DYERSBURG, TN (abc24.com) - The Dyer County Sheriff's Office stated Monday they have narrowed down their murder investigation of Karen Swift to one person of interest, although that person remains unidentified.
In a September 3 release, Sheriff Jeff Box stated investigators had ruled out several persons of interest except one, but added it would not benefit the case to name the person until their investigation is complete or an arrest is made.
"If this individual was on the run or if we felt that other persons were in immediate danger, we would have already named this person as a suspect," Box said. "Our investigators have done a very good job in compiling the evidence and we will use all of the results of the investigation and evidence from these agencies, in unison, to see that an arrest and conviction is obtained."
Swift, 44, disappeared in the early morning hours of October 30, 2011. Her body was found near a Dyer County cemetery a couple of miles from her home on December 10. Since then law enforcement has remained tight-lipped about the investigation. Even the Shelby County Medical Examiner has sealed Swift's autopsy results, keeping the public in the dark.
Dyersburg residents told ABC24 News they won't be totally satisfied until the person who murdered Karen Swift is locked up, but they are happy that the Dyer County Sheriff has zeroed in on someone.
"I put faith in Sheriff Box. I put faith in what he's doing," said Dyersburg resident Paula Hawkins. Although it's been nearly a year since her murder, she understands why it has taken so long. "They have to have everything in line. They can't have any gray areas when it comes to investigating and Sheriff Box has made that clear several times."
Attorney Steve Farese is representing Karen's husband, David Swift. He said his client hasn't talked to investigators in a couple of months.
"He was always one of the people they've had interest in," Farese said. "We don't know if it's him or not… he's hoping that the police solve the crime and find the person that killed his wife."
Sheriff Box says he's confident this person of interest will be arrested and convicted in Swift's murder.
The Dyer County Sheriff's Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are jointly investigating Karen Swift's murder. The Dyer County Sheriff's Department requests any person with information about this case contact them at 731-285-2802 or call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
