Podcast Summary: Going West: True Crime

Episode 549 – Karen Swift
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath (Teeth) Merryman
Release Date: October 28, 2025

Overview

In this Halloween-themed episode of Going West: True Crime, Daphne and Heath explore the haunting 2011 case of Karen Swift, a 44-year-old mother from Tennessee who disappeared after returning from a Halloween party and was later found murdered. The hosts meticulously unpack the details of Karen's troubled marriage, the investigation, and the eventual arrest of her husband, David Swift—highlighting the twists, evidence, and doubts that led to a dramatic but ultimately inconclusive resolution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Background on Karen Swift

• Early Life & Family
  • Born Karen Johnson in 1967 in Galesburg, IL; known for her athleticism and bubbly personality (03:21).
  • Married David Swift at age 22; moved to Pocahontas, AR, and had two sons, Preston and Dustin (03:50).
• Marriage Troubles
  • Marriage soured after David’s infidelity, resulting in a divorce, followed by reconciliation and remarriage in 2000 (05:46).
  • Two more children: daughters Ashley and Keely.
  • Second marriage faced issues: Karen had an affair but came clean; David forgave her, but the relationship continued to deteriorate, prompting a move to Dyersburg, TN for a fresh start (06:43).

Karen’s Pre-Disappearance Life

• Struggles & Social Life
  • Karen struggled with the marriage and became more social, forming friendships with party-loving neighbors Kathy and Bill Bona (07:32).
  • David’s reaction became increasingly controlling, checking up on her whereabouts and expressing disdain for her new friends and lifestyle (08:20).
  • Karen began preparing to file for divorce again, borrowing money from the Bonas for legal fees and using a burner phone for privacy (10:17).
  • David attempted to reconcile; Karen was firm in her decision to move on (11:10).

Timeline Leading to Disappearance

• Halloween 2011
  • October 29, 2011: Karen declines dinner with David to attend a Halloween party with friends at the country club (12:33).
  • She dresses as Catwoman, attends the party, then heads to the Bonas’ home before picking up her ill daughter Ashley and going home around 2am (14:55).
  • David claims their last interaction was a brief chat in the stairwell upon her return; next morning, Karen is missing (15:24).

Investigation Details

• Immediate Response
  • Karen's car is found abandoned on a rural road near her home with a suspiciously flattened tire—a screw intentionally lodged in it. Her costume and purse remain inside (17:25, 18:10).
  • No obvious signs of foul play at the car or in the home; searches yield no physical evidence (19:27).
• Key Suspects
  • David Swift: spouse and primary suspect due to marital issues and controlling behavior.
  • John Hogshooter: neighbor with a history of animal cruelty; after investigation (including finding Karen’s smashed burner phones near his property), he is ruled out through alibi verification (21:41, 24:30).

Discovery & Forensic Evidence

• Finding Karen’s Remains
  • December 10, 2011: Karen’s decomposed body found tangled in kudzu vines near a cemetery, approximately 2 miles from her home (24:30).
  • Cause of death: blunt force trauma, possibly from having her skull stomped on while her head was pressed against something solid (26:01).
  • Decomposition hampers forensic findings, leaving little physical evidence or forensic linkage to the perpetrator (27:01).

Case Goes Cold, Then Breaks

• 2014–2022: Family Life & New Developments
  • David remarries, but his new relationship echoes past patterns—his second wife, Kelly Essman, alleges harassment, tracking, and stalking (32:42).
    • “He would watch her location and track her movements every time she left the house.” – Daphne (32:57)
    • Kelly is granted a restraining order; David is later criminally charged for stalking (33:30).
  • David’s daughter Ashley stands by his character, recounting exemplary acts of kindness, though she is heartbroken by his arrest (35:20, 36:25).

Arrest and Trial

• David Swift Arrested

  • August 2022: David is arrested for Karen’s murder following a renewed cold case investigation (38:53).
  • Circumstantial evidence brought forward included:
    • David’s online dating activity after Karen’s disappearance (39:01).
    • Tire expert testimony that the screw in Karen’s tire was purposefully and not incidentally inserted (43:46).
    • Forensic evidence showing Karen’s burner phone connected to the Swift home Wi-Fi after her disappearance, with voicemail accessed at 9:55am, implying David’s involvement (46:32–47:24).
    • Autopsy revealed Karen had taken a sleeping pill; prior texts showed she feared David under the influence of Ambien (48:42).

• Defense Arguments

  • Claimed David was physically incapable of committing the crime due to a knee injury and use of crutches (41:10).
  • Eyewitnesses and neighbor testimony contradicted his handicap claims, with some saying he only used crutches part of the time (41:43).

• Trial Outcome

  • Despite the suspicious circumstantial evidence, no direct forensic link existed and there was no crime scene (45:00–46:32).
  • June 6, 2024: David Swift is found not guilty of first- and second-degree murder. The jury is deadlocked on voluntary manslaughter; the charge is dismissed (49:46, 50:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Karen’s state of mind:

  "She was putting on a brave face for her kids, but her friends actually knew the truth. Karen was unhappy in her marriage." — Teeth (07:32)

• On controlling behavior:

  "David was possessive… He would watch her location and track her movements every time she left the house." — Daphne, referring to Kelly Essman, David’s second wife (32:57)

• On the discovery of Karen’s remains:

  "These vines had completely encompassed the remains… but because of the chilly weather, these vines had retreated, revealing the secret that they were keeping." — Daphne (25:23)

• On the tire evidence:

  "A tire expert testified in trial, and they thoroughly believe… that the way the screw was in her tire could not have gotten in there just from driving over it. Somebody would have had to have screwed the screw into the tire." — Daphne (43:46)

• On the integrity of the investigation:

  "The one thing that held true since the early stages of the investigation into Karen's death was that David was always a suspect because all the evidence pointed to him." — Sheriff Jeff Box (39:21)

• On unanswered questions:

  "We really do not have a crime scene here… For the charge of both first-degree premeditated and second-degree murder, too much reasonable doubt plagued the minds of the jurors." — Daphne (48:44)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 03:21 – Introduction to Karen Swift and her background
• 05:46 – Marital struggles, divorce, reconciliation
• 07:32 – Karen’s social life and marital breakdown
• 10:17 – Divorce proceedings, use of burner phone
• 14:49 – Karen’s last known movements, Halloween party
• 17:25 – Discovery of Karen’s abandoned car
• 21:41 – Neighbor John Hogshooter’s involvement and elimination as suspect
• 24:30 – Discovery of Karen's body
• 32:42 – David’s second marriage and stalking allegations
• 38:53 – David Swift’s arrest
• 41:10 – Defense and prosecution arguments at trial
• 43:46 – Tire evidence discussed in court
• 45:00 – Forensic and circumstantial gaps
• 46:32 – The burner phone and digital evidence
• 49:46 – Trial verdict and aftermath

Conclusions & Theories

• Motive: Estrangement, jealousy, and financial dependency were highlighted as strong motives for David, but nothing could be directly proven.
• Evidence Issues: Despite several damning circumstantial indicators (tire sabotage, phone activity, witness statements), the absence of physical evidence or a crime scene eroded the prosecution’s case.
• Alternative Theories: The lack of suspects led to speculation about the potential for an unknown lover or random perpetrator, but nothing substantial ever emerged.

Final Thoughts

The Karen Swift case is still officially unsolved. David Swift was acquitted of murder, and, as the hosts emphasize, there are very few alternate theories or suspects. The Dyer County Sheriff’s Department continues to encourage tips from the public.

"Ultimately, the facts remain incredibly murky, the theories are slim, and the suspects are non-existent." — Daphne (52:13)

Listeners are encouraged to share their theories and to contact Dyer County Crime Stoppers if they have information.

Contact Information for Tips

Dyer County Crime Stoppers
Phone: 1-800-222-8477

Find Going West on Instagram (@goingwestpodcast) and their listener discussion group on Facebook for ongoing case conversations.
Bonus content and special Halloween episodes available via Patreon and Apple Podcasts.