TN TN - Karen Swift, 44, Dyersburg, 30 Oct 2011 - #3

[cluciano63]

Yes I suppose who to release her body to could have some bearing indeed on why they are holding onto it for so long. It seems to me that everything they might possibly need could be taken in this amount of time, otherwise. That is a good point.

Figuring out how the murder itself occurred, why she left the house, etc...none of that would explain holding onto the body, IMO, or else no victims would be ever be buried until a conviction was secured.

 

[panthera]

Or who to release the body to? If they consider him a suspect, I think they would have to deal with some reprecussions later if her body was released to him and it turns out he is responsible.

Or because they were in the middle of a divorce, who do they release the body to? The ex or her family?

If they are still legally married, I presume he would have control of her body. Not knowing what is going on that the media hasn't been made aware of, it really is difficult to speculate why she is still at the morgue. It could be as someone suggested just a backlog regarding testing, however, in other cases, the remains have been released while awaiting those results.

MOO

 

[SmoothOperator]

48 days for an autopsy...and counting. Other than Celina Cass, I can't think of another case where it took this long, and even in that case, I believe her body was released long before. Wonder how they were so sure it was homicide if they are having such a hard time determining cause of death, etc...JMO

BBM above.. IMO as far as their determining homicide vs. non-homicide(ie. natural causes, suicide) I would think that the main indicator that Karen's death was NOT due to natural causes, suicide, etc and WAS homicide was due to the fact that her body was recovered in an area hidden under kudzoo in an actual cemetery.. So as far as their determining it was a homicide IMO would largely be due to the circumstances of which her remains were "hidden".. IMO if even Karen's body had not been recovered for say 6mos to a year.. And with that amount of passage of time very likely that a cause of death would NOT be able to be determined(unless the bones showed gunshot, stab, shattered skull, etc, etc).. If even that had been the case IMO they still would be able to say with confidence that the "manner" of death was homicide, but unable to specify the actual "cause" of death..

So while I believe they easily determined Karen's "manner" of death to be homicide.. IMO their being able to specify the actual "cause" of her death may be much for difficult for them to establish..

I certainly am praying that's not the case because of course any time there is any doubt, or question, or even the most vague of possibilities a criminal defense atty will immediately zero in on anything they perceive to be NOT rock solid and they will twist and turn it, exploit it, and attempt to have a jury see the states evidence as weak, lacking, questionable, etc, etc..

Which of course gives the guilty perp an opportunity of slipping thru and escaping justice for their having murdered this wonderful woman who was a loving mother first and foremost!!

I just don't know what in the world it could be that's causing this amount of delay?!? I must say that for now I'm taking Sheriff Box at his word and that is what is keeping me from feeling its something *negative*.. And that's his words saying that once the public hears the details of Karen's murder that at that point we will be able to see and understand what it is that was the complex issue that caused the ME to need such an extended amount of time in which to compile all of their findings and results..

I'm hoping that's the exact case that it will basically be self-explanatory when see/hear these results..

Only time will tell but am still keeping Karen's loved one's in fervent prayer, especially her 4 precious children who have been robbed of their momma.. And that closure is coming very soon..



Posting via mobile so please excuse errors as there is not the same amount of control as I'd have posting from my laptop! Thanks!

 

[cocomod]

I have pondered this case often, and I will throw my guess into the ring again. I still think that his wording fits with my theory that she may have been killed by someone that will try to claim accidental death. Or, could there be a hit man involved and they need to connect the person who ordered the hit.

I too think that keeping her body may have something to do with the possibility of her husband's involvement and not wanting to release her remains to him. Adds up to me.

 

[FightTheOstrich]

If they are still legally married, I presume he would have control of her body. Not knowing what is going on that the media hasn't been made aware of, it really is difficult to speculate why she is still at the morgue. It could be as someone suggested just a backlog regarding testing, however, in other cases, the remains have been released while awaiting those results.

MOO

I agree and wondered the samething in an earlier post. There is a case in NY where the husband is the suspect and he tried to have his wife buried in Israel bc it is nearly impossible to exhume a body there...Legally, he would have still have control....so perhaps they are waiting until they make an arrest.
IMO

 

[FightTheOstrich]

But none of that explains why they would still be holding her body, and being unable to date to complete the autopsy, JMO

Perhaps it has been difficult to distinguish between injuries to the body that were inflicted during her murder vs. things done afterward??? I'm stumped.

MOO

 

[FightTheOstrich]

Or who to release the body to? If they consider him a suspect, I think they would have to deal with some reprecussions later if her body was released to him and it turns out he is responsible.

Or because they were in the middle of a divorce, who do they release the body to? The ex or her family?

She had filed for divorce and he had not responded. The divorce proceedings hadn't really begun, so he would still have control over her remains etc. He would also still be the beneficiary on life insurance policies and that sort of thing. I would assume the body would be released to the ex...sort of a sticky situation.
IMO

 

[panthera]

She had filed for divorce and he had not responded. The divorce proceedings hadn't really begun, so he would still have control over her remains etc. He would also still be the beneficiary on life insurance policies and that sort of thing. I would assume the body would be released to the ex...sort of a sticky situation.
IMO

BBM

Therein would appear to be a motive........

MOO

 

[FightTheOstrich]

BBM

Therein would appear to be a motive........

MOO

Icing on the cake really. Assets no longer have to be divided..custody is no longer an issue....
IMO

 

[ThoughtFox]

She had filed for divorce and he had not responded. The divorce proceedings hadn't really begun, so he would still have control over her remains etc. He would also still be the beneficiary on life insurance policies and that sort of thing. I would assume the body would be released to the ex...sort of a sticky situation.
IMO

It's just like the Gail Palmgren case - couple on the verge of a divorce, but with nothing filed or finalized the hostile husband then gets control of the body and the funeral.

 

[SuziQ]

There have been cases where I wished LE had not released a body so quickly. Especially in cases where cremation is done. But I can't say I've ever seen LE or an ME willfully hang on to one so long. Interesting. Maybe there isn't a COD and only manner of death was determined? They have proof she was murdered but don't know how? IDK?

 

[SmoothOperator]

I have pondered this case often, and I will throw my guess into the ring again. I still think that his wording fits with my theory that she may have been killed by someone that will try to claim accidental death. Or, could there be a hit man involved and they need to connect the person who ordered the hit.

I too think that keeping her body may have something to do with the possibility of her husband's involvement and not wanting to release her remains to him. Adds up to me.

Sorry am only able to peek in for a few moments so still have not yet read all of the posts so forgive me if this is duplicating an issue already having thoroughly been discussed..

Coco, your above post makes so much sense IMO.. And definitely an angle I had not even thought of in that it could have something to do with the fact that the husband is who Karen's body will be released to.. Meaning he would have full control of what and how her remains were to be handled.. Of course *if* they are of the mindset that he is the individual responsible for Karen's murder they would know he quite likely could have her body/remains cremated literally within hours of it being released from the ME..

I would definitely believe *if* LE/ME are of that mindset
regarding the husband that they KNOW THEY'VE GOT ONE SHOT AND THIS IS IT!! That with the body being released to an individual who possibly would have it destroyed via cremation that there will be no option to retest, re-evaluate, or later decide or find that they possibly missed something.. They'd have to make extra damn sure that this entire procedure, testing, and results are gone over with the most detailed fine tooth comb imaginable.. IMO even likely calling in other ME for second opinions or assistance, specialists, or anyone else who could possibly help them make certain that they have evaluated, tested, and documented absolutely every tiny millimeter of the body as a whole..

IMO this would be a situation that would NOT fall in the category of "standard" in that the individual who has control of a loved ones remains is quite possibly the individual responsible for their loved one's death.. Not unheard of.. But not the "standard" for which these MEs usually work under.. Therefor it does make a whole helluva alotta sense when looked at from this angle and the difficulties that this LE/ME are being careful and looking at and taking into consideration that for the reasons above discussed that they fully realize its one chance and one chance only therefor they are going to any means necessary to ensure they've got it all should the husband so choose to take the avenue of having Karen's remains cremated..<---WoW that was one big long run-on sentence..

The more I type and think on it the more it fits and makes perfect sense IMO as to exactly what could be the entire motive behind this LE/ME taking a longer than usual period of time in which to fully conduct and document the autopsy of Karen's remains..

I think you're absolutely correct, Coco!!

 

[unique_astrology]

Is it possible, according to the forum rules, to post info about DS, such as his DOB, date they were married, police record? I do not have the knowledge or tools to find this information.

Thank you to all of you able and persistent sluethers.

Bob

 

[~n/t~]

Is it possible, according to the forum rules, to post info about DS, such as his DOB, date they were married, police record? I do not have the knowledge or tools to find this information.

Thank you to all of you able and persistent sluethers.

Bob

I'm not a moderator but I believe the rules state we can't post personal information about someone who hasn't been named a suspect or POI.

 

[cocomod]

Smooth - I wasn't the first to post the idea that maybe they didn't want him to have her body for burial because he may be a suspect. I was just agreeing with someone else that had posted this idea. (Can't take the credit even though I thought the same thing )

It makes sense to me too, and I had also wondered about this possibility. Sounds like many of us are on the same page with this thought.


This is not directed at anyone in particular. Just stating my feelings.
I want to say one thing, I really do not want DS to be guilty of this terrible crime. I really do not want his boys and his darling girls to be without both parents. I keep suspecting him because of the little information we have points in his direction. Also, statistics point in his direction.

Hopefully, this is the week that we will have answers for Karen!

 

[officer'swife 2010]

Well i haven't been on here very much lately, and I see Karen's birthday was the other day...so Happy belated birthday Karen!

And i also see there hasn't been an arrest made yet either....i just feel so sorry for the family! Justice for Karen Swift!

 

[~n/t~]

I was hoping for some news this week.

 

[cocomod]

I have been out of town for a couple of days, and I hoped to hear news when I returned. Last time I went out of town for business, Gail Palmgren was found.

I hope for Karen's family that this process will speed up a bit. I want true justice, and I want LE to be able to nail this "person", but I would sure like to see it happen soon!! I have known for over a month that I had to go out of town to attend a court hearing. I have been on pins and needles; and I was pretty wound up right before going. I can't imagine the feeling that Karen's family must be enduring waiting for news of an arrest.

 

[logcabin61]

Just a test

 

[fhc]

Just a test

:welcome: