DYER COUNTY, Tenn. — RELATED: Husband arrested in 2011 cold case murder of Dyersburg woman Karen Swift
Eight years ago this month, hunters found the body of Karen Swift near a cemetery in Dyer County. The 44-year-old mother of four was last seen at a Halloween party in 2011.
While no one was ever arrested, those following the case hope eight years after the murder there will finally be a break in the unsolved crime.
For the first time since the murder, the full case file was handed over to the Dyer County District Attorney for review in October. Those following the case hope that is a sign an arrest is near.
“It just seems to be a typical cold case. They go on, they goon, they go on, and you are just looking for that one price of evidence that ties the whole thing together – and after 8 years, will you ever find it?” said journalist Burt Staggs.
Staggs, with the Tennessee River Valley News, wonders if the murder of Karen Swift will ever be solved.
It was eight years ago this month her body was found in this area near a cemetery. Swift had filed for divorce from her husband David 3weeks before she disappeared. She was last seen at Halloween party in 2011.
While there have been rumors about who killed Swift, no one has been arrested.
About a year and a half ago, Tennessee private investigator Heather Cohen began her own investigation. She says she is not being paid, but got involved because she wants justice for Swift.
“Once we started digging, more and more people kept coming forward with more information. We had an interest that kept growing,” said Cohen.
Cohen says she has interviewed several people with good information. She questions why the case went cold.
“There’s a lot of evidence that was lost, a lot of leads that weren’t followed up on, a lot of things kinda thrown under the rug. And I think if those things had been followed or taken seriously that the case would be solved by now,” said Cohen.
Those following the case hope an arrest happens soon and this cold case finally closes.
“It’s been eight years. This family is still looking for justice and there is a killer out there,” said Staggs.
The Swift family no longer lives in the Dyer County area.
Local 24 News called the district attorney several times but still haven’t heard back.