Transcript

Ashley Flowers (0:01)

If you've ever thought about joining the Crime Junkie Fan Club, this is your sign. Because right now your first month will be free on us. And I'll let you in on a little secret. We've got an exclusive merch drop soon that only fan club members will be able to get in on. Plus you'll unlock early and ad free listening and exclusive Crime Junkie episodes that you won't find anywhere else. Check out the link in the show notes to join the Crime Junkie fan club for free today. Hi Crime Junkies. I'm your host, Ashley Flowers.

Britt (0:34)

And I'm Britt.

Ashley Flowers (0:35)

And welcome back. Last episode I told you about the murder of Nick Cordova in Gilbert, Arizona in 2020. Nick and his business partner Dave Sweetman were the only ones at their office when two masked men came in and shot Nick execution style in the back of the head. Dave walked away from the attack and sought out $8 million in life insurance money with quote, unquote sign off from Nick's wife, Alicia. Except she alleges that someone forged her signature and it took years of fighting in court for her and their kids to see any share of that life insurance money. Now, Alicia told police that Nick was worried before his death, worried about things like Dave taking money from the business. First 30,000, then 15,000. Nick thought someone was following him and he half heartedly joked to her that maybe Dave was going to hire a hitman to collect the insurance money. But despite sharing all of this with police, they seemingly never considered Dave a suspect because they had surveillance video of Nick's murder and it was not Dave who pulled the trigger. So there was really never much of an investigation done into Dave that we can see from the redacted files. There was never any mention of the prior civil suits that he was involved in where he was made to pay out over $10,000 to various people. And there was no mention of Dave's late wife, Laura Sweetman, who died seven years before Nick. In fact, she didn't come on our radar even until very late into investigating Nick's case. Now, the first thing you need to know is that the reason we hadn't heard about Laura's undetermined death, why almost no one outside of her small circle has, is because people seem to be afraid to talk about it. More specifically, people seem to be afraid of Dave and what might happen if they spoke up. And I think that's why this story has never been covered in any news source that we could find. But we know from our reporting that Laura Sweetman's family still wants answers. Her friends want answers. Her colleagues and former patients even want answers. Because for them and us, something isn't adding up. And what I can tell you after deep diving into this case, is that it doesn't all point to Dave. This is the story of Laura Sweetman. So let's start with the elephant in the room. Dave Sweetman. When we first started poking around, trying to ask questions about Laura's case, we were surprised by how many people were. Were afraid to talk to us. They were afraid of Dave because the prevailing theory among those who knew Laura seemed to be that somehow, some way, Dave was involved in her death. They didn't have proof, of course, or they would have gone to police with that. But what they had were decades of stories about a man who scared them and who was scaring Laura right before her death. So to understand that fear, and before I ever get into how Laura died, I need to take you all the way back to the 1980s, when Dave and Laura first started dating as teenagers at Fallbrook Union High School in California. As a junior in high school, Laura was a future homemaker of America and part of the swim team and the yearbook club. And Dave was a varsity football player in the grade above her. This is like a real all American, California dream kind of couple. Now, after graduating, Laura went on to get her master's in biochemistry. She went to med school, completed her residency in pediatric neurology, and then worked at Phoenix Children's Hospital. And Dave became a small business owner. Now, they got married, and around 2004, they had the first of their three sons. So from the outside, everything seemed picture perfect. But people who knew Laura knew that that was not the case. Laura's close friend, who we're going to call Emily, told us that the Sweetman's marriage was always tumultuous. Laura and Emily first met around 2009, when Emily started training Laura at the gym. And in those early days, Emily said that Laura, I mean, originally had, like, no confidence. She didn't feel comfortable in her own skin. But as Laura and Emily got closer, Laura started talking about why. She'd tell Emily about how her husband would belittle her and make her feel small. But the more that they trained together and the stronger that Laura got, the more comfortable she started to feel in her own body. And that's when she really began to open up. Now, Dave actually trained at that same gym with a different trainer. And Emily said that her and that trainer would talk about just how different Dave and Laura were. How there was just something off about Dave that he gave off, quote, the creepy vibes. And Emily told us she couldn't understand why Laura was with Dave when he seemed so manipulative. But as they got closer, it became clear that when it came to relationships, Laura just didn't know anything else. Now it's important to note that while Laura was opening up to Emily, most other people were still completely in the dark. I mean, the woman who nannied for Laura and Dave's children, her name's Stacy Miller, she told police that they seemed like a nice, normal, everyday family and she didn't think anything was off about them ever really. At least until 2006, 2007. In her statement to police, Stacey says that is when Laura and Dave started sleeping on different floors of the house. Neither of them ever spoke about a change. And Stacy said, quote, it wasn't any of my business anyway. So I didn't even ask her what went on, end quote. But By April of 2013, there would be no more keeping their relationship issues a secret. Because according to the police file, that is when Laura found out about Dave's big secret. I don't know what drove her into doing a Facebook deep dive. Surely she was having some suspicions of something. But one click after another after another led her to something that up ended her life for good. Emily was actually one of the many people Laura opened up to about this. And according to her, what Laura discovered is that Dave had, quote, a whole other life. He had been having an affair with a woman who he had a child with that she never knew about. And I'm not talking about like a newborn baby, like, oh, he could figure out how to tell her about this. In the last like nine months. This kid was preschool age, a preschool aged son.

Summary

Crime Junkie – MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Laura Sweetman

Host: Ashley Flowers, with Britt
Release Date: April 13, 2026

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Ashley Flowers and Britt dive into the baffling and underreported death of Dr. Laura Sweetman, a pediatric neurologist found dead in 2013. While the case was never publicly investigated as foul play and remains shrouded in mystery, Ashley and Britt piece together Laura's life and last days, the suspicious circumstances of her death, questionable police and forensic work, and the strong suspicions people around Laura continue to hold—most notably regarding her estranged husband, Dave Sweetman. The episode also spotlights systemic problems in forensic standards and police practices, calling for renewed attention to Laura’s case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and Relationship Turmoil

Laura & Dave’s History:
- Met as teenagers in California, married in adulthood; Laura becomes a respected neurologist, Dave runs small businesses ([03:30]).
- Outside appearance of a “perfect” family, but close friends knew of turmoil and emotional abuse in the marriage.
Financial and Emotional Strain:
- Laura faced manipulation and belittlement from Dave; began confiding in her friend "Emily" ([04:50]).
- Friends sensed "creepy vibes" from Dave; Laura seemed inexperienced in healthy relationships.

2. Divorce and Domestic Violence Incident

Discovery of Dave's Secret Life:
- Laura learns Dave had a secret, years-long affair and another child ([07:00]).
- Decides to leave Dave, arranging for a secret move to a rental house.
April 2013 Domestic Violence Call:
- Domestic incident between Laura and Dave escalates. Laura claims he threatened to kill her and held her against her will—Laura secretly records the incident ([10:37]).
- Police response is lackluster: Dave is arrested but not charged due to "insufficient evidence," despite Laura’s audio recording ([16:53]).

“According to Dave, what they heard wasn’t a struggle… the only time he put his hands on Laura was to, quote, hug her and hold her close while she yelled ‘help me.’”
— Ashley Flowers ([15:07])

Aftermath:
- Laura is granted an order of protection and full custody; the divorce process is initiated.

3. Suspicious Activity and Safety Concerns

Financial Manipulation:
- Laura’s coworkers and friends reveal Dave hid business dealings, causing Laura stress and financial hardship despite her medical career ([19:02]).
Stalking Fears and Neighbour Tip:
- Laura reportedly believed Dave or someone he hired was following her.
- Neighbor “Harry” notes a suspicious car near Laura’s home; gives the license plate to police, but there's no evidence police followed up ([22:50]).

“Harry’s crime folder might come in handy because when he went to his computer… let me just go check my crime folder to see if I have notes from that time.”
— Ashley Flowers ([24:04])

4. Events Leading Up to Laura’s Death

Uncharacteristic Behavior:
- Laura asks a friend to fill a prescription in the friend’s name; behavior out of character and potentially illegal ([27:09]).
Timeline the Night Before Death:
- Kids were with Dave; Laura invites a man she was seeing, Will, to her home ([38:16]).
- Laura was in contact with several men that weekend—“Will” is last known to see her alive ([38:20]).

5. Discovery of Laura’s Body

Scene Details:
- Found by her nanny, Stacy; Laura’s dogs present, dog gate on the floor, and the usually locked back door was unlocked ([30:04], [31:18]).
- Laura is discovered in the bathtub, naked, foaming at the mouth, but not submerged—already in rigor ([30:24]).

6. Troubling Gaps in the Investigation

Police Interviews and Alibis:
- Dave is not deeply questioned nor asked for an explicit alibi; phone data places his phone at home that night, but no further probing ([34:44]).
- Will supplies his phone and DNA, admits deleting texts with Laura. No verification if police confirmed his timeline ([38:20], [40:18]).
- None of the other men Laura was seeing are interviewed by police ([41:36]).

“Literally recording what happened isn’t even enough for, like, the ‘she’ part of ‘he said, she said’—not enough for charges.”
— Britt ([17:26])

7. Autopsy and Forensic Concerns

Findings:
- No internal injuries, but surface bruises and questionable contusions on Laura’s head.
- Foaming at the mouth (common in drowning), yet “no definitive evidence” for drowning or other cause ([44:01], [45:41]).
- Toxicology report clean—no drugs, no prescription stimulants or anti-anxiety medication found, but there is a prescription bottle at the scene ([51:02]).
- Autopsy records lack certain tests, e.g., genetic screening, detailed heart examination; standards of reporting vary widely ([52:12], [53:04]).
Quality of the ME Office:
- The medical examiner (Dr. Shelley) has a checkered past (allowed his kids to handle a brain from an autopsy, was reprimanded by the Virginia Medical Board) ([61:33]).
- Toxicologist who signed the toxicology report (Norman Wade) had previously been convicted of grand theft for selling evidence from a police property room ([66:59]).

8. Systemic Failures and Lingering Questions

Police Inaction:
- Police closed the file months after the autopsy returned an “undetermined” ruling for cause and manner of death ([69:42]).
- Friends and family feel ignored by investigators and unsatisfied with answers: “People have been left to do is point fingers at Dave” ([71:14]).
- None of Laura’s other romantic interests were investigated, and simple witness interviews (with neighbors, friends) were perfunctory ([72:29]).

“If Dave didn’t do anything, he should be pissed off too, because perhaps a better investigation could have answered all of the open ended questions…”
— Ashley Flowers ([71:14])

Call for Action:
- Public and media pressure has helped move other Gilbert, AZ cases in the past.
- Ashley calls on listeners to revive interest and demand a new, high-standard investigation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[14:18] Ashley: “If any copy of this [domestic incident] recording exists anymore, we weren’t able to find it. According to the incident report, Dave can be heard on it threatening to shoot himself several times, but he did not say that he was going to harm Laura, at least audibly.”
[33:37] Ashley: “According to the police file, when Dave greets the detective outside of his house, he’s already crying even though they haven’t told him what happened exactly.”
[36:06] Ashley: “Laura’s dad, her stepmom, one of her co-workers, and Emily all told police that they thought Dave had something to do with Laura’s death.”
[46:05] Ashley: “For foaming at the mouth… Dr. Shelley wrote, ‘there was no definitive evidence of drowning.’”
[57:42] Ashley: “Whenever [an undetermined ruling] does happen, the case has to be reviewed by at least one other pathologist.”
— Ashley and Britt then confirm there’s no documented evidence in the file such a review happened.
[61:34] Ashley: “A doctor takes a dead marine’s brain home with him and then allows his kids to hold it and take pictures with it.” (On Dr. Shelley, the ME who signed Laura’s autopsy)
[66:59] Ashley: “While there, [Norman Wade] took a gun and another item of evidence out of the evidence room and sold them at a pawn shop… got convicted of grand theft of a firearm in 1995, served 30 days in jail…”

Important Timestamps

00:34 – Recap of Dave Sweetman’s involvement in the prior murder of Nick Cordova; early suspicions about Dave’s behavior regarding life insurance and civil suits.
07:00 – Laura discovers Dave’s affair and decides to leave him.
10:37 – The domestic violence incident occurs; Laura calls police.
16:53 – Dave’s domestic violence charges dropped despite a recorded audio incident.
22:50 – Neighbor reports suspicious car at Laura’s rental house; no police follow-up.
27:09 – Laura asks a friend to fill a prescription in the friend’s name.
30:24 – Stacy discovers Laura’s body.
34:44 – No recorded alibi probing of Dave Sweetman; Dave’s children possibly an alibi.
38:16-41:36 – Details on Laura’s relationships with multiple men in the weeks before her death; police barely follow up.
44:01 – Deep dive into autopsy findings.
61:33 – Dr. Shelley’s misconduct as a medical examiner revealed.
66:59 – Toxicologist’s criminal background detailed.
69:42 – Explanation of how the case was closed.
73:07 – Media pressure called out as effective in moving cases in Gilbert, AZ.

Episode Tone

Relentlessly questioning, deeply skeptical of law enforcement and forensic standards.
Empathetic and respectful to Laura; points persistent failures in the system.
Frustration and disbelief come through, especially when discussing gaps and incompetency in the investigation and forensic analysis.

Conclusion

Ashley and Britt’s investigation into Laura Sweetman’s mysterious death paints a picture of systemic failure—apparent police apathy, shoddy forensic oversight, and a history of violence that was neither adequately investigated nor publicly discussed. They urge listeners to use the power of community and public pressure to force authorities to re-examine Laura’s case and provide overdue answers to those still seeking justice.

Calls to Action

Share Laura’s story. Spread awareness via social media & local media outlets.
Contact Crime Junkie with information or tips: tips@audiochuck.com
Review Laura’s memorial Facebook for more about her life and community impact.

For listeners seeking more details, all source material is available at crimejunkie.com.