Investigator: Swift searched dating sites 280 times after wife reported missing

WEAKLEY COUNTY, TENN. — The trial of David Swift, the man accused of murdering his former wife Karen Swift in Dyer County, Tennessee in 2011, is entering its second week.

Before the jury was called in, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Special Agent Joel Wade, who specializes in cyber crimes, testified a search of David Swift’s laptop.

Special Agent Wade showed that Swift searched dating sites, primarily Match.com, around 280 times within a short time after Karen was reported missing, and while the search was still intense for the missing mother of four.

“It starts at October 10th, 2011 and goes to November 14, which is when we took possession of it (David Swift’s laptop),” Wade said.

Trial begins for David Swift, accused in wife’s 2011 death

Defense Attorney Daniel Taylor argued and objected to allowing the testimony, saying visiting the sites does not have bearing and does not prove David Swift murdered his wife.

“It doesn’t establish motive,” Taylor said. “It doesn’t establish anything other – it’s irrelevant and I object to it.”

Assistant District Attorney Tim Boxx contends the viewing of the sites shortly after Karen was reported missing shows David Swift already knew his wife was not coming back, and searching the sites showed that.

“The inference is Your Honor, that within 24 hours of his wife going missing, he is hot and heavy on the dating sites,” Boxx said. “He knows she’s not coming back.”

Judge Mark Hayes ruled testimony regarding the dating site visits was not admissible.

The Jury was called in and was allowed to hear limited testimony from Agent Joel Wade about other content found on Swift’s laptop including a picture of a tattoo and other images the state contends Swift downloaded from Karen’s cell phone the morning of October 30.

Swift murder trial, Day 4: Tire expert claims Karen Swift’s tire was ‘intentionally’ flattened

Last week, an expert in tire technology testified the screw found in the flat tire on Karen’s SUV appeared to have been intentionally screwed in and the tire appeared to have been intentionally deflated before the vehicle was found abandoned near the woman’s Dyer County home.

On Friday, DNA analysts testified that no DNA other than Karen Swift’s was found in her fingernail clippings or on the underwear she was wearing when she was found dead on December 10, 2011.

The state rested its case, but Swift’s attorney quickly moved for an acquittal.

“The evidence is insufficient to show pre-meditation to support first or second-degree murder,” Taylor said. “We submit the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction in this case.”

District Attorney Danny Goodman told the judge that there were a number of inconsistencies in David Swift’s statements to investigators. He noted the tire expert’s testimony, the testimony of Karen’s cell phone pings near where her body was found, and the question of Swift’s knee injury being pre-planned.

Goodman also said that Swift used bleach to clean up blood in the garage where the state says he killed his wife.

In the end, Judge Mark Hayes denied the motion for acquittal.

“In the Court’s view, there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to submit this matter to the jury for determination,” Hayes said.

It is unknown if David Swift will testify.

The defense has called witnesses Monday afternoon to refute testimony by the state, but it is unclear how many they will call.

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