DYERSBURG, TN (abc24.com) - It has been almost 5 months since Karen Swift’s autopsy report was complete. Investigators will not comment about the findings of the report because it's sealed under a court order. A family friend says if anyone talks, the judge will throw out the case.
Neighbors say the Swift family is taking it one day at a time. Karen Swift is the Dyersburg mother who disappeared last Halloween. Her body was later discovered a few miles from her home, but no arrests have been made and neighbors say it’s hard for the family to move on.
“You don't hear much about it anymore,” a family friend, Dalton Craig, told abc24.com.
Craig knows the Swift family well. He says the 44-year-old mother would come to his grocery store all the time. It's less than a mile from her home. Her estranged husband, David Swift, still comes there with their kids.
"He doesn't say much. He comes and eats and don't say much," said Craig.
The Dyer County Sheriff told abc24.com the Karen Swift case is active and ongoing. He says if we wanted detailed information to contact the District Attorney, Phillip Bivens. We did, but we were told he was in court all day Friday. Bivens never returned any of our calls and wasn't at his office.
The TBI is keeping quiet too. The assistant DA practically ran from us after leaving the court house Friday, saying he had "no comment" about the Swift case. Her family and especially her estranged husband, David Swift, can't talk to their friends about it, let alone the media.
“It's just on hold,” said Craig. “The judge won't let (David) say anything or he'll close the case, close it down on him."
Karen Swift filed for divorce October 11, 2011. She disappeared on October 30, 2011. The case turned into a murder investigation when her body was discovered on December 10, 2011 near a cemetery. Then on March 20, 2012, her autopsy report was complete. It's sealed from the public. Today there are no suspects, no arrests, and not a peep from officials.
"There hasn't been anything said about it and nobody has come up with any new evidence," said Craig.
But people like Dalton Craig remain hopeful Swift's killer will be brought to justice.
