Karen Johnson Swift 44 yo, Dyersburg, TN Last Seen 10/30/11(remains found)

[MuffyBee]

http://tiptoncounty.wmctv.com/news/news/164582-swifts-attorney-calls-unannounced-search-house-unnecessary
Swift's attorney calls unannounced search on house 'unnecessary'
July 6, 2013

DYER COUNTY, TN- (WMC-TV) - Dyer County Sheriff's deputies searched the home of David Swift Wednesday for evidence in the murder of his wife Karen.

"I'm a little bit miffed that they would scare the children like they did with the show of force, but they can do what they want. They're the authorities," said David's attorney Steve Farese.

Farese said Swift and his two young daughters, and their friends, were at the house when the deputies showed up armed with a search warrant signed by a judge. This is the second time investigators have searched the house.

"It was certainly unusual, and it was unnecessary all they would have to do is call us. If they wanted to look inside the house. He has cooperated fully throughout the investigation," said Farese.
 
No arrests have been made in the case.

"It's just obvious that they were at a loggerhead and are looking for anything," said Farese.

Residents wonder if anyone will ever be charged.

[Sister]

http://tiptoncounty.wmctv.com/news/news/164582-swifts-attorney-calls-unannounced-search-house-unnecessary
Swift's attorney calls unannounced search on house 'unnecessary'
July 6, 2013

DYER COUNTY, TN- (WMC-TV) - Dyer County Sheriff's deputies searched the home of David Swift Wednesday for evidence in the murder of his wife Karen.

"I'm a little bit miffed that they would scare the children like they did with the show of force, but they can do what they want. They're the authorities," said David's attorney Steve Farese.

Farese said Swift and his two young daughters, and their friends, were at the house when the deputies showed up armed with a search warrant signed by a judge. This is the second time investigators have searched the house.

"It was certainly unusual, and it was unnecessary all they would have to do is call us. If they wanted to look inside the house. He has cooperated fully throughout the investigation," said Farese.
 
No arrests have been made in the case.

"It's just obvious that they were at a loggerhead and are looking for anything," said Farese.

Residents wonder if anyone will ever be charged.

BBM
And if they found something, Farese would be the first to shot, "illegal search."  Even I can figure that out!

[MuffyBee]

http://www.stategazette.com/story/2087165.html
Signs displaying image of murder victim removed by sheriff's office
Thursday, May 29, 2014

Several signs displaying a photo of murder victim Karen Swift with the words "Justice for Karen" were recently removed by Dyer County Sheriff's Office officials.

According to Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box, on Monday, May 2, he was out of town and said he began receiving phone calls about the signs being placed around Dyer County.

"We got phone calls saying the signs were put on private property without permission and on state right of ways," said Box. "(The signs) did not have any identification about who put them up and there was no coordination between those people and the sheriff's department or the district attorney's office."

(Photo) Box stated the sheriff's department coordinated with Dyer County District Attorney Phil Bivens on the issue.
"We coordinated with the DA and ordered they be taken down, so they were taken down," said Box.

Bivens stated he was also out of town also on Monday and he received a phone call from Box asking him about the signs.

"Sheriff Box said there were signs up that said 'Justice for Karen (Swift)' and with no information on them," said Bivens. " I asked if they were on public or private property and he said he wasn't certain. I said if they are on private property they have to have the property owner's permission and they can't put them up on public right of way."

Dyersburg city zoning ordinances do not permit any signs to appear in the right of way.

Bivens added if a property owner gives a person permission to put a sign up, that person can put up a sign saying anything.

Box said one of the signs was placed next to a trailer related to his campaign on private property on St. John Avenue, and said the person who placed the sign there did not have permission to do so.

"With no coordination with the DA or the sheriff's office the signs were put up as a direct political attack," said Box. "It looked like a direct political attack by putting (the sign) against my election sign and we won't let a murder case be used for political gain. That's what it looked like."

Gerald and Jenna Scott of Henry County spoke with the State Gazette and stated they had six signs made and placed some at the Verizon store and Tractor Supply on Lake Road, and near Dyersburg State Community College. They stated Verizon gave them permission, but Box says Verizon said they didn't own the property the store is on. Gerald Scott said he pastored a church in Arkansas and was close to Karen Swift when she lived there. He says the signs were not a political ploy, but an attempt to raise awareness about the unsolved murder.

Box stated he also spoke with Swift's mother about the signs and she told him she had no knowledge about the signs, but later recanted her story and said she had been previously contacted about putting up the sign.

Box stated the six signs were taken up and three were given back to the Scotts and the other three are being kept for Bivens to look at. He added he believes the signs only stir up emotions and hinder the ongoing Swift murder investigation.

"Those signs are going to cause more false rumors to be spread and revive this Internet garbage about the case," said Box.

He added his department continues to work on the case and hopes they can bring justice for the murdered Swift.

"I'm the first one standing on the front line wanting justice for Karen and we have been working hard for her and we don't need anything to distract us from the case," said Box.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.stategazette.com/story/2088085.html
DA: More evidence needed in Swift murder case
Saturday, May 31, 2014


It has been almost two and a half years since the body of 44-year-old murder victim Karen Swift was found near Bledsoe Cemetery in Dyer County.
Since that time, law enforcement has not made an arrest in the case. Some wonder why it has taken so long to bring her killer to justice and if there will ever be an arrest.

Dyer County District Attorney Phil Bivens says the decision lies with him when there is enough evidence in the case to make an arrest, and so far, there has not been enough.

He added he has spoken with those close to Swift and informed them about the current state of the case.

"I met with Karen Swift's mom and several of her close friends and explained to them there will not be a indictment retuned until I have sufficient evidence," said Bivens.

He notes if there is an arrest made, then they need to have enough evidence to make sure they get a conviction when they go to trial. If the defendant is acquitted of the charges, then the procedural defense known as the double jeopardy rule comes into play and the person cannot be charged for the same crime. And that is not what Bivens wants to see happen.

"Because once we charge them, then we go to trial," said Bivens. "And if we charge somebody and no matter what you find, you can't go back and charge them on the same charges. There might be a crucial piece of evidence that we find sometime down the road, maybe one year later or five years later, and we don't want that to happen."
 
Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said the case currently rests in Bivens' hands and he and his investigators have pointed out one person who they believe is Karen Swift's killer.

"We have identified a person of interest to the district attorney and our investigators are working closely with him to render an indictment and seek a conviction," said Box. "Back some time ago, we made the DA aware of the results of our investigation and we have identified one individual that we believe is responsible for the murder of Karen Swift. And we will continually work closely with the DA and the TBI, until an indictment is made and the case goes to trial."

Bivens wants the public to know the Karen Swift case has not been forgotten, but he will continue to wait until he feels there is enough evidence for a conviction.

"It's not going to be forgotten, there just hasn't been a strong enough case to get a conviction," said Bivens. "You never know when that break is going to come though."