from Karen's phone.

If Karen had a laptop of her own there should have been an IP address for that laptop in the extender history and if that laptop is missing it would be more circumstantial evidence that I'm sure the prosecution would have introduced. But there was no mention of Karen having or using a laptop of her own or her laptop being missing, so one can only assume that Karen used the laptop in question using the user name mentioned, if she used a laptop while at the house. But I think she most likely used her cell phone for any web browsing, so David couldn't see what she was looking at if he looked at the browser history on the laptop.

I would like to know if the URL's for the thumbnail pictures that were looked at were for male or female members of the dating site that was accessed that morning. That would have told us who was using the laptop at that time.

JMO

October 30 - the wee hours after Karen picked up her daughter:
* Victim's phone was home at 2:08am and connects to the network extender.
* Victim's phone stops using the extender at 4:38am. Indicates device may have left the residence.
* Victim's phone has a 15 second wifi connection at 5:04am, then a final data session with a tower at 5:09am. Indicates when device was destroyed, perhaps.
This data indicates the phone did not travel far on Oct 30 from the places of interest: the Swift resident, Walmart, Dyersburg Mall and the Bledsoe Cemetery or it would have touched more towers.
Click to expand...
 
MOO
Defense brings several witnesses to the stand. I missed most of it and pick up

When the 4th witness of Day Six appeared, while on cross, the Prosecutor asked about the witness' convictions as a thief. This witness was 11yo when Karen disappeared. It is an odd and uncomfortable position to place this young person on public livestream, with over 4400 viewing on Law and Crime Trials YTC, when we all learn he's a convicted criminal. Made me feel sad for him. Shame on the Defense for setting up this mishap to occur and shame on the Prosecutor for asking the embarrassing question and receiving an affirmative response we, and the Jury, heard.

The Jury was instructed by the Judge to disregard the question about the witness' convictions.
 
So the lawyer wanted to know what the dog's injuries were, was there blood, and if she saw it. How insensitive can you be??? And what does this area of examination add to the defense. I have no positive regard for this attorney!!!!
I probably need to delete this, because it seems I may be missing some consideration for cast-off fluids or blood. I'll shut up now. :)
 
Last edited:
texaslb218 said:
So the lawyer wanted to know what the dog's injuries were, was there blood, and if she saw it. How insensitive can you be??? And what does this area of examination add to the defense. I have no positive regard for this attorney!!!!
Click to expand...
It puts animal blood in the garage. A witness for the state said that blood was found in the garage but was not human blood. This will possibly explain how the blood got there so the jury doesn't think it may be Karen's blood.

JMO
 
Day Six Mid-Morning June 4, 2024
Cliff notes, the short version and moo

The Defense has called Ashley Swift. The Judge has removed the Jury for arguments over a video the State wants played. Prosecutor states it's a portion of 2m long from a forensic interview. Judge wants to view the video before the Jury sees it. Troubles operating the video player. Tap Tap Tap. A female has stepped over to assist the Prosecutor with the video issue.

The viewing public is not allowed to hear the interview being played for the Judge. I thought the Judge ruled it's admittable as evidence but it wasn't played for the Jury.

AS tells the court she is 22yo now, then bursts into tears. AS was 9yo when her mother disappeared. Her sister is 18yo now. David is seen wiping away a tear.

AS was at a friend's home on Sat night and began missing her mom so she called her to pick her up. Ashley says her mom "was gone all of the time" and she would urge her to stay home.

AS and Karen went to sleep in Karen's bed. AS says David checked on the two of them but later she'll add that she did not actually see her father after arriving home at 2am.

AS was tired and fell asleep quickly. She remembers being moved by her mother into the bed with her sister. She says it was instinct that she knows it was her mom moving her into the bed with her sister as she doesn't have a solid memory of seeing her mother as she "did not fully wake up."

AS awoke without her mom being home on Sunday. AS planned to go clean HforH house that day w/ her mother. Later, AS went with her father to see Karen's car parked on the road abandoned. She and sister stayed in the car. Then, they were taken to the Lamb's home next door while the Swift home was searched.

AS describes another time their home was searched by saying she, as a 9yo, looked out the window after hearing a knock on the door. AS saw a line of police officials out side with rifles down the driveway. [She sounds shaken and traumatized by this event esp when coupled with the tragedy of losing her precious mother. moo]


The Prosecutor begins by stating he's truly sorry about her mother. Establishes Karen slept downstairs and father slept upstairs. Both girls slept with their mother some nights. Karen slept with all of the family members at various times. Attempts to establish that with her and Karen being gone from home that KeS would have been upstairs sleeping with her father. She's unsure.

KeS's bedroom was downstairs by her mother's bedroom. KeS was 5yo and rarely slept alone. She insists it was her mother who moved her from the bed while she was sleeping with her mother and into the bed downstairs with KeS. Her mother was dressed in a Tshirt when they went to bed. AS did not see her mom moving her but she "felt her." [AS is a sympathetic witness -- the state rightly reads the room in order to avoid possible disrespect. moo]

AS does not remember seeing her father when they arrived home from the sleepover. She states her mother spoke to her father in the living room.

FWIW -- Karen cleaned the family's pool. AS is sure Karen had help doing it. Spoke of DS's knee injury. Her mother ran over a small dog. Aww.

Redirect -- AS heard no argument, no fight, no noise during the night

State -- Did mother keep house clean? "Not always. It was messy most times."

AS requests to stay in the courtroom when she leaves the witness stand. Lunch break.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

DNASolves

Who is Escambia County John Doe (1989)?

Staff online

Members online

... and 335 more.
Total: 3,075 (members: 336, guests: 2,739)

Online statistics

Members online
336
Guests online
2,739
Total visitors
3,075
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
597,756
Messages
18,070,706
Members
230,454
Latest member
ohthatmakessense
Back
Top