Karen Swift remembered as 'strong-willed' after husband David charged with her murder a decade later
DYER, TENNESSEE: Human remains of Karen Swift, a Tennessee resident, was discovered in December 2011 after she went missing in October that year. A Dyer County grand jury indicted Karen's husband David Swift on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder on Monday, August 8, in connection to the then-44-year-old woman's death. If convicted, David faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Karen Swift's longtime friend Angie Gallaher told Fox News Digital, "We just want justice for Karen, and our hearts go out to her kids," adding, "My husband and I went to the hearing this morning, and he said, ‘you’ve been waiting to make this trip for a long time,' and I said, "yes, but why do I not feel more excited about it or relieved?' And the reason for that is because there are four other victims," she said, referring to Karen's four kids.
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According to the Dyer County Sheriff's Office, David was the last person to see his wife after she returned from a Halloween party on the night of October 30, 2011. After missing for a month, her body was discovered by hunters in a cometary near her home on December 10, 2011, as per WREG. Just weeks before her death, Karen had filed for divorce. An autopsy report obtained by WREG states that Karen died of blunt force trauma to the head. David had since remarried and lived in Alabama but was deported to Dyer County following his arrest.
Janet Ross, another friend of Karen, told Fox News Digital, "We've been told for years by law enforcement that evidence only ever pointed back to one place," adding, "It wasn't a shock that he was arrested, but it was a shock that there was an arrest in the first place just because it's been so long. You know, you begin to give up."
David was always telling wife what to do, reveals friend
Angie described Karen as a "good friend," who was "witty, kind and strong-willed," except when it came to her husband. She said he was always telling her "what to do."
Meanwhile, Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box was "pleased" after the jury announced their verdict. The Sheriff's Office had closed its investigation into Karen's murder in October 2019. They evidence was handed to District Attorney General Danny Goodman’s office. at the time. Box said, "I am so glad the district attorney, our prosecutor, had enough interest in this case to present it to the grand jury. I’ve thanked District Attorney General Danny Goodman for seeing this thing through, and he did the right thing today."