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Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum
Missing, Exploited and True Crime => Missing Found or Presumed Deceased => Topic started by: MuffyBee on August 23, 2012, 08:34:02 AM
Title: Gabrielle "Gabbiee" Swainson 15, Missing from SC Home 8/18/12(Body Found)
Post by: MuffyBee on August 23, 2012, 08:34:02 AM
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/198347/2/Deputies-Search-for-Missing-15-Year-Old-
Deputies Search for Gabrielle Swainson, Missing 15-Year-Old
(http://www.wltx.com/images/300/169/2/assetpool/images/120820051736_Gabrielle%20Swainson.jpg)
Richland County, SC (WLTX) - Richland County deputies are searching for a missing 15-year-old.
Officers say Gabrielle Swainson disappeared between 3 a.m. and 7:30 am. on August 18th from her home. The girl's mother said when she returned home from work at 7:30 AM Saturday morning her daughter was missing.
Sheriff Leon Lott says they have no signs of foul play, but says the information our investigators have complied about her and the situation are not traditional temperaments of a runaway.
Video and Comments at Link
Title: Re: Gabrielle "Gabby" Swainson 15, Missing from SC Home 8/18/12
http://www.thestate.com/2012/08/22/2406895/deputies-looking-for-missing-teen.html#.UDYiH6DBnIU
Search goes on for missing Ridge View cheerleader
(http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2012/08/20/17/11/SYsAS.Em.74.jpeg)
(http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2012/08/22/01/37/143zIL.Em.74.jpg)
The search continues for a Ridge View High School cheerleader who went missing Saturday from her Northeast Richland home.
Fifteen-year-old Gabrielle Swainson hasn't been seen since her mother went to the office early, around 3 a.m. Saturday, Richland County deputies say.
While investigators say there were no signs of foul play, they say her disappearance does not bear similarities with a typical runaway teen.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/23/3472842/search-for-missing-cheerleader.html
Search for missing cheerleader intensifies
::snipping2::
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has activated his major crimes unit – a team of veteran investigators, replacing the missing persons unit that initially handled the case. He said Wednesday he is highly concerned about the 15-year-old girl's vanishing with no trace.
"We've put our best people on this," Lott said in an interview. "We're going to work this like it's something bad, in hopes that it turns out to be something good."
Gabrielle hasn't been seen since her mother, Elvia Swainson, a single mom, left her in their two-story house at 221 Tamara Way alone on Saturday and went to work early, around 3 a.m., Richland County deputies said. Gabrielle is her only child.
When the mother came back shortly after 7 a.m. Saturday, she heard her daughter's alarm going off in her second-floor bedroom. But her daughter wasn't in the house.
Tara Swainson said that was the first time that Elvia Swainson had left her daughter alone in the house that early in the morning. "She and Gabbiee stayed up really late, watching movies, riding out a thunderstorm that night." Gabrielle was sleeping in her second-story bedroom when her mother left, Tara Swainson said.
"The one time she decides to go to the office in the wee hours of the morning, this tragic thing happens," Tara Swainson said. The mother went into the office to catch up on some back work she was worried about, she said.
The family's house, located in the 100-house North Crossing neighborhood, is within a mile of the Village at Sandhill mall. The neighborhood also backs up to the sprawling, mostly undeveloped Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development campus off Clemson Road.
Sheriff's investigators have combed the house for clues, canvassed the neighborhood, checked out nearby empty homes, talked to neighbors and Gabrielle's friends and conducted phone searches and social media searches, Lott said.
Gabrielle's purse and identification were still in the house. The only thing missing is her cellphone. There were no signs the Swainson house was broken into.
"Everything about this case concerns me," Lott said.
Lott declined to talk about the cellphone that Swainson was believed to have with her. Modern cellphones contain technology that enables law enforcement to locate the devices.
Lott did say, "There is nothing to indicate that she voluntarily left home."
For several days, Swainson's friends, classmates and church have handed out fliers, started Twitter alerts (#FindGabby and #FindGabs) and set up a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ findGabbiee.
Elvia Swainson has hired a private investigator, Chandra Cleveland-Jennings, who is a former member of the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Elvia Swainson could not be reached Wednesday.
Post by: melisb on August 23, 2012, 09:50:09 AM
Thank you Muffy!
Really, Really wanna know more about the cell phone! I rang through the first time and went straight to vm the second time. That does give LE some place to start triangulation! I do trust the Mom only a little because she did hire a PI. But...this is the first time ever working this time of morn so who could have been watching her at that time other than someone in her immed area? Not a soul unless she left on her own or Mom announced her plans to the wrong ears! Handyman had been in home helping with floors and things.
Sorry, some of my info came from last nights JVM.
http://www.cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ijvm.html
Post by: MuffyBee on August 23, 2012, 03:13:09 PM
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1208/22/ijvm.01.html
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL
Mom Hires Detective to Search for Missing Cheerleader, 15
Aired August 22, 2012 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
And tonight, was a beautiful young cheerleader snatched right from her home? Gabby Swainson`s mom came home early Saturday morning to her daughter`s alarm clock going off, only her daughter was nowhere to be found. Mom and police say she is not a runaway. We`re getting to the bottom of this mystery tonight with Gabby`s mom and her private eye. Live next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VELEZ-MITCHELL (voice-over): Tonight, the frantic search for a beautiful missing cheerleader. It`s a torturous mystery. Fifteen-year-old Gabrielle Swainson`s mom had to go to the office in the middle of the night. When she came home, Gabby was gone. No signs of forced entry. Only her cell phone missing. So what happened to this gorgeous teen? Tonight, I`ll talk live to her distraught mother and the private investigator she`s hired.
ELVIA SWAINSON, GABBY`S MOM: I believe she is still alive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hundreds of volunteers are going door to door.
SWAINSON: I have to bring my baby home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To make sure they recognize and remember this face of missing 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson.
SWAINSON: At this point, nothing. The phone is going to -- goes straight to voice mail.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The girl whose mother has no clue how her daughter vanished or where she is.
SWAINSON: I didn`t see on her bed -- and I panicked. I froze at that moment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She came home from work around 7 a.m. Saturday morning to Gabby`s alarm clock going off, but no Gabby.
SWAINSON: At night I can`t even sleep. I am driving around in my car, yelling her name out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Good evening. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell, coming to you live.
Tonight a frantic mom in South Carolina finds herself in the middle of a terrifying mystery. Where is her 15-year-old daughter? Elvia Swainson is my exclusive guest tonight.
When she left for work around 3:45 in the morning Saturday, her daughter Gabby was sound asleep in her bed. When Mom returned about four hours later, Gabby`s alarm clock was going off, but her bed was empty. Gabby had vanished without a trace. Everything she might need -- we`re talking clothes, purse, wallet -- were all left behind except for her cell phone. Police tell us there were no signs of forced entry, no signs of foul play at the home whatsoever. Neither Gabby`s mom nor police believe she ran away.
Here is Gabby on stage with her band. We`re going to show that to you in a moment.
So where is this beautiful teenager who was excited to begin her sophomore year of high school tomorrow? I want your thoughts. Help us out here. Call me: 1-877-JVM-SAYS, 1-877-586-7297.
Straight out to my exclusive guest, Elvia Swainson.
Elvia, thank you for joining us tonight. Our hearts go out to you. We want to be helpful. I cannot imagine what these last few days have been like for you. So let me begin with this question. What has this been like for you? What are you going through?
SWAINSON: I feel like I am in a -- still in a dream, actually, and I haven`t awakened from that dream yet. I am -- my heart is torn out. Everyone is telling me to continue to be strong, and I`m continuing to try to be strong every single day.
The only strength I can pull from this is from the good Lord above. He`s giving me the strength to continue to try to search for my daughter.
Every day is a new agenda, what strategies I can, you know, think of to get going and find my daughter and bring her home.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let`s jump into that. Let`s jump into that. You last saw your daughter Gabby early Saturday. You say you gave Gabby her cell phone before leaving for work at about 3:45 a.m. You told us Gabby`s alarm goes off every morning at 5:45.
So first of all, let me try to get a sense here. Where do you go at 3:45? You`re going to work Saturday. You come home at 7:30, and why would Gabby have her alarm set for 5:45, if that`s a Saturday? Is there a particular reason why she wanted to wake up that early on Saturday?
SWAINSON: I only believe that her alarm clock is set already. We normally -- sometimes we go to church on -- the first service at our church, which is at 7, and she does take an hour to get dressed. So I can only think -- the only think I can think of is that she may have gotten her days mixed up and had already set the alarm clock. Because she is not a procrastinator. She would do things way in advance. And so I don`t know if she purposely set it for Sunday, or if she mistakenly set it for Sunday morning.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. Now you and police agree, Gabby doesn`t fit the profile of a runaway, not in her behavior, her demeanor. Look, she had lots to look forward to. She just made the cheerleading squad, which, gosh, all you women who go for that want to -- that`s a huge victory.
She had her clothes, her backpack ready. She was excited to start her sophomore year. Tomorrow she was supposed to start. So my question to you: did she have any friends that you were concerned about? Did she have a boyfriend? Was there anybody else in the house? Can you hit all those questions? Because we want to -- we want to cover all the bases here.
SWAINSON: OK. No one else lives in the house. My daughter, I`m not sure -- I don`t believe she had a boyfriend. Well, let me just say that over. She does not have a boyfriend.
Recently, she was getting excited about a young guy who was interested in her. I know the young man from way back in the eighth grade. She knows him from way back in the eighth grade. And she was a little excited that he had shown some interest in her again. So that right there told me that, you know, she really did not have a boyfriend.
And the way Gabrielle and I communicate every day, we talk about things every day. I would have known if she had a boyfriend. Of course, we don`t know everything.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right, OK. And there was nobody else in the house?
SWAINSON: No, ma`am, there was no one else in the house.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. Now, I`m sorry. I`m just trying to move through a lot to try to be helpful, because we`ve got some experts here that we also want to go to and you have a private investigator. Let`s recap and review.
Gabby`s purse, her wallet, her credit cards, her phone charger, her keys, her clothes all found in her room. The only thing missing, her phone. Gabby`s phone is one of the ways to track her.
Now very quickly, my understanding is, Elvia, that the first time you called it rang, but then the second time it went to voice mail. Is that true?
SWAINSON: That is true.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. So...
SWAINSON: I called...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. Go ahead, I`m sorry.
SWAINSON: Yes. I called and as soon as...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Go ahead, I`m sorry.
SWAINSON: I called as soon as I realized or was trying to get my senses together as far as where she was. I immediately grabbed the phone and called, and it rang and rang, no answer. It might have rang about six to eight times. I`m not sure. I didn`t count. But after that, it hung up. And I tried it again two or three times afterwards, and it just went straight to voice mail.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. Hold on one second. T.J. Ward, private investigator, former police officer, what does that indicate to you? Because it`s one thing if it`s off from the get-go, but if it rings once a lot and then the next time you call it`s off, what does it signify?
T.J. WARD, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: Somebody has turned that phone off.
One of the good things that can happen here is law enforcement has the ability not only to do a triangulation of that phone and can pinpoint where that phone is or last calls are, but they can also go in and pull any voice mails, any text messages and get all that. That needs to be done very quickly, because it takes time to compile that information with phone carriers. So it`s real important to do that.
And apparently, they did get on this rather quickly, the mother did, and incorporated the private investigator to try to follow up and make sure that`s done.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, Chandra Cleveland-Jennings, you`re -- again, this is an exclusive interview. You`re the private investigator hired by Elvia Swainson. My question: set the stage here in terms of the apartment. Was the door locked when -- when Mrs. Swainson left, presumably she locked the door. I don`t want to assume anything. On the way back from work, did she find the door locked or open?
CHANDRA CLEVELAND-JENNINGS, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: Well, Jane, first of all, thank you for having us to get this national attention to get the word out about Gabby.
But as we go by habit. We take our keys and put it in the door and unlock the door, not knowing if the door was opened or if it was locked. And that`s exactly what Elvia did on that morning of coming back, was turning the key in the lock and opening the door. So we can`t say whether it was already unlocked or if it was opened or what, but that`s what happened on the day of return.
And you also asked earlier about the alarm clock. The alarm clock just wasn`t set for that day at 5:45 a.m. Because we knew that it went off at that time only because the following morning it went off again.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, OK. It`s one of those that go -- OK, I want to bring in Wendy Murphy, former prosecutor, law professor at New England Law, Boston. What do you make of it?
WENDY MURPHY, LAW PROFESSOR: Well, you know, if I had a nickel for every time we covered a story where something nefarious happened between 3 and 6 in the morning. I mean, it`s just extraordinary, isn`t it?
I think that police probably know a lot more than they`re letting the public know about. I have no doubt that, if she`s had any online relationships and/or conversations with people about whom the police are interested, that they know that.
If she did leave on her own -- I mean, the mom wakes her up at 3:45 in the morning to give her her cell phone back. So she`s awake at 3:45 in the morning. Did she talk to anybody? Did she text anybody? Did she call anybody? Did she go -- did she stay awake or did she go back to bed? I`m like to ask Mrs. Swainson.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, yes, Elvia, let`s address that. Was she asleep when you left for work at 3:45 in the morning? Or was she -- did you wake her up to give her her cell phone at 3:45?
SWAINSON: At 3:45 in the morning, I gave -- I shook her, "Gabby, Gabby, here`s the phone. I`m about to run off to work." She`s groggy. She`s turning over. She takes the phone, and she goes back to sleep. So completely being awake...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. I`m going to ask you -- I`m going to ask you to pause one second. We want to get through all this. We`re going to take a brief break, and we`re going to take calls from our viewers and we`re going to continue to investigate. Stay right there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`d like to introduce you to our band now. We have Gabby on guitar and vocals.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Gabby Swainson, a budding star there in the denim jacket singing. Beautiful young lady. Just made the cheerleading squad. About to start school -- school tomorrow, 15 years old. And she vanished right from her bed. Her mom went to work on Saturday morning, came back and her precious daughter`s gone. We`re trying to figure out what happened to Gabby.
Let`s go to the phone lines. Shawna, Massachusetts. Your question or thought? Shawna.
CALLER: Yes, hi, Jane. My question is that the mother was -- she had to go to the office at 3:45 in the morning. What kind of work does the mother do and what kind of office would you be going to at 3:45 in the morning?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. Elvia, you want to clarify all of that?
SWAINSON: Yes. My normal work hours is 8 to 5 p.m., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I -- sometimes we have projects that we have to get completed by a certain date.
On this particular time I did have a project that I had to get completed by Wednesday. I thought about it. Sometimes it`s not just me but other co-workers. Sometimes we go in the office a little early just to get things caught up. And that was what my plan was Saturday morning, was to get up, go ahead and get the project completed so that I could enjoy the rest of the weekend with my daughter. So this is actually -- I work for an insurance company.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Oh, wow, OK. And now, let me just ask you about giving your daughter the cell phone at 3:45 a.m. Why did you have the cell phone? We`re just trying to paint a picture so we understand sort of the whole scene. You had her cell phone, and then you`re leaving for work very early in the morning. And you woke her up and said, "Here`s a cell phone." And then she went back to sleep or how did that work?
SWAINSON: Well, Gabrielle and I have, you know, agreed on me getting her phone back every night by about 8:30, and this is just a time management type of thing, because sometimes the teenagers will stay on the phone a little longer than they need to, continue texting a little longer than they need to. And this was just a time management type of thing that I was working on with her that, yes, I will allow you to be on your cell phone, but you have to have a cutoff time. I`ve always been strict on that.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. All right. I think you`ve answered that. And I just want to continue, because we want to -- we want to solve this and help you find your daughter.
Ten years ago Elizabeth Smart`s parents endured the same nightmare that you`re going through. Elizabeth was actually snatched from her bedroom.
Now, their prayers were answered. Elizabeth was found alive, safe and sound nine months after someone who had done yard work for the family abducted her from her bedroom.
And so Elvia, I want to ask you, because there`s different types of abductions. And we pray that your daughter is found safe and sound, as was Elizabeth. But has there been anybody in your life, anybody hanging around, doing yard work, for example, or a friend that you feel like, I`m not so sure about this person? Maybe they had a drug problem or an alcohol problem or they`re just behaving strangely? Anybody like that?
SWAINSON: Well, I do have a close friend that was helping me with some remodeling in my house. That`s about...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: A male?
SWAINSON: I don`t have a -- yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Is this a male? OK, this -- you had a male who was helping around the house. Explain that. And Chandra, if you`d like to take it, go ahead.
CLEVELAND-JENNINGS: Yes, I would like to. Yes, it was just a friend that was helping her with some odds and ends of repairing a floor that had water damage. And they became friends, and that`s about it, that we know and have the information on him.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Have police interviewed him?
CLEVELAND-JENNINGS: Yes, they have, but we can`t share that information with you from their interview.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Interesting. We`re going to take a brief break, take more calls. And we`re going to get to the bottom of this, if we can. We want to find this beautiful, beautiful girl.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going to introduce you to our band now. We have Gabby on guitar.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: There`s 15-year-old Gabby in the denim jacket singing. She`s talented, she`s just made the cheerleading squad, about to start school tomorrow, except we can`t find her. We don`t know where she is. We have an exclusive interview tonight with her very, very frantic mother, who has hired a private investigator to try to find her beautiful daughter.
Let`s go out to the phone lines. Valerie, in Georgia. Your thought or question, Valerie?
CALLER: Hi. I want to just ask the mom, are you aware how many social sites she`s actually on and perhaps she met someone online that is aware of her whereabouts. Because a lot of times if you put pictures up online, Google has a way where you can zoom in to the pictures to get the exact address where you are. And...
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Unbelievable. Great question. Elvia, do you want to address that?
SWAINSON: I`m not aware about Google doing anything as far as giving addresses out.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, was she on social media? Was she on social media?
CLEVELAND-JENNINGS: Right, I can answer that for you, Jane. I can answer that for you, because that`s exactly what my priority of getting started in the investigation. And I did a cell-phone forensic on all of her social media pages, from her Twitter to her Tumblr to her Facebook and to her e-mail account. I was able to rule out any recent activity except with one person that she had a crush on recently that most of her texts came from.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Who is that? I mean, I don`t want a name, but is that a young man? And have police talked to him? Briefly. We`re almost out of time.
CLEVELAND-JENNINGS: Yes, we have spoken to him. He`s ruled out as anything done. And that`s the same young man we mentioned earlier. But all her social media and all the contacts in it have been contacted by me. By me.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Elvia, we only have a couple of seconds. If your daughter Gabby is watching, what would you like to say to her?
SWAINSON: I would like to say, Gabby, I love you. You know I do. I don`t think this is something that you did on your own. I don`t think you would have done this at all. I believe you. I love you. God is with you. All the church members, all the community, everybody is pouring out their love to you. We want to see you back alive and well. I don`t think that`s anything impossible for God to do and, therefore, I believe you are coming home soon.
Whoever is watching, anybody that`s watching, if you know anything, have seen my daughter, please contact my private investigator, Chandra Jennings, or contact the police department, Richland County Police Department.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And we also have -- I want to say we have a number on the screen, Elvia, 1-888-CRIME-SC. So please, or just call 911. If you know something, reach out immediately. We want to help this mother find her precious, beautiful daughter.
Our hearts go out to you, Elvia. We`ll stay on top of this. If you get any information, please let us know immediately. We will bring it to our viewers. Thank you, and our hearts are with you.
Post by: grace-land on August 25, 2012, 12:08:52 AM
http://www.thestate.com/2012/08/24/2410793/fbi-joins-missing-teen-case.html
Friday, Aug. 24, 2012
FBI joins search for missing teen
FBI agents and analysts as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have joined the intensified search for missing 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson in northeast Richland County.
When she vanished, Gabrielle was apparently dressed only in pajamas and was clutching her iPhone. All her clothes, her purse and wallet with identification was still in the house. Police won't comment on any locater signals they may have received from her GPS-equipped cell phone.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has sent a consultant. By federal law, the Center can get certain information from various databases more quickly than local law enforcement, Lott said.
That group and the FBI "bring capabilities we don't have," Lott said.
Police increasingly think the vanished teen was abducted.
On Friday, Elvia Swainson took Gabrielle to her weekly guitar lesson, then to a store to get her nails done. Then, Swainson drove Gabrielle to the Village at Sandhill mall, where Gabrielle met a young man she'd known since the eighth grade at Dent Middle School. It was a coming-of-age moment, since Swainson had not been allowing Gabrielle to date.
"I said, 'I will allow you to hang out with him, and meet me in front of Belks.' So I came back within the hour, they were both sitting in front of Belks with their little doggie bags of going to the Asian Bowl to eat. I took her friend home and then we came home," Swainson said.
Post by: Nut44x4 on August 25, 2012, 10:48:54 AM
She is beautiful!
Post by: klaasend on August 25, 2012, 11:36:22 AM
http://www.facebook.com/findGabbiee/photos (http://www.facebook.com/findGabbiee/photos)
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/311777_177596069041569_2119143878_n.jpg)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/gabrielle-swainson-fbi-joins-search-missing-south-carolina/story?id=17078903#.UDq6OaDBnIU
Missing Cheerleader Left Purse, Wallet in Bedroom
Although there were no signs of foul play, investigators believe the teen's disappearance was not voluntary.
"Her purse was still there with her charger for her phone in it and all the ingredients of her purse like her wallet and her credit card, everything is still there," said Chandra Cleveland-Jennings, a private investigator hired by Swainson.
Cleveland-Jennings said there has been no activity on the teen's phone since her disappearance. Police have not said whether they have been able to locate a signal.
Gabrielle missed the first day of her sophomore year of high school on Thursday at Ridge View High School, where she had just made the junior varsity cheerleading squad.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2193728/Gabrielle-Swainson-missing-Desperate-search-teenage-cheerleader-vanished-bedroom.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Desperate search for teenage cheerleader who vanished from her bedroom in middle of the night
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/26/article-2193728-14B1F109000005DC-285_634x470.jpg)
More photos and a video at link.
Post by: grace-land on August 26, 2012, 11:32:56 PM
http://lexington-sc.patch.com/articles/swainson-update-as-you-go-to-church-say-a-special-prayer-for-gabbiee
Swainson Update: 'As You Go to Church, Say a Special Prayer for Gabbiee'
The search continues for the missing 15-year-old. Here's what has happened so far.
10:44 pm (August 26, 2012)
Recap of the search so far:
Swainson was reported missing on the morning of Aug. 18 when her mother returned home to find the girl missing. Her cell phone was gone, but her purse and clothes were still there.
On Aug. 20, search groups from her high school, Ridge View High School, organized in Spring Valley to look for the missing girl. By the end of that day, the Twitter hashtags #FindGabby and #FindGabs were trending among local teens as they used social media to get her photo out.
By Aug. 21 the search groups turned to handing out flyers. At this point, investigators said that there was no evidence to support foul play.
On Aug. 22, the search moved from Spring Valley to Broad River Road on the other side of Columbia.
Hearts stopped on Aug. 23 when the body of a female was found in Northeast Columbia. It was later determined not to be Swainson. A prayer vigil was held that night at her church. Marty Martin, principal of Ridge View High School, described Swainson as an exceptional student who was involved in many activities and always followed the rules.
Then on Aug. 24, a $6,000 reward was offered by community members for information leading to the recovery of Swainson.
On Aug. 25, investigators said they now suspect that Swainson did not leave on her own. Foul play is suspected.
http://www.thestate.com/2012/08/27/2414131/search-for-missing-teen-largest.html
Search for missing teen largest in years
The investigation into the disappearance of 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson has expanded into one of the Richland County Sheriff's Department's largest and most intensive searches in years.
More than 40 county and federal law agents are now on the case full time, Sheriff Leon Lott said Sunday night.
The agents include a behavioral scientist from the FBI's famed psychological unit at Quantico, Va., Lott said.
A major reason that so many law officers are on the case is that it was completely out of character for Gabrielle to disappear. A good student, she was studying guitar and voice, went to church regularly with her mother and was a member of the Ridge View junior varsity cheerleading squad.
Although law officers fear an abduction, Lott said Sunday night, "We remain hopeful that we will find Gabbiee alive."
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has also sent a consultant to work with Lott's department.
Swainson family members could not be reached for comment
http://www.wistv.com/story/19374438/foul-play-suspected-in-teens-disappearance (http://www.wistv.com/story/19374438/foul-play-suspected-in-teens-disappearance)
Investigators suspect foul play in teen's disappearance
Posted: Aug 25, 2012 7:10 AM PDT Updated: Aug 27, 2012 5:15 AM PDT
By Jack Kuenzie - email
RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) -
Investigators say they suspect a teen who has been missing for nine days did not take off on her own.
15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson disappeared on August 18. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott thinks she was abducted.
"I don't feel like she left on her own," said Lott. "And that's why we've put so much on this case. I don't feel like she left on her own. This is totally out of character for her. This is not the type of girl that would leave on her own, so that's why we're treating it as we are."
(http://wistv.images.worldnow.com/images/19374438_BG1.jpg)
http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=793102
The search continues for missing Columbia teen
Posted: 08.26.2012 at 8:28 PM
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Richland County investigators spent Sunday afternoon looking for missing teenager Gabbiee Swainson.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department CAT team combed through an area in Elgin. A department spokesman confirmed to WACH FOX News the search was releated to the Swainson case, but wouldn't go into specifics about what they were looking for.
Post by: Amys Sister on August 27, 2012, 01:58:55 PM
From what has been reported it seems perhaps the teen was woken by her abductor. She kept the phone with her, perhaps hiding it. Later her mother tried calling her. The abductor then realized Gabiee had the phone because it was ringing and he immediately turned it off.
She was reported missing on the 18th and it took until the 25th before LE stated they suspect foul play. Hopefully they did not wait that long to utilize valuable resources in locating this promising young lady.
Elvia, her mother, did everything right in raising her daughter. Healthy limits, lots of love and support. I pray that her daughter is brought back to her mother's loving arms.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
According to this map, if LE is searching the Elgin area, they are searching about 7 miles from where Gabiee and Elvia live.
IMO this is likely where the phone triangulated and not necessarily where Gabiee is now however if I am correct it is a good clue as to where she was initially taken or the direction they were going at the time.
http://goo.gl/maps/nv0Zj
This is the link for the map from her home to Elgin. ::MonkeyWink::
Thanks, Amys Sister! Agree...the phone probably triangulated in the Elgin area.
http://www.thestate.com/2012/08/27/2414834/news-conference-on-missing-teen.html
News conference on missing teen set for Tuesday
The Richland County Sheriff's Department has scheduled a news conference Tuesday to discuss the case of a missing 15-year-old from Northeast Richland.
The investigation into the disappearance of Gabrielle Swainson has expanded into one of the Richland County Sheriff's Department's largest and most intensive searches in years.
More than 40 county and federal law agents, including the FBI, are involved with the case, the Sheriff's Department said this weekend.
Tuesday's news conference is expected to discuss where the investigation stands, though no other details were available Monday.
http://springvalley.patch.com/articles/day-10-prayer-vigil-set-for-gabrielle-swainson
Day 10: Prayer Vigil Set for Gabrielle Swainson
5:00 am (August 27, 2012)
A prayer vigil for Gabrielle Swainson has been set for 7 p.m. Monday night at International Praise Church of God in Elgin, according to the Help Us Find Gabbiee Facebook page.
Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012
Lott to lay out case of missing teen today
Editor's note: For live video of Richland County Sheriff's Leon Lott's news conference, check back starting about 9:30 a.m.
The community may learn more about what happened to 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson today, when Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott holds a morning news conference.
Lott said he will lay out the case and what has been done thus far in the search for the Northeast Richland teen. But he declined Monday to release any new information, saying investigators were continuing to look for her and had not given up hope that she might be found alive.
Post by: Amys Sister on August 28, 2012, 02:16:21 AM
I wonder if the perp attended their church? The church is in Eglin which is the same place LE were searching.
I also wonder if the man who helped with repairs around Elvia's house attended their church?
Maybe there were knocks at the door and Gabrielle knew and trusted the person and opened the door to them.
Lott: We have not found Gabbiee, but suspect is in jail + live video
Update: Sheriff Leon Lott said at a news conference this morning that the department has not found missing Northeast Columbia teen Gabrielle Swainson, but a man, Freddi Gant, is accused of taking the girl to Elgin. He is in custody.
Gant is described by Lott as a family acquaintance who has been uncooperative with investigators from the start of the search.
http://twitter.com/reachphillips
5m Noelle Phillips@ReachPhillips
Cops looking into possible connection between Freddie Grant and another missing teen reported in Sept in Elgin.
Man arrested for kidnapping in case of missing teen. Freddie Grant has been arrested and us Lexington Co Detention Center.
Post by: cookie on August 28, 2012, 12:07:58 PM
Beautiful girl. I hope that she is found. Her mother must be suffering so much...
Post by: sassifrass on August 28, 2012, 12:28:39 PM
http://www.wltx.com/news/crimestoppers/article/199418/28/Man-Arrested-for-Kidnapping-Gabbiee-Swainson (http://www.wltx.com/news/crimestoppers/article/199418/28/Man-Arrested-for-Kidnapping-Gabbiee-Swainson)
Freddie Grant Arrested in Kidnapping of Gabbiee Swainson
11:49 AM, Aug 28, 2012
Officers say they were able to eventually find evidence linking Grant to the case, and they arrested him Sunday.
Lott says investigators have found blood on duct tape that matches Gabbiee's at Grant's home, and they've recovered other DNA evidence linking the suspect to the disappearance. In addition, GPS tracking from her cell phone also led investigators to the location.
"The cell phone was able to be track, where we can show when it left the house, the route they took, and where he ended up at," Lott said.
Officers now say they're focusing their search efforts for Gabbiee at a junk yard near Grant's home, with more than 100 officers at that location.
"We're looking to find Gabbiee to bring her home," Lott said. "Our hope and prayers is that she's going to be recovered, she's going to be fine."
Lott say Grant had been at the home hours earlier cutting grass. He says they believe he took the girl shortly after her mother went to work overnight.
Lott describes the man as a career criminal with multiple arrests on his record. "He's just overall a bad guy," Lott said.
The sheriff said he also may be connected to another missing person's case: the disappearance of 29-year-old Adrianna Laster of Elgin. She hasn't been seen since September of last year, and Lott says she was last known to have been with Grant.
(http://www.wltx.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/120828114012_freddie-grant.jpg)
Thank you for the update Sassi. I had hoped for better news, but at this point, it appears at least the person responsible has been arrested. I hope Gabrielle can be found and brought home soon. Very sad. ::MonkeyNoNo::
Video of news conference at link
http://www.wistv.com/story/19395228/freddie-grant-also-being-questioned-in-disappearance-of-fl-woman
Freddie Grant also being questioned in disappearance of FL woman
Posted: Aug 28, 2012 9:42 AM CDT Updated: Aug 28, 2012 10:39 AM CDT
The man accused of kidnapping 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson is also being questioned in the disappearance of a 28-year-old woman in September.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said Tuesday that Freddie Grant, 52, was last seen with Adriana Diana Laster on September 3 in Elgin.
Title: Re: Gabrielle "Gabby" Swainson 15, Missing from SC Home 8/18/12(ARREST)
http://springvalley.patch.com/articles/sister-suspect-gabbiee-swainson-s-mom-lived-together
Sister: Suspect, Gabbiee Swainson's Mom Lived Together
Freddie Grant's sister says her brother and Gabbiee Swainson's mom have been dating for some time.
The sister of Freddie Grant, the 52-year-old man at the center of the investigation into the disappearance of 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson, didn't have much to say.
Cynthia Grant sat in a chair Tuesday morning in her front yard, near her brother's Elgin home with search parties looking for Swainson's body in a home, junkyard and surrounding woods.
Cynthia Grant said her brother and Elvia Swainson, Gabbiee's mom, have been dating for some time. She said Grant has been living with the Swainson's for the past year.
Post by: KittyMom on August 28, 2012, 01:31:37 PM
Quote from: grace-land on August 28, 2012, 12:56:18 PM
BBM - 'Cause that's where I'd be as folks were out searching for my brother's common-law stepdaughter's body. ::MonkeyRoll::
How are people so unconcerned?
He had a home so I doubt he was living with Elvia. If they were dating he may have stayed there but I'm seriously doubting that he lived there as his sister states.
I feel for Gabiee's mother and pray that she does not let guilt take the wheel but stays strong in her faith and love of God.
He absolutely should get the death sentence for this.
Post by: melisb on August 28, 2012, 03:01:45 PM
One story said he was over cutting the grass earlier in the day so is this the handyman Mom was talking about. I guess mom kept their relationship on the dl if there was one. I was wondering how someone would know if Mom was home or not. Creepo seems to have stayed the night or Mom talked intimately with him enough to share her plans for working in the wee hours. If that was her BF can you image the guilt she is going to go through. I would skin him alive. Before LE got to him!!!!
Title: Re: Gabrielle "Gabbiee" Swainson 15, Missing from SC Home 8/18/12(ARREST)
Two-page article
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20120828/APN/1208280587?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar
Man accused of abducting missing Columbia teen
Published: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 5:54 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 5:54 p.m.
Freddie Grant., 52, was uncooperative when investigators first asked him if he knew where Swainson was and hadn't been any more helpful since he was charged with kidnapping on Monday.
Investigators began questioning the family and anyone who knew the girl. Grant was an obvious target because he was a convicted felon and deputies became even more suspicious when he refused to cooperate, Lott said.
Bullets were found in his home, leading to a federal weapons charge. That led to more searches, which uncovered his DNA and Gabbiee's DNA on duct tape with blood on it found near his house, the sheriff said.
Cell phone records show Grant was near Swainson's home around the time she disappeared and both of them appeared to end up at Grant's home, the sheriff said.
Grant is being held without bail at the Lexington County jail. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer.
Post by: spayneuteryourpets on August 28, 2012, 11:31:55 PM
So sad. I wonder why the authorities think she may still be alive. Or have they changed their minds. Does anyone here believe she may be still alive?
joan+20
http://www.wistv.com/story/19394728/lott-announces-arrest-in-gabbiee-swainsons-disappearance?page=2&N=L
On the 2nd page of this article it states that LE does not know how Grant knew that Gabbiee's Mom would be at work then. Maybe she did tell him in gen convo but doesn't remember it yet orrrrr was he hidden in the home by coinkydink and gonna take her that day anyhoo orrrrr does he have this poor girls room monitored by cam somehow? Doesn't sound like he had stayed the night orrrr maybe he did and Mom made him leave at the same time and they just haven't released all that info yet! Color me confucious and how I do hope he has poor Gabbiee put up for later use and she can come home safe! In reality....I don't believe she is still with us. What a good young lady!
Quote from: melisb on August 28, 2012, 11:48:00 PM
ditto ::MonkeyNoNo::
Quote from: spayneuteryourpets on August 28, 2012, 11:31:55 PM
Sad to say, but no. I think she's gone. ::MonkeyNoNo::
http://www.wistv.com/story/19405338/missing-teens-mother-believes-shes-still-alive
Missing teen's mother believes she's still alive
Posted: Aug 29, 2012 7:50 AM CDT Updated: Aug 29, 2012 9:17 AM CDT
Hours after Sheriff Leon Lott announced the arrest of a man accused of kidnapping her daughter, Elvia Swainson is holding out hope that her only child will be found safe.
Grant was Swainson's boyfriend, according to authorities. Grant's sister said the two had an "on again, off again" relationship.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/199528/2/Search-to-Continue-for-Signs-of-Gabbiee-
Search Continues for Signs of Gabbiee Swainson
2:02 AM, Aug 29, 2012
Despite a lack of cooperation, investigators say they've been able to piece together some of what happened through forensic evidence. Lott says there were no signs of forced entry at the home, and officers believe he took the girl against her will shortly after the girl's mother left for work in the middle of the night.
Investigators say the GPS in the girl's cell phone showed the path they took from her home, and that it led to Grant's residence
This does not look good. ::MonkeyNoNo::
http://www.thestate.com/2012/08/29/2416650/monster-charged-with-kidnapping.html
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012
'Monster' charged with kidnapping missing teen
FBI continuing to search Elgin, where girl's DNA found in suspect's home
A man described as a monster and a career criminal forced 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson from her home in the wee hours of the night on Aug. 18 and took her to his burned out house on a dirt lane in Elgin, authorities said Tuesday.
What happened in that house is unknown, but there is clear evidence of foul play, Sheriff Leon Lott said.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/199613/2/News-Conference-Thursday-in-Gabbiee-Swainson-Case
Town In Shock Over Missing Teen Case
Elgin, SC (WLTX) -- Sheriff Leon Lott will have another news conference Thursday morning on the disappearance of 15-year-old Gabbie Swainson.
Lott said Tuesday the girl was kidnapped from her home back on August 18. His officers arrested 52-year-old Freddie Grant (the boyfriend of Swainson's mother) on criminal charges, but say they haven't found Gabbiee.
Lott's remarks are set to begin at 10 a.m.
http://springvalley.patch.com/articles/gabrielle-swainson-search-sheriff-searches-for-grant-s-employers
Gabbiee Swainson Update: Sheriff Searches for Accused Kidnapper's Employers
Sheriff Leon Lott will update the public on the search for Gabrielle Swainson on Thursday.
6:08 pm (August 29, 2012)
Investigators are looking into the behavior of Freddie Grant, the man accused of kidnapping Gabrielle Swainson after bloody duct tape was found in his home, but they need your help.
A press release sent out Wednesday afternoon asked that anyone who may have hired Grant as a landscaper or handyman come forward.
"Those he worked for may have valuable information on Grant's behaviors, habits, tendencies or places he frequented," the release stated.
The "very complex" investigation has led officials to comb through forensic evidence and canvass the communities where Swainson might be, according to the press release.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/199697/2/Lott-We-Have-Not-Found-Gabbiee
Sherff Leon Lott: 'We Have Not Found Gabbiee Swainson"
Richland County, SC (WLTX) - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott updated the search for 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson Thursday, saying his officers still have not found the girl.
Lott made his statements at a news conference Thursday morning, where he admitted he's frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the suspect, 52-year-old Freddie Grant.
"I'm appealing to him, monster that he is...for God's sake tell us where she is," Lott said. "He can stop the pain and the tears in Gabbiee's mother's eyes. He's the one who can do that."
He said Grant has refused to talk, and will only allow investigators to speak to his public defender. Despite the setback, Lott said his officers are doing everything they can on their own to find her.
"We continue to operate that Gabbiee is alive and well, and we have to find her," Lott said.
To that end, Lott released a photograph of the pajamas they believe Gabbiee may have been wearing when she was taken. He also told reporters that Grant was driving a 1992 Ford Escort that was light blue in color, that they think he used when he took the girl. Lott said his officers have that vehicle in custody, but they're asking anyone to come forward that may have seen it driving around the area on the days since Gabbiee was reported missing.
Post by: cw618 on August 30, 2012, 02:01:31 PM
putting up the area of search
you can see the junk yard top of map
Kelly Lane
http://goo.gl/maps/oJM7p
Deputies also continued to collect evidence at Grant's home along Kelly Lane
Grant's brick house sits amid a dozen other houses and mobile homes on a dirt lane.
The house burned several years ago, but Grant continued to live there off and on,
several neighbors said.
He had electricity and running water, although the house had broken windows and charr marks
on the roof and wooden trim.
Isaac Hovers Over Gulf Coast
JIM MORET, HOST: Good evening. I`m Jim Moret from "Inside Edition," filling in for my friend Jane Velez-Mitchell.
Plus, shocking new details revealed in the case of missing teen Gabby Swainson. Cops charge a 52-year-old man, who recently did some work in the family home, with the teen`s kidnapping. Is this the same man her mom called a close friend on this very show? Are there more victims out there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The biggest nightmare that you can ever have as a parent.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe she is still alive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hundreds of volunteers are going door to door. Missing 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson --
SHERIFF LEON LOTT, RICHLAND COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: We do know who is responsible for kidnapping her from her house (inaudible)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn`t see her on her bed. And I panicked, I froze at that moment.
LOTT: A monster came in that morning.
MORET: Chilling new developments in the disappearance of a 15-year- old girl who police say was abducted right out of her South Carolina home. They have arrested a suspect, a career criminal, but the girl is still missing.
Gabby Swainson vanished in the early morning hours of Saturday August 18th. Her mom left Gabby asleep in her bed while she went to work for a few hours. When she returned then, the bed, she said, was empty. Police say that gabby was abducted by a career criminal named Freddie Grant. He was a family friend.
Investigators say he initially raised suspicions when he was completely uncooperative with the search for Gabby.
LEON: We can say for certainty that Gabby left the home that morning, with Grant. Grant took her to his house. We have found blood on duct tape. We haven`t determined yet how he got into the house. He was there earlier that day on Friday evening. Cutting the grass and doing yard work.
MORET: Gabby`s mom was a guest on this very show last week. Days before Grant`s arrest, Jane wondered if Gabby may have been kidnapped by somebody that the family knows.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Has there been anyone in your life, anybody hanging around, doing yard work for example, or a friend that you feel like, I`m not so is sure about this person.
SYLVIA SWAINSON, MISSING TEEN`S MOTHER: Well, I do have a close friend that was helping me with some remodelling in my house.
MORET: Joe Gomez, investigative reporter with KRLD in Dallas; what`s the latest that you can bring us?
GOMEZ: Well, Jim, this is a very chilling story, you know. This 52- year-old yard hand that apparently the family knew, according to police staked out the house, knew exactly when 15-year-old Gabby was going to be alone. That he went into the house, this is according to police, kidnapped her and then took her to his place.
Now it`s been over 10 days, we still haven`t found Gabby. But what`s very terrifying about this Jim is they found pieces of duct tape inside this man`s home with blood on it. Yes, that`s right, duct tape with blood on it. Furthermore, investigators are now looking at a junkyard right across from this person`s home. It`s terrifying, truly Jim.
MORET: Holly Hughes, criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor in Atlanta, this is yet another case where there`s a suspect in custody that knew the victim and that`s often what police look for, isn`t it?
HUGHES: Absolutely because this young lady, she`s 15, she`s old enough to know better than to just go off with a stranger. This is somebody who lulled her into a false sense of security. For all we know, he just knocked on the door and said can I come in and get a drink of water, this young woman would have known to trust him because he had been around.
MORET: Nancy Grace will have much more on this case in just a few minutes. Join Nancy at the top of the hour, 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1208/29/ng.01.html
NANCY GRACE
Gabrielle Swenson, 15-year-old, Found Missing by her Mother from her Bed
Aired August 29, 2012 - 20:00:00 ET
NANCY GRACE, HLN HOST: Breaking news tonight, live, South Carolina, a 15- year-old high school cheerleader, Ridges View High, asleep in her home bedroom when mom happens to check on her at 3:00 a.m. I have done that, have you? At 7:30, she`s gone. Gabbiee is gone, never seen again.
Bombshell tonight. Investigators are certain they have rock solid evidence, Gabbiee did not leave home willingly. Tonight, who snatched Gabbiee from her own bedroom. And tonight, where`s the cheerleader, 15- year-old Gabrielle?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the disappearance of that 15-year-old teenager, cheer leader named Gabrielle Swenson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She has not found yet. We are still actively looking for her and hope to be able to return her home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If anybody does see her or know her whereabouts, I am pleading for you to come forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Mrs. Swenson said she came home from work, 15-year- old Gabrielle was not in her room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn`t see her in her bed and I panicked, I froze.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gabrielle`s bed was empty, he was gone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She didn`t take her keys or her purse, the only thing missing is her cell phone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The phone is going straight to voicemail.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her purse, her wallet, her credit card, everything is still there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did this high school cheerleader vanish without a trace.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a mother`s worst fear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want you to come home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She doesn`t believe there was anything going on that would have caused her daughter to run away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No clue to how her daughter vanished or where she is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bring my baby home, I believe she is still alive.
GRACE: Good evening. I`m Nancy Grace. I want to thank you for being with us.
Bombshell tonight, live from South Carolina. A 15-year-old high school cheerleader, Ridges View High, asleep in her own bedroom when her mom happens to check on her at 3:00 a.m. I done that in the middle of the night. I happen to wake up. I check on the twins.
7:30 a.m. This is just a couple of hours later, Gabbiee is gone, never to be seen again. Tonight, our sources are telling that inside the investigation that they are certain that they, the police have rock solid evidence Gabbiee did not leave home willingly. She was snatched out of her bed from her own bedroom.
Tonight, where`s the cheerleader? Where is 15-year-old Gabrielle? Now, to all of you parents listening tonight, you think it will never happen to you. I wake up also during the night. Again, when I check on John David and Lucy. They are fine. I look out on the back door. I check the windows. Everything is fine.
That is what this mother did at 3:00 a.m. She was awake. She happened to be up. She checked her child. She was sound asleep. Everything was fine. Can you imagine when mom goes in her room at 7:00 a.m., just a few hours later and the child is gone.
Now, a lot of people may think, oh, she ran away. She did not run away, because police are telling us tonight they have got rock solid evidence, Gabrielle was taken against her will out of her home there in suburban Columbia, South Carolina.
We are taking your calls. I`m going to go straight out to Faye Alexander. She`s the news director at WIS.
Faye, thank you for being with us. When she first realized her daughter was missing, what if anything, did she do?
FAYE ALEXANDER, NEW DIRECTOR, NEWS TALK 1320 WIS (via phone): Nancy, thank you for having me on. Of course as a mother, she went into panic mode. She started going to neighbors, asking if they had seen her and immediately contacted law enforcement.
GRACE: Faye Alexander, I don`t know if you`re a mom or not. But, I can`t imagine me running up and down the street, or knocking an apartment to apartment, saying hey, hey, have you seen John David and Lucy? I`m just imagining that scenario is making my chest hurt, Faye.
ALEXANDER: Exactly. I cannot even fathom the situation, so my heart absolutely breaks for this mother.
GRACE: You know, you just saw shots. They have been out canvassing the area with this flyer calling everybody running literally. The mom out running from door to door to door.
Faye Alexander, if we know, where`s the dad, the biological dad in this scenario?
ALEXANDER: Biological dad actually lived in Virginia, he`s not exactly involved with Gabbiee`s life, but we know that he made a trip from Virginia to Columbia, to cooperate with law enforcement. He`s made a statement saying that, you know, this is horrible for him, he wants Gabbiee home.
GRACE: Everyone, speaking of law enforcement, we are taking your calls live, in the hopes of any tip, any help in finding this 15-year-old cheerleader that was literally snatched out of her own bed.
In this case, everybody`s always second guessing, armchair quarterbacking the police. They have done everything right this time.
Joining me is Sheriff Leon Lott, he is the Richmond county sheriff.
Sheriff, thank you for being with us.
LEON LOTT, RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF: Thank you for having me on your show.
GRACE: You know Sheriff, a lot of times it`s hard for people to fathom, somebody that comes in your house, you know nothing about it, you are there. You don`t hear them, you don`t see them, you sleep through the night, you are burglarized, things are taken. In this case a child is missing. One reason, I didn`t find this so hard to believe that when I was living in inner city Atlanta. I was asleep upstairs. Somebody came downstairs in my apartment, and stole my bike. Road in through the kitchen window, locked kitchen window, got in across the sink and stole my bike while I was asleep upstairs. It does happen, sheriff.
Now, according to our sources, you believe Gabbiee is not a run away. You believe she was taken forcibly and I want to hear just that evidence. I don`t want to go off on a tangent, what is the evidence in the home that leads you to believe she was taken forcibly?
LOTT: Well, it`s totally out of her character. She left, she was taken, somebody took her -- she was kidnapped. She did not leave on her own. In fact that she was in her pajamas. She left her shoes. She didn`t take any personal items that were taken with her.
The only thing that is missing was the phone that her mother placed in her hand when she left. The mother actually was going to work and do some work and left her there for a period of time because Gabbiee`s mother is mother, someone who is rest of her life. And for her to go to work at this time of night, allowed her to be able to spend more time with Gabbiee in the daytime when she needed to be there with her. She left her, locked the house, made sure Gabbiee was OK, and then she returned, a parent`s worst nightmare, Gabbiee was not there.
GRACE: You know, sheriff Leon Lott is with us, everyone. He is also taking your calls. And will cooperate with your calls as much as he can without harming or jeopardizing the investigation.
That`s one thing that a lot of people have been asking, sheriff, I know, that for instance, when the twins go to sleep, I work. I work when they were asleep. I do everything around the house when they`re asleep, so I don`t rob them and myself of our time together. Now this mom, what did she do for a living, sheriff?
LOTT: She worked for blue cross blue shield and he was processing claims, and for her to go in, again, was nothing abnormal, that`s what she would do, as a concerned mother, to spend time with her daughter. She would take those hours when the daughter would be asleep to go to work, to get something done. So, she wouldn`t have to be gone in the daytime.
So, this was something that she had done in the past, and she always made sure that Gabbiee was there. Gabbiee was safe. Gabbiee had a phone, in case there`s an emergency. The house was locked and she left. And when she came back Gabbiee was gone. There was no force entry into the house, but, Gabbiee was missing.
And as I stated previously, as any parent would be, she went frantic. She started calling family friends, just looking for her in the community and then she realized that Gabbiee was gone and she called law enforcement and got us involved at that point.
GRACE: Unleash the lawyers, Mickey Sherman, Randy Kessler. I also want to bring in Wendy Walsh, psychologist.
Guys, this is not a legal question yet. Mickey, you`re a father, OK. Can you even imagine, I don`t know what you went through, raising your children, because they`re older than mine are, mine are only 4 1/2 right now, but with the hours lawyers work, I have to turn somersaults to work at night while they`re asleep. Can you imagine this mom routinely goes in, she works at blue cross, blue shield, She has a job for quite a while, Mickey. She`ll go in, in the middle of the night after she gets Gabbiee to sleep and process files, goes to paperwork. All those claims people file, she goes in and processes them in the middle of the night so she will be there when Gabbiee gets home from school. Can you imagine that, Mickey?
MICKEY SHERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Not only is she blameless, she`s done everything right plus some. And this is a model mother , a model worker, someone whose work harder for the best effort of her daughter. And to have this happened is amazing.
What I don`t understand though, and I`m not trying to be the defense guy necessarily here is, how do you reconcile the fact that there`s no proof of anybody breaking an evidence of tumult in the building yet the law enforcement folks feel like it`s not a voluntary absenteeism of this young lady.
GRACE: Well, this is what I know, Mick. And that was one of my first question, too. I said was there a break n was there forced entry, was there blood on the screen, was there scrapple? They`re not revealing what they see in the home. But they are telling me point blank, Mickey Sherman, that they have rock solid evidence that she was forced out of the home wearing her pajamas.
COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to bring my baby home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To make sure they recognize and remember this face of missing 15-year-old Gabrielle Swenson.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At this point, nothing. The phone is going to straight to voicemail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Her cell phone was gone, but more alarming, her purse and wallet were left behind suggesting her disappearance was not voluntary.
It`s a mother`s worst fear, Elva Swenson says she came home from work on Saturday for her 15-year-old daughter Gabrielle was not in her room. With the help of school and family in town helped with the search, Swenson has now turn to the public for help. A search party posted flyers around their northeast Columbia neighborhood, for signs of Gabbiee.
Swenson describes her daughter as a good student, a cheerleader at Ridgeview high school. She doesn`t think there was anything going on that would cause her daughter to run away. While friends and families search the street, others have turned to social media sites like face book and twitter using the #findGabbiee, hoping that the large online communities will turn out clues.
But Ridgeview starting school is wait and hopes for worst fears of the mother who soon be put to rest so she can wrap her arms around her daughter.
GRACE: Can you imagine, you happen to wake up. You check your child at 3:00 a.m., everything`s fine, she`s asleep, dead to the world. 7:00 a.m., she`s gone. Your child is gone.
We are taking your calls, out to Pete in Orlando. Hi, Pete, what`s your question?
PETE, CALLER, ORLANDO: Hey, Nancy, I just want to tell you, something doesn`t smell right. I mean, why would a mom go to work at 3:30 a.m. in the morning? I would never leave my baby girl alone, I don`t care how, something doesn`t seem right.
GRACE: OK. Hold Pete in Orlando, you know, Pete, everybody may not have it as good as you, all right? I don`t like leaving my children at night. All right, to come and anchor, I don`t like that. But that is my job. That`s what`s going to put them through school, OK?
So everybody may not have a nine to five, that`s just the way it is. My father worked the night trick as he called it, the night shift. He was gone practically every night. And it`s not like that.
And I want to go out to Victoria Taft, talk show host, joining me from KTAN.
Victoria, not everybody is so lucky to have a 9:00 to 5:00, so am I going I going to indict a woman because she goes to work in the middle of the night so she can spend the daytime hours with her child. Now, I`m not faulting Pete in Orlando.
Pete, don`t get me wrong because I asked the same question to start with. Go ahead, Victoria.
VICTORIA TAFT, RADIO SHOW HOST: Well, it is an amazing that with you, any number of things to accommodate our children`s schedule. And in this case, there`s every reason to believe that the mother is telling the truth. And indeed, she woke her daughter up, placed her own cell phone, the child`s cell phone back in her hand, because as the good mother that she is, she did not allow her child to text after 8:30 at night.
So because she was leaving, to be able to do some paper work that she was not able to accomplish during her regular eight-hour day, she left the cell phone in her daughter`s hand, text me if you need anything, honey, and she went to work. And when she --
GRACE: We are taking your - I`m sorry. I`m sorry, Victoria. I thought you were through.
Out to Janet in Florida. Hi, Janet, what`s your question?
JANET, CALLER, FLORIDA: Hi, Nancy, I love your show.
GRACE: Thank you.
JANET: I was wondering, are there any surveillance cameras in the neighborhood and have they checked her social media? I mean, she probably has all of her facebook and twitter.
GRACE: You know, good idea. Sheriff Leon Lott is with us. He is the elected sheriff there, and he is also is taking your call in the search for 15-year-old cheerleader who literarily vanishes out of her bed. She was snatched from her home. And they are convincing me that is what happened.
Sheriff, can you answer that question?
LOTT: Right, the first one I would like to though, is the previous caller about something being wrong with Gabbiee`s mother leaving. She`s a single parent and she wanted to spent all the time she could with her daughter and I applaud her for going in, in the middle of the night to do some work to make sure her daughter is OK when she left, so she could spend time with her.
So there`s nothing abnormal or fishy or mad about that whatsoever. As far as we -- we have checked surveillance cameras, social media, we deviled into Gabbiee`s life completely. And I checked everything that you can imagine to check.
If this had been a very intense investigation, we didn`t just do it ourselves, we asked for help. The FBI child`s abduction and rapid deployment team, was quickly sent to us. We have personnel, equipment, the technology, we pulled it all in here, we wanted to make sure that we had anything that we need.
GRACE: Hey, sheriff, let me ask you a question, we`re getting a ton of e- mails right now. We`re showing a full screen showing her PJs, her iphone, but also some bedroom shoes, some black and white slip ones. Did she leave behind or does she take those with her?
LOTT: She left all behind. She did not have any single item she left.
GRACE: So, she lays with nothing but her PJs, her iphone. She didn`t even have any shoes on. And isn`t it true Sheriff Leon Lott that the mom had cooperated fully, correct?
LOTT: So, her mother is a great mother. I mean, my heart goes out to her so much, to watch her doing this whole problem that we have had here trying to find Gabbiee, and her mother`s just been great. She`s worked with us. She`s went beyond the call that most parents would probably do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now I can`t even believe that I`m going through this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A cheerleader at Ridgeview High school. Elva Swenson says she came home from work and her 15-year-old Gabrielle was not in her room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I immediately called her phone and called and it rang, and rang, no answer and it just went straight to voicemail.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did 15-year-ol, Gabrielle Swenson her daughter seemingly disappear without a trace?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: St night, I can`t even sleep. I am driving around in my car yelling her name out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Drives in the summit are getting stopped for this flyer of a girl whose mother has no clue how her daughter vanished or where she is. Elva Swenson says, she came home from work around 7:00 tomorrow morning to Gabbiee`s alarm clock going off, but no Gabbiee. She says her daughter would never run away from home.
GRACE: We are taking your calls. There are a lot of naysayers. But this child was absolutely snatched out of her bedroom.
Out to the lines, Pam, North Dakota. Hi, dear. What`s your question?
PAM, CALLER, NORTH DAKOTA: Hi, Nancy. I have been following the story on social media. I`m so happy you`re covering this on your show, you could really make a difference. I really want to know where her father is.
GRACE: You know, I think the father is living out of state.
Out to Ellie Jostad, what do we know about the dad? And when we say out of state? How far away is he? Is he within driving distance?
ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER (via phone): Yes, Nancy. He`s within driving distance. We understand that the parents are divorced. The father, it`s not clear how much involvement he has in the life of Gabrielle, but he lives in Virginia. He has traveled there since her disappearance.
BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the mystery involving that 15-year-old cheerleader, Gabrielle Swenson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re still actively looking for her, and hoping to be able to return her home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If anybody does see her or know her whereabouts, I am pleading for them to come forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elva Swenson says she came home work, her 15-year-old daughter Gabrielle was not in her room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn`t see in her bed. And I panicked, I roach.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gabrielle`s bed was empty, she was gone.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: She didn`t take her keys, or her purse, the only thing missing is her cell phone.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything in her purse, like her wallet, her credit cards, everything is still there.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Why did this high school cheerleader vanished without a trace?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: It`s a mother`s worst fear.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Hundreds of volunteers are going door to door.
NANCY GRACE, HLN HOST: I am hearing in my ear right now, we are getting a development regarding a neighbor or a family friend that has been extremely uncooperative with police.
Ellie, what -- Ellie, what are we hearing about the neighbor, uncooperative with police?
ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE CHIEF EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Right, Nancy. This is actually a family friend, his name is Freddie Grant. Police say that he first aroused suspicion when they attempted to contact him and question him just as someone who`s acquainted with the family and they said he was immediately, from the outset, uncooperative with police. That of course caused them to look into him a little further. They say now that they do have evidence that he may have entered the home that morning.
GRACE: Unleash the lawyers, Becca Crumrine, Mickey Sherman, Randy Kessler.
So if that -- you know, you always tell me, Kessler. You don`t have to talk to police, you don`t have to cooperate, but here, this is a real red flag to police when a family friend is suddenly uncooperative, he refused to talk to police. He refused to help them in any way, that`s what I`m hearing.
RANDY KESSLER, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, right, he`s not talking -- hopefully he`s talking to a lawyer. And if he does talk to a lawyer, the lawyer is going to say, if you`re innocent, let`s help figure out what happened. There are a lot of questions before he starts talking to police. If they`re going to accuse him, he might be guilty, he might not be guilty. But one thing you can do is open your mouth and confirm --
GRACE: OK. Look, Kessler, all we know right now is he`s so uncooperative, they`re actually taking him into custody.
Because, Becca Crumrine, why would an innocent neighbor act out in such a way when they`re just being questioned about, hey, did you hear anything, did you see anything, and nuts up on them?
GRACE: Right there it raises a red flag, right in front of the bull.
BECCA CRUMRINE, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY: It simply doesn`t make any sense. That doesn`t -- that doesn`t add up. There`s a child that`s missing clearly he`s -- if he`s a family friend, if he`s been in the neighborhood, clearly he should tell them what`s going on regardless of whether he`s lawyered up or not.
GRACE: Out to the lines, William, Ohio. Hi, William. What`s your question?
WILLIAM, CALLER FROM OHIO: Hi, Nancy. I just wanted to say, first of all, I loved you on "Dancing with the Stars" and I really wish you were on the all-star show.
GRACE: Thank you. Thank you very much. I`m proud to say I did get invited to do the Vegas show. The twins did not want to go the Vegas.
What`s your question about this case?
WILLIAM: Have investigators looked for sex offenders in the neighborhood?
GRACE: Excellent question. I want to go to Sheriff Leon Lott, elected sheriff.
Sheriff, I know the neighbor or the family friend is overshadowing everything else right now. But I assume you guys did look at the sex offender registry in that neighborhood, right, Sheriff?
SHERIFF LEON LOTT, RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF`S DEPARTMENT: That`s correct. That`s one of the first things that we looked at, or anyone else that has a criminal background in that immediate area.
GRACE: Sheriff, if you can divulge this, what did this guy do when you first approached him?
LOTT: Asked for an attorney as soon as we asked if he knew anything about Gabbie, he immediately said, I`m not talking, I want to speak to an attorney.
GRACE: That`s not right.
LOTT: That`s just not something you would expect from someone who`s a family friend.
GRACE: Now how is he connected to the family? What`s the relationship?
LOTT: He is an acquaintance of Gabbie`s mother, he actually does yard work for them and had cut their grass that Friday afternoon.
GRACE: Is he a boyfriend?
LOTT: No, acquaintance, she`s not saying he`s a boyfriend. He`s an acquaintance and a family friend. He knew Gabbie also.
GRACE: So he was cutting the grass, what the day before? Is that what you said?
LOTT: Right. Friday evening and she went missing on -- early that Saturday morning. That late afternoon on Friday he was there at the house and then was doing yard work.
GRACE: Would he have had a key, Sheriff?
LOTT: We haven`t determined that at this point. If he had a key or if he ever got access to a key.
GRACE: Or would he have known, Sheriff, where like if they had an extra key where it was hidden?
LOTT: Again, we haven`t determined how he entered the house.
GRACE: Sheriff, we`re also hearing reports that blood has been found on duct tape. What --
LOTT: That`s correct.
GRACE: What was -- where was the duct tape?
LOTT: The duct tape was found at Mr. Grant`s house and it has Gabbie`s blood, her DNA has been matched and we have her DNA in some other places inside his residence, along with tracking the cell phone. We have been able to place the cell phone leading Gabbie`s house and going to Mr. Grant`s house.
GRACE: Everyone, we are just getting information in that duct tape has been found in the -- I guess I`m just going to say, the yard guy`s home. He had been cutting the grass for Gabbie`s mom that Friday afternoon. That Friday night, really it`s like 3:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, she`s OK, she`s in her bed, 7:00 a.m., she`s gone.
Out to the lines, Mel in Florida, hi, Mel, what`s your question?
MEL, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: Hi, Nancy. I`m wondering, does this guy have any pre --crimes that he committed before with sex with children? I mean she`s only 15 years old. And my second question is, do you think she could still be alive?
GRACE: I think that she absolutely could still be alive, but I believe just in my anecdotal experience, not based on statistics, that if they have found duct tape with blood on it, that she is dead.
Now you would think -- out to Wendy Walsh, psychologist, a family friend would not kill the girl, but if he is faced with a live witness, I could see him killing, just so there wouldn`t be a witness.
WENDY WALSH, PH.D., PSYCHOLOGIST AND CO-HOST OF "THE DOCTORS": Yes, we`re talking about a career criminal here, Nancy. This is a guy with a long record of violent crimes, of drug possession, drug dealing. This is a guy who knows the ins and outs of the legal system and the penal system. So he`s going to do what he can to keep out of jail again, and that means hiding evidence like a body.
GRACE: To Dr. Gwenn O`Keefe, physician joining me out of Boston.
Dr. O`Keefe, blood on a duct tape. What else can we learn?
DR. GWENN O`KEEFE, M.D., PEDIATRICIAN, FOUNDER & CEO, PEDIATRICSNOW.COM: Well, from the duct tape alone, Nancy, we might be able to learn where it was from, if it was from, you know, her private parts, for example, there might be, you know, evidence of semen or vaginal fluid.
We might be able to learn if she struggled or if he was, we might find, you know, evidence of his DNA in her DNA, and we might be able to just, you know, learn where it occurred. Perhaps there were evidence of her bedroom fibers, for example. But we might not learn a lot either, so all it does is raise a lot of questions at this point.
GRACE: Well, another -- you just triggered something in my mind, Dr. Gwenn O`Keefe.
To Lisa Lockwood, former police detective, author of "Undercover Angel," this is leading me to another scenario, maybe this is explaining why they don`t find evidence of a struggle, if this is a family friend and you say to a 15-year-old, look, your mom`s had a car crash, come with me right now, don`t get your stuff, we got to go right now, I could see her going willingly and getting in his car. What about that, Lockwood?
LISA LOCKWOOD, FORMER POLICE DETECTIVE: Exactly, because that`s when the police had determined obviously when they got to the scene, that it wasn`t forcible, that there wasn`t a scuffle, there wasn`t overturned furniture, all the normal things that you would look with someone enters a home and attempts a kidnapping or some kind of other grave danger that they plan on committing on the scene.
So therefore you have an individual who`s a friend of the family, she -- exactly what you said, she probably was enticed from the home and then taken to his residence and we`re starting to find out what may have happened at that point.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: It`s a mother`s worst fear. Elva Swenson says she same home from work on Saturday but her 15-year-old daughter Gabrielle was not in her room.
With a house full of family in town to help with the search, Swenson has not turned to the public for help. And a search party posted flyers around their northeast Columbia neighborhood for signs of Gabbie.
Swenson describes her daughter as a good student, a cheerleader at Ridgeview High School. She doesn`t believe there was anything going on that would have caused her daughter to run away. While friends and family search the streets, others have turned to social media sites like Faebook and Twitter using the hash tag, findgabbie, hoping that the large online communities will turn up clues.
With Ridgeview starting school, Miss Swenson hopes her worst fears as a mother will soon be put to rest so she can wrap her arms around her daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Drivers in the summit are getting stopped for this flyer of a girl whose mother has no clue how her daughter vanished or where she is.
Elva Swenson says she came home from work around 7:00 Saturday morning to Gabbie`s alarm clock going off. But no Gabbie.
GRACE: We are taking your calls. A 15-year-old girl is sound asleep. She`s a cheerleader there at Ridgeview High. Her mom happened to be up, checks on her, everything`s fine, the house is quiet. 7:00 a.m., her little girl is gone.
In the last moments, we are learning that a family friend is now under intense questioning. This man, Freddie Grant, was cutting their grass, he had done yard work for them in the past. Cutting their grass that Friday afternoon, it was around 3:00 a.m. that evening, that night. Gabbie was fine, Gabrielle asleep, soundly in her bed, 7:00 a.m., she`s gone.
Out to the lines, out to Evan, hi, Evan, what`s your question?
EVAN, CALLER FROM KENTUCKY: Hey, Nancy, this story just scares the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of me. I mean I`ve got a 13-year-old daughter who I have people cutting my lawn who could just come in. I mean what can we do to protect ourselves? I mean was this guy in love with her? Was this someone who had access to the house? I mean how do --
GRACE: Well, I can tell you this, Evan in Kentucky, there was no forced entry, that says to me, and I`m on the outside looking in, that this guy, if he`s the right guy, he`s under questioning right now, knew where the spare key was -- another thing, Evan, you can get a home alarm system installed for like $99 that covers your door and your windows. It costs more to be monitored by police or by an agency, but that sets off an alarm when someone opens one of those doors.
You know, when I`m at home with the twins, I have the alarm on. Absolutely have the alarm on, even if I`m there. Those are two ideas. But there are so many more. For instance, surveillance cameras, when people see a surveillance camera whether it`s running or not, and I advise that it does run, that in itself prevents break-ins.
Also when intruders see a sign like a security sign or a sticker on your windows, that prevents break-ins much kidnaps. And another thing now that you asked, Evan in Kentucky. Children must be schooled, teenagers must be schooled about what to do if they`re asked to leave, or to go with someone. Now in this case, to Sheriff Leon Lott, he is the elected sheriff in Richland County, who`s leading this investigation.
The girl, Gabbie, the little cheerleader, she know this is guy, right? So is there a chance she would have trusted him if he said look, your mom`s had a car crash, we`ve got to go right now. She sent me over here to get you.
LOTT: That`s a possibility, but we don`t think -- we think that he went in and forced her. That we think he forcibly kidnapped and abducted her.
GRACE: Why is it, Sheriff, that you think that?
LOTT: Just some of the physical evidence, forensic evidence that we`ve been able to find. And also his history. Once we delved into his history, it`s been -- it`s been scary to find out what kind of monster he`s been for many, many years.
GRACE: What is his criminal history, Sheriff?
LOTT: He served time for kidnapping, numerous assaults, he has violence toward women, numerous drug charges, he`s just an overall bad guy and this is someone that if a mother knew what his background was, you would never have someone like that around your child.
GRACE: Liz, look at those people, look at those family and friends out in the street. Did you see that? They`re out in the street, stopping traffic. Asking people if they have seen Gabbie.
Can you imagine being out in the street, flagging down cars, looking for your child? Stopping cars as they`re going by, going look, look, look for this girl, look for my girl.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now I can`t even believe I`m going through this. I cannot believe I`m going through this right now. Just imagine your child going missing and you know nothing about how that happened. Just imagine that. No, I did not expect to start school like this, did not expect to even start my weekend like that.
GRACE: OK, the updates are coming fast and furious. There is now -- and I`m reading the wire to you right now. It`s actually an arrest. This guy is no longer just being questioned. There is an arrest.
Ellie, I was just speaking to Sheriff Leon Lott about this guy`s criminal history. Give me in detail what do we know.
JOSTAD: Well, Nancy, he`s got a record going back to 1988, as Sheriff Lott said, he`s got charges for aggravated assault, numerous drug and drug trafficking charges. I`m talking cocaine, crack cocaine charges, selling and trafficking those drugs. He`s also got domestic violence charges. Most recently, just last year, just last summer, he`s got a bunch of other just sort of garden variety charges.
As long as my arm here, you know, just for things like shoplifting, not paying child support, driving under suspended license. But obviously the most serious charges on there and Sheriff Lott says he`s also been convicted of kidnapping. But we also see these aggravated assault charges, resisting police and the domestic violence.
GRACE: You know, out to you, Mickey, you always say that, OK, because they`ve got a shoplifting or a DUI, that doesn`t mean -- that`s no indication of violent crime. A lot of people disagree with you and say, you graduate to violent crime. This guy actually has a violent crime already in that history.
MICKEY SHERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AUTHOR OF "HOW CAN YOU DEFEND THOSE PEOPLE?": And I have to concede that. Usually everyone thinks that the guy has got a criminal record for something he`s going to launch into another type of crime. Here apparently he has an actual pedigree for this type of a crime.
And one thing I want to mention is, there`s no discussions going on with police with this guy right now. Once he said, I want to talk to lawyer, end of discussion. That`s it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I called as soon as I realized or was trying to get my senses together as far as where she was. I immediately grabbed the phone.
GRACE: Sheriff Leon Lott, I`m getting inundated, overwhelmed, with calls that tipping our show off, that the mom, Gabbie`s mom, and this guy have been dating for some time. Is that true?
LOTT: That relationship hasn`t been described that way to us. It`s more of an acquaintance than it was a girlfriend and boyfriend. Family friend and acquaintance.
GRACE: And you know, another thing, out to the lawyers, Becca Crumrine, Mickey Sherman, Randy Kessler. I mean the reality is, whether she had dated him or not doesn`t make any difference to me, except, Randy Kessler, in my mind, if they ever had dated, it would make it even worse, not for the mothers. But for him. Because that means she trusted him even more.
LOTT: Right. And what do you do to stop that? I mean are we going to get to the point where you do a background check on your new boyfriend or girlfriend?
GRACE: Yes.
LOTT: Maybe so. It`s easy to do. Maybe so. I mean as far as this guy -- I mean his has got arrows against him. He`s got --
GRACE: He`s got what?
LOTT: He`s got to speak talking to the police and I`m glad he stopped.
GRACE: OK. Update, he hasn`t been talking to police. That`s what flagged him as a suspicious to start with.
Out to the lines. Out to Jason. Hi, Jason, what`s your question?
JASON, CALLER: Hi, Nancy. I`m hoping that she`s found soon.
GRACE: Me too.
CALLER: And my question is has any of the family members or maybe friends taking a polygraph.
GRACE: Good question. To Faye Alexander, news director at WIS, any polygraphs? Satellite down?
Ellie, any polygraphs?
JOSTAD: Not that we know of, Nancy.
GRACE: Everyone, tip line, 1-888-CRIME-SC. There is a $6,000 reward as the search for Gabbie goes on.
Heart wrenching torture for Gabbiiee's mom. ::MonkeyNoNo:: Grant must be trying to hold out telling where he put Gabbiiee to make some kind of deal. JMHO
http://www.thestate.com/2012/08/30/2419053/lott-suspects-holds-the-key-to.html#.UEC2mqDBnIU
Kidnapping suspect passed out fliers, helped look for missing teen
Richland County Sheriff: Grant 'holds the key' to finding out Gabrielle's whereabouts
The man accused of kidnapping missing teen Gabrielle Swainson put his cellphone number on a missing person's flier and walked the streets with the teen's family in the early search, Sheriff Leon Lott said.
"That makes me sick to my stomach to watch that and know he was part of that," Lott said during a Thursday press conference.
Authorities still have not located the girl after 12 days of intense searching that has involved the FBI, the Richland County Sheriff's Department and several other state and local agencies. Lott said there are two investigations going on: One to find Gabrielle and one to build a case against Grant. He said they are holding out hope that Gabrielle can be found alive.
Grant has been held in the Lexington County Detention Center since Sunday, when he was arrested on a federal weapons charge. Federal prisoners in the Midlands are held in Lexington County.
While executing an Aug. 21 search warrant at Grant's house in Elgin, investigators found 12 gauge shotgun shells and .38-caliber hollow point bullets in the house. Grant was forbidden to possess guns or ammunition because of a previous conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Grant also served a sentence 30 years ago at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for aggravated assault and kidnapping, according to military records.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department on Monday obtained a warrant for Grant's arrest for kidnapping after finding Gabrielle's DNA in his home and duct tape with her blood on it in the vicinity of his home, Lott said. He also said investigators traced Gabrielle's cell phone to his house, but the phone has not been found.
Lott urged Grant to tell police where they can find Gabrielle.
"He holds the key," Lott said. "He's the one who can stop those tears from Gabrielle's mother and stop the pain her in heart."
Grant and his attorney sent a letter to investigators asking them to no longer contact Grant, Lott said.
In the U.S. criminal justice system, suspects are not obligated to talk to police, and investigators cannot force someone to answer their questions, Lott said.
Lott also said Grant most likely was driving a light blue 1992 Ford Escort the morning Gabrielle was abducted. Police have the car but said people who saw the it in the early morning hours of Aug. 18 should call them.
People eager to help have tried to organize search parties, but Lott asked that they must coordinate with law enforcement because inexperienced people could hinder the investigation.
Lott also said investigators want anyone who may have hired or worked with Grant as a landscaper or handyman to call. Police are trying to piece together his habits and places he was known to frequent.
"Grant and his attorney sent a letter to investigators asking them to no longer contact Grant, Lott said.
In the U.S. criminal justice system, suspects are not obligated to talk to police, and investigators cannot force someone to answer their questions, Lott said."
There must be a better way when a child is missing to balance the rights of the victim and the rights of the suspect.
I wonder if there were a five point system of evidence (both physical and circumstatial), ie... we have blood evidence w/ the victims DNA at the suspects home, phone tracking, suspect was seen at the scene hours earlier, he knows the victim, and priors with the same M.O. (kidnapping and assault).... should we then change our laws and force a suspect to talk?
What if she's alive somewhere and slowly dying? Shouldn't that possibility take precedence?
It is said that we have the best justice system in the world yet our jails are more full than any other country in the world, we have very high violent crime rates vs. other countries with economies and governing bodies similar to ours, and many of our predators are released into society. I'm beginning to think that legislators, Judges, and parole boards need to update the laws and systems to meet the modern and increasing crimes of abduction, sexual exploitation, and missing children.
Sorry for the soapbox moment but darnit, we could be doing better.
I agree. Why do criminals have the right not to talk? I do think that all interviews should be videoed.
http://www.wltx.com/news/crimestoppers/article/199874/28/Sheriff-Blood-Found-in-Gabbiees-Bedroom-
Sheriff: Blood Found in Gabbiee Swainson's Bedroom
Richland County, SC (WLTX) - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said Friday that blood evidence was found in the bedroom of missing teenager Gabbiee Swainson.
Lott made the disclosure at a news conference updating developments in several crimes.
The sheriff also said Friday that duct tape with Swainson's hair on it was found in a junk yard near Grant's home in Elgin. Officers said earlier this week that they had been actively searching that area for clues.
According to the sheriff, signals received from Swainson's cell phone showed that her phone traveled from her home to Grant's residence the morning she was reported missing.
Post by: grace-land on September 01, 2012, 12:52:38 AM
Video at link
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/199904/2/New-Details-About-Man-Charged-with-Kidnapping-Missing-Teen?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge
New Details About Man Charged with Kidnapping Missing Teen
Elgin, SC (WLTX) -- Freddie Grant's run-ins with the law in Elgin date back to 2005, ranging from driving issues and failing to pay child support, to criminal domestic violence and assault and battery.
Grant, 52, is charged with kidnapping missing Columbia teen Gabbiee Swainson.
Post by: cw618 on September 01, 2012, 11:46:25 AM
Saturday, Sep. 01, 2012
Teen's blood in suspect's home
Bloody duct tape points at Grant
Suspect's defense attorney asks for gag order in case
By NOELLE PHILLIPS - nophillips@thestate.com
Missing teen Gabrielle Swainson's blood and hair were stuck to used duct tape found in the home
of the man charged with kidnapping her, Sheriff Leon Lott said Friday.
Investigators found blood in Gabrielle's bedroom in her home on Tamara Way in Northeast
Richland after she was reported missing, Lott said. And, more used duct tape with Gabrielle's
blood on it was discovered in a former auto junkyard near the suspect's house in Elgin.
Meanwhile Friday, the defense attorney for the man accused of kidnapping Gabrielle Swainson
has asked a judge to impose a gag order in the case, saying it is necessary to protect her
client's right to a fair trial.
Grant's attorney, Fielding Pringle, has declined comment in the case.
But in her motion filed Thursday at the Richland County courthouse, she asked a
judge to prohibit "extra-judicial statements." She said 136 news articles on the
Swainson case can be found online and she is gathering those stories to build her
case for the gag order. She also said she was collecting comments posted by the
public on those online news stories.
Grant also has been named as a person of interest in two other law enforcement investigations.
Elgin Police Chief Harold Brown is looking into Grant's connection to Dianna Laster, who was 28
when she was reported missing in March. She had lived with Grant, and he is believed to be one
of the last people to have seen her, Brown said.
And Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews said Grant is a person of interest in an unsolved
homicide in October. In that case, 36-year-old Daniel Lee Wood was shot while standing in
a front yard of a Lugoff home. Matthews has not said how Grant and Wood may have known
each other.
http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/01/2421508/bloody-duct-tape-points-at-grant.html
http://www.thestate.com/2012/09/02/2422564/how-the-probe-search-unfolded.html
Sunday, Sep. 02, 2012
Teen Missing 2 Weeks
How the Gabrielle Swainson investigation, search unfolded
It has been two weeks since 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson was abducted from her mother's home in the wee hours of the morning. Since then, the Richland County Sheriff's Department has launched one of the most intense missing persons searches in its history.
A man who was close to the family has been charged with Gabrielle's kidnapping.
But Gabrielle has not been found.
Post by: grace-land on September 02, 2012, 08:23:24 PM
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/200095/2/Grants-Former-Pastor-I-Doubt-He-Is-Going-To-Talk
Grant's Former Pastor: "I Doubt He Is Going To Talk"
9:48 AM, Sep 2, 2012
On Saturday, Grant's former pastor from the Ft. Clark Baptist Church in Elgin, spoke to News19 about the suspect.
"Things started happening and then when his wife passed things went downhill," said William Woodard.
Woodard pastored from 1989 until 2009, and says he saw signs that something wasn't quite right with Grant.
"He seemed to be kind of quiet and reserved, he kept to himself," explained Woodard. "Then the next thing I know he was back in drugs and selling drugs, whatever the case may be, and he wasn't coming to church. Very infrequently did he come to church."
In 1991 and 1992 Grant was arrested and charged with the intent to use and distribute crack and cocaine.
When Woodard first heard Gabbiee was missing he was concerned and when he learned Grant was connected Woodard reflected on his past relationship with the suspect.
"To be honest with you not just him, but I started to look at people that I have known in the past that used drugs and seeing their life progressively going down. So it was not a complete surprise when I looked at it in that perspective.
http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19439983/community-gathers-to-pray-for-missing-teen
Suspect's phone number on missing teen fliers
Posted: Sep 02, 2012 3:35 PM CDT Updated: Sep 03, 2012 9:34 AM CDT
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Fliers posted in the search for a missing teen included the phone number of the man accused of kidnapping her.
15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson has been missing for more than two weeks. Two days after her disappearance, Swainson's mother distributed fliers with her daughter's photo.
One of the phone numbers listed on the flier belongs to Freddie Grant, who was charged last week with kidnapping in Gabbiee's disappearance.
A vigil was held Sunday night at the Elgin Town Hall for people to pray for Swainson.
As of Friday, investigators were still waiting on DNA forensic tests on items recovered from Grant's car.
"We haven't gotten those results back yet," said Lott.
The Sheriff's pleas for someone to come forward who might have hired Grant to do yard work or for anyone who may have seen Gabbiee in pajamas similar to these have gone unanswered.
"We haven't had any additional information," Lott said.
A judge could call a hearing this week on the defense's request for a gag order against Sheriff Leon Lott. The defense claims comments from the Sheriff are disturbing for Grant's case. It's not changed Lott's feelings that Grant holds the key to finding Gabbiee.
"Just tell someone where she's at," said Lott. "I don't care how you get that information to us just so we can know where she's at and bring some closure to her parents."
The Sheriff said Friday the community support has been great. This week they'll continue to try and piece together a timeline for Grant's whereabouts after Gabbiee disappeared.
There are still several hours they can't account for, and investigators hope someone may have seen Grant or his 1992 blue Ford Escort. As forensic evidence is completed, investigators hope it can fill in the rest of the puzzle leading them to Swainson.
Post by: cookie on September 04, 2012, 11:25:02 AM
again, a mother who brings a dangerous man into their household. again, another child who pays the price .....
Moms...please do background checks on men before letting them into your home around your children..too many nutters out there.
not judging this mom as I believe that she loves her daughter with all her heart, it is just that we see this happening more and more these days.
Post by: KittyMom on September 04, 2012, 05:39:19 PM
http://www.11alive.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1821772968001&odyssey=mod|tvideo|umbrella
Man charged in kidnapping helped search for teen
What a POS. He was passing out flyers with his phone number on them. ::MonkeyShocked::
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/09/04/police-blood-found-missing-cheerleaders-bedroom
Blood found in missing cheerleader's bedroom
updated 3:27 PM EDT, Tue September 04, 2012
Blood belonging to missing 15-year-old cheerleader Gabrielle "Gabbiee" Swainson was found in her bedroom, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said a press conference Friday afternoon.
"We found her blood on her bed and also somewhere else in her bedroom," Sheriff Lott told HLN's Nancy Grace. "There's no reason for her blood to be present like that."
Post by: cw618 on September 04, 2012, 06:52:36 PM
Dad of missing girl: 'This whole story don't make sense'
By HLNtv.com Staff
The father of Gabbiee Swainson, a missing cheerleader, speaks exclusively to HLN's Nancy Grace about his daughter's disappearance.
3:40 minute video
http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/09/04/missing-cheerleaders-dad-speaks-out
http://www.wistv.com/story/19455690/another-vigil-for-missing-teen-sheriff-to-give-update-on-investigation-wednesday
Another vigil for missing teen, Sheriff to give update on investigation Wednesday
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 6:14 PM CDT Updated: Sep 04, 2012 6:21 PM CDT
The community continues to rally around the family of missing teenager Gabbiee Swainson. Another vigil is being held for the 15-year-old in the Lake Carolina community Tuesday night.
Earlier Tuesday Gabbiee's mother, Elvia Swainson, said on the phone they were sitting down with the Sheriff's Office, talking about how the investigation moves forward. She doesn't want the community to forget or loose sight of the search for her daughter.
RIchland County Sheriff Leon Lott's will update us on the investigation Wednesday morning. We will stream the news conference live here on WISTV.com.
http://www.wistv.com/story/19461784/lott-grant-had-key-to-swainson-home
Lott: Grant had key to Swainson home
Posted: Sep 05, 2012 10:17 AM CDT Updated: Sep 05, 2012 10:19 AM CDT
As the days pass, the details about what may have happened to 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson continue to trickle into the public.
A day after speaking to Nancy Grace on her national show, Richland Sheriff Leon Lott spoke to the local media about the case Wednesday.
Lott said one of the questions many people have been asking is how 52-year-old Freddie Grant allegedly got into the Swainson home. The sheriff said that mystery was solved Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators found a key in Grant's home that opens the door to Elvia Swainson's home.
Lott said Swainson gave Grant the key several weeks ago when he was doing some flooring work in the home. According to the sheriff, Grant told Swainson that he lost the key. That was a lie, Lott said.
Post by: Northern Rose on September 05, 2012, 12:00:28 PM
Lott: This Key Opened the Door to Gabbiee Swainson's Home
Richland County, SC (WLTX) - Sheriff Leon Lott says he can now say how the man accused of kidnapping Gabbiee Swainson got in the home.
Lott updated the investigation into the disappearance of the 15-year-old at a Wednesday morning news conference.
Freddie Grant, 52, is charged with taking Swainson early on the morning of August 18th.
Since Grant's arrest, Lott said that Grant got into the home overnight without forced entry. Now, however, Lott said his officers have found the key they believe Grant used to get inside the home.
According to Lott, Grant had been given the key months earlier by Gabbiee's mom so he could do flooring work in the home. He'd told the mother, though, that he'd lost the key.
Lott said Wednesday that when investigators entered Grant's home, they found key on a ring hanging on a door right inside Grant's home.
Lott did say Grant and the girl's mother were dating, but that Grant was not living inside the home. According to the sheriff, they'd first dated almost five years ago, but the mother had broken off the relationship. However, around October of last year, Grant came back into her life.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/200549/2/Lott-This-Key-Opened-the-Door-to-Gabbiees-Home-
Post by: spayneuteryourpets on September 05, 2012, 03:53:08 PM
I would really like to know why LE is still hoping to find her alive. Is there something they aren't telling us?
Quote from: spayneuteryourpets on September 05, 2012, 03:53:08 PM
::HelloKitty:: Welcome!
They're probably not telling us everything; or they don't have enough evidence that she is not alive. Just some thoughts on this.
Post by: melisb on September 06, 2012, 09:46:12 AM
My heart tells me that they are only saying "hoping to find her alive" to appease the monster in the cell in hopes he might just say something. They might not wanna have him thinking murder/dp at the moment. They found blood in her room/bed. Don't know the amount and may be miniscule but this monster did not leave witnesses. Remember the missing GF? I wish I would be proven wrong and she is just locked in some room unfound but it's been so long and hot that I wonder if she could have survived this long if that is the case. Why aren't these sick freaks marked on their foreheads....if only....
Post by: Sister on September 06, 2012, 12:29:09 PM
Quote from: melisb on September 06, 2012, 09:46:12 AM
yes, if only . . .
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/200712/2/Gag-Order-Requested-in-Gabbiee-Case-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge
Gag Order Requested in Gabbiee Case
6:35 PM, Sep 6, 2012
Meanwhile, Grant's attorney, Fielding Pringle, says the sheriff is poisoning the jury pool and possibly jeopardizing Grant's ability to have a fair trial, and is requesting a gag order.
The original gag order motion was filed on August 30, with documents supporting the request for that order added days later. A judge will hear arguments Friday morning.
Pringle, who is Richland County's Chief Public Defender, wants the order placed on Lott and Solicitor Dan Johnson
The gag order hearing is set for 9 a.m.
Judge warns SC sheriff in missing teen case, but won't gag him
COLUMBIA — Circuit Court Judge DeAndrea Benjamin will not gag Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott from making statements about the suspected kidnapper of Gabrielle Swainson, a South Carolina teenager missing since Aug. 18.But the judge cautioned Lott and all law enforcement officials in the case they should limit their public statements to those "necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor's action and that serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose," according to an order issued by the judge Wednesday.
http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/09/12/4257856/judge-warns-sc-sheriff-in-missing.html
Post by: melisb on September 13, 2012, 12:03:35 PM
Well Mr. Kidnapper didn't get his way! I wish someone in that jail would get hold of him and make him talk!
Post by: MuffyBee on September 14, 2012, 09:02:15 PM
Police Convinced Missing South Carolina Cheerleader Alive
Aired September 13, 2012 - 20:00 ET
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Breaking news tonight. To South Carolina. A 15- year-old high school cheerleader, Ridge View High, asleep in her own bedroom when Mom happens to check on her 3:00 AM, 7:30 AM she`s gone, Gabbiee never seen again.
Stunning new leads emerge. And in the last hours, investigators now reaffirm they have evidence, rock solid, Gabbiee did not leave her home willingly.
Bombshell tonight. In the last hours, new details. Why do investigators believe Gabbiee is still alive? Tonight, we chase the leads. Where`s the cheerleader, 15-year-old Gabrielle?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s the worst situation that a parent could be in!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are still looking for Gabbiee. (INAUDIBLE) found her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fifty-two-year-old Freddie Grant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`s a monster.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A monster.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Been charged with kidnapping 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Snuck into her bedroom, snatched her up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He holds the key to finding Gabbiee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Blood in her bedroom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found her blood on her bed.
GRACE: Blood, her DNA, and her hair found on duct tape.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened after that is still a mystery.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s really a nightmare.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He holds the key.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: WIS reports Richland County sheriff Leon Lott would be willing to consider a plea deal for Freddie Grant in exchange for her location.
GRACE: Where is the cheerleader, 15-year-old Gabrielle?
Bombshell tonight. Live, South Carolina. A 15-year-old girl, high school cheerleader, Ridge View High, asleep in her own bedroom. Mom checks on her 3:00 AM, 7:30 Gabbiee`s gone.
Stunning new leads emerge in the last hours. Where is 15-year-old Gabrielle? Cops are telling us tonight they are sure she was taken by force. And now many with inside (SIC) the police department say Gabbiee is somewhere alive.
We are taking your calls. Straight out to Dave Mack, morning talk show host, Clear Channel WAAX. Dave, where are they getting the theory that Gabbiee is still alive? That is contrary to overwhelming child kidnap statistics.
DAVE MACK, CLEAR CHANNEL WAAX: Well, they`re getting the evidence because even though they`re trying to negotiate some type of a statement or -- from the suspect right now in the kidnapping, he`s not talking. And the defense attorneys are standing firm that they want to talk with him, but they`re going to have to negotiate a deal first. That`s why they think that maybe she`s still alive.
GRACE: Now, I don`t quite get the thinking because for all I know, the defense lawyers, such that they are, are claiming, yes, we got to have a deal in place before we talk to you. For all I know, that could mean, Before I tell you where her body is, Dave Mack.
MACK: You know, the police have long held that they -- they don`t believe that Gabbiee is gone. They believe she`s still with us. And obviously, they haven`t shared every piece of evidence that they have with everyone. So they`re just trying to figure out the best way they can to find that girl.
GRACE: So you`re using euphemisms. Are you trying to say that they don`t believe Gabbiee is dead? They think she is alive? Is that what you`re saying?
MACK: The police have specifically stated they don`t believe Gabbiee`s dead. They have said they believe -- they`re trying to find Gabbiee, and they`re doing everything they can 24/7 to find that girl. They`re not talking about finding a body, they`re talking about finding a girl.
GRACE: With me, joining us exclusively tonight, Gabbiee`s father joining me from Portsmouth, Alvin Thompson. Mr. Thompson, thank you for being with us. As you must know, there are millions of people thinking of and praying for your daughter. What are police saying that leads you to believe they believe she is alive?
ALVIN THOMPSON, GABRIELLE`S FATHER (via telephone): Well, the way I`ve been seeing it is the amount of blood found at the scene and all that stuff, they say it really don`t -- is not consistent with death, or whatever. So it`s a possibility that she is alive, and I hope she is.
GRACE: Well, it seems to me, then, Mr. Thompson -- with me is Gabbiee`s father -- if this guy, Freddie Grant, age 52 years old -- let`s see his picture, please, Liz. Freddie Grant was the guy that did yard work for the mom. He helped remodel her home. They had a brief relationship. He apparently lied about still having the family key to the home.
He had just cut their grass that Friday when Gabbiee goes missing in the middle of the night, sometime between 3:00 and 7:00 AM. He had the family key.
Have you ever hired this guy? Do you know this guy? Take a look at Freddie Grant, age 52.
So Alvin Thompson, under this scenario that police are saying they still think your little girl`s alive, if he took her, then where is she? And is she being held somewhere? The longer they keep him, she could be starving to death, for all I know.
THOMPSON: (INAUDIBLE) you`ve got to think about it another way, too. If he has her somewhere, he may have someone helping him and they -- someone may be feeding her. And I hope that is the case.
But still, you know, it`s still (INAUDIBLE) how he know she was there by herself at that time in the morning still yet. But I hope they do find Gabbiee alive and bring her on back home to us. But you know, it`s a possibility she still is alive. I don`t feel like she`s dead (INAUDIBLE) from my senses, I don`t feel like she`s gone myself.
GRACE: Why do you say that? What do you mean, Mr. Thompson, your senses tell you she`s still alive?
THOMPSON: I keep dreaming about her (INAUDIBLE) don`t normally dream about Gabbiee, but I keep dreaming about her and I keep seeing her. And it`s like she`s just calling me or something. So I don`t see her dead or anything, as far as that kind of calling. Seems like she`s just calling me, you know, when I be sleeping. It`s kind of getting like way (ph) to be too much.
GRACE: When you dream of her, Mr. Thompson, when you dream of your daughter and she`s calling you, what does she say?
THOMPSON: It`s like she`s looking at me and reaching out. She`s not really talking, but she`s, like, she`s reaching out for -- you know, reaching her hands for me to grab. The only one time I dreamed that she was in the water, and I saw her face in the water. But you know, the other dreams are like she`s just reaching out for me or whatever.
GRACE: Everyone, we are taking your calls. And with us, Gabbiee`s father. Out to Alisha in Kentucky. Hi, Alisha. What`s your question?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Nancy. My question is -- they said that they traced her call back to his house, but do they have her cell phone in their possession?
GRACE: I do not believe so. Let`s go to our chief editorial producer, Ellie Jostad joining us. Ellie, what do we know?
ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Nancy, they don`t physically have that iPhone. That phone -- the caller`s right, they did trace the phone going from Gabbiee`s house early that morning to the suspect`s home. But from there, as far as we know, the trail is cold.
GRACE: And Greg Kading joining us, former LAPD detective, author of "Murder Rap." Greg, tell me about the iPhone. You know, on the iPhones, you have that special feature where you can look at it and it shows you where you are on a map and basically lead you -- it`s like a GPS locator. So what would that reveal?
GREG KADING, FORMER LAPD DETECTIVE: Well, it depends, Nancy, on whether or not the phone is active. The phone has to be on in order for that technology to take place. If the phone is not on or if the battery is dead, it`s not really going to be very helpful under those circumstances.
GRACE: And tell me again, Ellie, did they get pings? Is it just pings? And I don`t mean to minimize just pings because pings show you where the phone has been. If the phone is turned on, you can get a ping. Now, Ellie, what do we have exactly?
JOSTAD: Nancy, we don`t know that exactly. We just know there are cell phone records. Police haven`t said specifically whether that -- they`ve been able to triangulate where the phone was based on pings, or whether they were able to use that GPS feature on the iPhone.
GRACE: Everybody, we`re taking your calls. Dawn, South Carolina. Hi, Dawn. What`s your question?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Nancy. I`ve been following this since this baby`s gone missing, and my question is, why hasn`t the mom done a press conference and made a public plea for any information?
GRACE: Now, let me think about that just a moment. Ellie, I`ve seen the mom on camera, all right? And I believe we have talked to the mom. Did the mom make a public plea? Why am I seeing her on camera if that was not a public plea?
JOSTAD: Right, Nancy. She has gone on camera and asked for help. She`s been keeping a low profile. We understand from talking to people that know the family that she is, you know, obviously having a very hard time. She`s asked that interview requests go through the police department, and they`re sort of, you know, being the gatekeepers right now for Gabbiee`s mom.
GRACE: To Mr. Thompson, Alvin Thompson. This is Gabbiee`s father. I was told by relatives and close confidantes of Gabbiee`s mom that she hasn`t been able to eat a bite. She can`t bring herself to eat, she can`t sleep ever since Gabbiee went missing.
THOMPSON: Yes, I spoke to her a couple of times. She -- you know, she said she hasn`t really been able to eat or sleep. She`s been getting a little sleep and she`s been eating a little bit of (INAUDIBLE) because your body will not sustain if you don`t eat anything, but they`ve been getting her to eat a few things, or whatever. And I know she`s going through a hard time because this is her only child.
At the same time, you know, it`s going to be tough on her. Even if she knew where Gabbiee was (INAUDIBLE) it`s still tough on her because Gabbiee`s not there with her. So I don`t know what (INAUDIBLE)
GRACE: Well, what do you think, Alvin Thompson, of this Freddie Grant guy? He cut the grass. He did remodeling. He had a key to the home at one time. She must have gotten concerned about him having that key. She asked for it back. He wouldn`t give it to her. In fact, he lied about it, Alvin Thompson.
THOMPSON: I don`t know much about that key except what -- about what you know about it and stuff. (INAUDIBLE) hanging on (INAUDIBLE) he had it for six months and all of that stuff but -- because he was doing work in the house. I seen the work that he was doing in the house, but (INAUDIBLE) like it just got started to me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Deputies and other law enforcement tracked around with dogs throughout various locations, still searching for anything that could bring Gabbiee home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God knows I pray that baby`s OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grant`s a career criminal, very, very, very lengthy record.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re finding her DNA.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Duct tape with Gabbiee`s blood found in the junkyard across the railroad tracks from his house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A monster and that he holds the key to finding Gabbiee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I didn`t see her in her bed, and I -- I panicked. I froze.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The community searches, the vigils, the fliers, the visitors.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Freddie Grant, seen here in this video assisting in the search just days after she was reported missing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have not found her. We are actively looking for her.
GRACE: That is a nerve! Let me see that video again, Liz. Here he is, 52-year-old Freddie Grant, family acquaintance, he`s helping in the search. He`s there at the very front of the search, when back at his home, there is duct tape with her hair and blood on it.
He lied about having the family key. He had done remodeling in the home. Mom asked for the key back, he wouldn`t give it back. He lied about that he had lost it. He cut the grass for the family that Friday she goes missing.
He had a brief relationship with the mother. That was over, by all accounts. Had he been spying on the little girl all this time? Had he been in the home without Mom`s knowledge?
We are taking your calls. Stunning new details emerging tonight. Number one, cops are now saying they believe Gabbiee is still alive. Where`s she being held captive? And how is she being held? Behind bars, that 52-year-old handyman who refuses to tell cops anything.
Also at this hour, Sheriff Lott, who has tried relentlessly to find Gabbiee, putting his men and women out on the street, beating the bushes to find this girl, literally working day and night -- now the defense is demanding a gag order, not letting the sheriff speak. How is he supposed to find the girl if he can`t speak?
Not only that, is there some sort of a plea deal in the works? All right, I got a problem with that! Ellie Jostad, what are we talking about a plea deal?
JOSTAD: Right, Nancy. One of our affiliates did a sit-down interview with Sheriff Leon Lott, and they asked him, after the interview was over off camera, Would you consider a plea offer for Freddie Grant if it meant that it would lead you to Gabbiee? And he said, at this point, they are willing to consider anything that could help them find her.
GRACE: Now, wait a minute, Ellie. Did they say, Help you find Gabbiee, or, Help you find Gabbiee`s body?
JOSTAD: Yes, it wasn`t specific to the body. And as you know, they still think he`s (SIC) alive. Right now, he`s facing kidnapping and federal weapons charges. So it`s not clear whether there`s enough incentive for him to speak at this point.
GRACE: Unleash the lawyers. Burke Strunsky, senior deputy district attorney, author of "Humanity of Justice," joining me out of LA -- he`s no slouch -- Kirby Clements, former prosecutor, now defense attorney, Greg McKeithen, defense attorney, Atlanta.
Burke Strunsky, here`s the problem. If she`s alive and she`s being held captive, she could be starving right now, number one. That would be incentive for me to cut a deal to try to find the girl. If I think she`s dead, I`m not cutting a deal. I`ll try that case without a body. Forget that.
BURKE STRUNSKY, SR. DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I think that`s exactly right, Nancy. And the reality is, it`s hard to think of a scenario in which this young girl is still alive, given the fact that she`s been missing for the better part of a month and the main suspect has been in custody for weeks.
With that being said, Sheriff Lott is doing exactly the right thing, keeping the focus on this investigation, saying what he needs to say to the media so that Gabbiee`s name stays out there and people continue to look.
GRACE: But you know, Burke, let me narrow you down a little bit. Get back to the middle of the road, friend. Why cut a deal if you think she`s alive? And especially why cut a deal if you think Gabbiee`s dead? We don`t need a body to try a case. Why let this guy off free if they believe Gabbiee could be dead?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re operating under the belief that she`s alive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If anybody does see her, or know her whereabouts, I am pleading to come forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The duct tape was found at Mr. Grant`s house, and it has Gabbiee`s blood. Her DNA has been matched.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn`t see her in her bed, and I panicked. I froze.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every minute Gabbiee is missing matters.
GRACE: Let`s go to the lines in search for Gabbiee. Jill, California. Hi, Jill. What`s your question?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nancy, I want to know if the parents have any say in whether a plea is offered because if it was my child, and God forbid she were found deceased, I would want maximum punishment.
GRACE: And Jill, just bear with me. Would you agree to a lesser amount of time in exchange to find the body of your child?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would probably consider a lesser amount of time just for the closure, but we would definitely have to agree on the terms. I would not...
GRACE: All right...
GRACE: I`m going to weigh in on that. If I was convinced my child was dead, I would know my child was with God in heaven, and there would be no mercy on whoever touched my child, all right? The needle would be too good.
Alvin Thompson, have police approached you in any way regarding a plea deal for Freddie Grant in exchange for telling where is Gabbiee?
THOMPSON: No, they haven`t. And about what you were talking about, the no body -- no body trial or whatever, that doesn`t really bring closure to me, Elvia, or the rest of our family without a body. I mean, I need more closure than that and stuff. And Freddie Grant would get his anyway. I mean, that doesn`t bring closure to me.
GRACE: Good point. Ellie Jostad, where are we getting this information? We have Sheriff Lott mentioning it offhandedly that he would consider a plea. But is it really happening, Ellie, or is it just talk?
JOSTAD: It sounds like it`s just talk at this point, Nancy, no indication that the prosecutors in that jurisdiction are even considering any sort of plea deal at this point.
http://standrews.patch.com/articles/gabbiee-swainson-details-about-blood-evidence-clarify-early-timeline
Gabbiee Swainson: Details about Blood, Evidence Clarify Early Timeline
(September 14, 2012) 2:59 pm
In the months prior to Swainson's disappearance, Freddie Grant was both dating Elvia Grant, Gabbiee's mother, and repairing the floors in her home.
At the time Swainson went missing, the floor repairs were not completed, a sheriff's office spokesman said.
Cynthia Grant, Freddie Grant's sister, said the two had been dating for a year and had dated for three years in the past. Sheriff Leon Lott said in a press conference, that Grant had stayed over but maintained his own home. Note: This is the home that was later searched after Grant was arrested.
It is at this time that Grant was issued a key to the Swainson home so he could complete the work on the floors, Lott said. Six weeks before the girl went missing, Grant told Elvia Swainson that he had lost the key.
Gabbiee Swainson stayed home on the night of Aug. 17. Elvia Swainson was at work from 3:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on the morning Gabbiee went missing. Soon after returning home and realizing her daughter was missing, Elvia Swainson called the police.
Grant was allegedly cutting the grass at the Swainson home on the morning Gabbiee went missing, although his whereabouts cannot be accounted for during the hours immediately following her disappearance.
When search parties began to organize, Grant was one of the first people to agree to join. He was caught on camera looking for the girl and his personal cell phone number was on the first batch of flyers showing Swainson's photo.
During the initial search, investigators found blood in Swainson's bedroom. It would be an additional seven days before sheriff's office officials released that they suspected foul play.
Why is that? The amount of blood in Swainson's room was not disclosed to the public. However, a sheriff's office spokesman said the amount did not signal to investigators that the girl had been seriously harmed.
Do I have this right? Suspect was over at Gabbiee's home cutting grass that am and her Mom discovered her missing at 7:30a? Okay, 3:30 to 7:30a is not a whole buncha time for this freak to grab her stealthily and conceal her all the way to his home, have his way with her or whatever he intended and then to hide or discreet her so that LE can't find her? If he was jealous of her and just wanted her gone then I guess that would be plenty of time. I just assumed he wanted her for himself and didn't think about the jealousy angle. This was probably not Mom's first time of going in at 3:30 am and he must have planned this. Yes, I do know if the adrenalin is flowing anything can happen in seconds but he hid her really well! Maybe he does have some remote cabin type thing she was put in so he could go back to her later but it has been a month and doubtfully with water and food!
UPDATE: Adriana Laster 'Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances'
The man accused of kidnapping Gabbiee Swainson is also thought to be involved in the disappearance of a woman who has been missing for over a year.
Immediately following Freddie Grant's arrest for the kidnapping of Gabbiee Swainson, he became a person of interest in two more cases--one killing and one missing person.
As the one-month mark approaches in the search for Swainson, the one-year mark passes in the search for Laster.
http://springvalley.patch.com/articles/update-adriana-laster-missing-under-suspicious-circumstances
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/202364/2/Gabrielle-Swainson-Missing-For-One-Month
Gabrielle Swainson Missing For One Month
Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Tuesday marked one month since Gabrielle Swainson disappeared from her bedroom.
"It's been 31 days and we still have people contacting us as of today. So we have teams running down these tips, running down these leads," said Sheriff Leon Lott.
There have been multiple searches, but no Gabbiee. Even with suspect Freddie Grant, 52, behind bars and hundreds of Crimestoppers tips, questions on Gabbiee's whereabouts have gone unanswered.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/202494/2/Suspect-in-Gabbiee-Swainson-Case-Indicted-on-Federal-Charge
Suspect in Gabbiee Swainson Case Indicted on Ammunition Charge
Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- A federal grand jury indicted 52-year-old Freddie Grant on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Grant is the man that Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says kidnapped 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson. She has not been seen since August 18th.
According to an affidavit, The FBI, Elgin Police and Richland County Sheriff's Deputies say they found shotgun shells and .38-caliber bullets in Grant's home.
Sheriff Leon Lott says his department has a warrant for Grant on kidnapping charges that they will formally serve him with when he is released from the Lexington County jail on the federal ammunition charges.
The federal ammunition charge could carry a maximum 10 year sentence. That sentence could be increased to 15 years if the court determines Grant is a "career criminal" with a violent felony and/or a serious drug offense. Grant is scheduled to be in federal court in October.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-accused-in-teen-s-abduction-facing-ammo-charge-3878125.php
Man accused in teen's abduction facing ammo charge
Updated 2:10 p.m., Wednesday, September 19, 2012
South Carolina state police records show Grant served prison time on drug charges in the 1990s. He also has a criminal record in Florida, where his drug convictions date back to the 1980s.
Suspect in SC teen's disappearance indicted on federal weapons charge
COLUMBIA (WACH) - A suspect in the disappearance of a missing Columbia teen has been indicted on a federal weapons charge, according to United States Attorney Bill Nettles.
Nettles announced Wednesday that Freddie Grant, 52, of Elgin was charged in a one-count indictment with being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Authorities say Grant could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison unless the court determines that he is an armed career criminal with three prior convictions for a violent felony or a serious drug offence. In that case, he would face a mandatory 15 years in jail and a maximum of life in prison.
Federal agents as well as investigators with the Richland County Sheriff's Department have looked into the case, according to officials. The case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative.
Post by: MuffyBee on September 21, 2012, 09:22:08 AM
Search Continues for Missing South Carolina Cheerleader; Teen Girl Vanished on the Way to Mall
Aired September 19, 2012 - 20:00:00 ET
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Breaking news tonight, live, South Carolina. A 15- year-old high school cheerleader, Ridge View High, asleep in her own bedroom when Mom happens to check on her 3:00 AM, 7:30 AM she`s gone, Gabbiee never seen again.
Stunning new leads emerge. In the last hours, investigators reaffirm they`ve got rock-solid evidence she did not leave her home willingly and are convinced she`s still alive somewhere.
Bombshell tonight. Gabbiee`s mother comes forward, insisting Gabbiee is alive, being held. In the last hours, we uncover new searches by police just 12 miles east of Gabbiee`s home. What do they know? Tonight, we chase the leads. Where`s the cheerleader, 15-year-old Gabrielle?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gabbiee`s out there hidden and we just have to find her and bring her home.
GRACE: Gabbiee did not leave her home willingly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A forceful and violent disappearance investigators believe was engineered...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By 52-year-old Freddie Grant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m appealing to him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As monster as he is, I`m asking, you know, for God`s sakes, tell us where she`s at.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My daughter is not home yet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Being charged with kidnapping 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still not cooperating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) just calling him a monster. How does that advance the search for Gabbiee?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sizable collection of physical evidence that appears to tie the convicted felon to Gabbiee`s abduction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The duct tape was found in Mr. Grant`s house.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gabbiee`s hair, Gabbiee`s blood on duct tape in the suspect`s house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still have hope.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gabrielle, Mommy loves you and Mommy is still trying to find you, baby.
GRACE: Good evening. I`m Nancy Grace. I want to thank you for being with us. Bombshell tonight, live to South Carolina. A 15-year-old high school cheerleader, Ridge View high, asleep in her own bedroom. Mom checks on her by happenstance 3:00 AM, 7:30 Gabbiee is gone, her mom coming forward in the last hours, insisting she is alive and being held.
And in the last hours, we uncover new searches by police just 12 miles east of Gabbiee`s home. What do they know?
We are taking your calls. I want to go straight out to Dave Mack, on the case, morning talk show host, WAAX. Dave, what do we know?
DAVE MACK, CLEAR CHANNEL WAAX: What we know is that police, as well as her mother, believe she is still alive. And they believe that, Nancy because there just wasn`t enough blood found in the bedroom or at the kidnapper`s home, the alleged kidnapper`s home, to indicate that she is gone. So they`re operating on the pretense that Gabbiee is alive...
GRACE: Put Dave Mack up!
MACK: ... and they just want (INAUDIBLE)
GRACE: Dave Mack, you know, I appreciate all your journalistic integrity, but isn`t it true, Dave Mack, that duct tape was found in the handyman`s home? He did their yard Friday. She goes missing -- within 24 hours, that morning between 3:00 and 7:00 AM, she goes missing, all right?
The handyman, this guy, this helper, Freddie Grant, age 52, was in there front yard and back yard a couple hours before. In his home, we find duct tape with Gabbiee, 15-year-old Gabbiee`s hair and blood on it.
Now, you want to keep saying the alleged kidnapper? Can you give me one innocent scenario where her blood and her hair should be on duct tape in his home? Listening, not hearing!
MACK: There is no reason. I shouldn`t even say "alleged."
GRACE: OK. Go ahead.
MACK: So the kidnapper took Gabbiee from the home, but there`s not enough physical evidence to indicate that she was dead. And police know what they`re looking for and how much blood. So because of what they found at the scene, they believe Gabbiee is still alive.
GRACE: We are taking your calls. Ellie Jostad on the story, our chief editorial producer. Let`s just get down to it, Ellie. You and I have covered a lot of cases together. Let`s talk about the possibility that Gabbiee is alive.
Now, cops are telling us, even from within the investigation, where we`ve been digging around, that she was taken unwillingly from her bedroom. Why do they think she`s still alive? Do we have any inkling as to their reasoning?
ELLIE JOSTAD, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Well, Nancy, what the sheriff is saying right now is that, yes, there was duct tape found with her DNA on it, with her hair and her blood on it. Yes, blood was found in her bedroom.
But the good news is, is that it`s not enough blood in the bedroom or on that duct tape or anywhere else that could tell them this has been -- this is someone who`s been murdered or even seriously injured.
Now, of course, we don`t know if there`s another secondary crime scene somewhere else, but what police have found so far is not enough for them to conclude that she was killed.
GRACE: Everybody, we`re taking your calls. Alicia, Kentucky. Hi, Alicia. What`s your question, dear?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Nancy. I just want to say we watch your show every night, and my daughter can cue when you`re going to cut a mike. But my question is, with him being charged with the kidnapping, when will they start, like, a jury trial? Will they wait or...
GRACE: Oh, honey, honey, honey, honey! We`ve got so far to go. We`ve got so far to go. Think about it, Alicia in Kentucky. And thank you for what you said. One of my first friends practicing law, as a law clerk for a judge, was a woman from Lexington, Kentucky.
What do we have? We have him clammed up behind bars. In fact, Alicia in Kentucky, one of the reasons -- put up Freddie Grant, age 52.
Have you seen this guy? Have you hired this guy? Do you know him? And if so, what do you know? This guy did their yard. He had a key to their home. Mom said, I want my key back. He wouldn`t give it back. He made up a lie because when cops searched Freddie Grant`s home, they found the key.
Give me that shot, Liz, of the police chief holding up the key. They found it hanging on a cord in his home, a lanyard of sorts.
Alicia, so what do we have? We`ve got the key to her home that the mom gave him unwittingly. We`ve got blood on duct tape, hair on duct tape. That`s all we`ve got. His fingerprints, if they`re in the home, are rightfully there, Alicia, because he did some remodeling inside.
So what do I have? Police first became suspicious of him because he clammed up and wouldn`t even speak when they tried to ask him about Gabbiee. If he did take a lie detector and failed, which I doubt he would even take one, that`s not going to be admissible unless it was stipulated by both parties ahead of time -- agreed upon.
So all I`ve got is a piece of duct tape, Alicia. If I took that to trial right now, I may not get a conviction. Do I want to risk that? No, I do not. I need more, Alicia in Kentucky.
What do we have, Ellie? What do we have? He`s not talking.
JOSTAD: Right.
GRACE: He hasn`t confided in anybody. We may have a little bit of a similar transaction going on because his last girlfriend -- give them to me side by side, Liz -- looks a little bit like Gabbiee. She was very young compared to him. He`s what, 52, and this girlfriend was in her early 20s.
GRACE: She goes missing. So Ellie, what do I have? I want to take it to trial, too, but what do I have?
JOSTAD: Well, Nancy, the other thing you`ve got, too, is cell phone records. Remember, Gabbiee`s mom, before she left for work, put a cell phone into Gabbiee`s hands or put it next to her. That phone was missing when Gabbiee was missing in the morning. And police say that they can prove that that phone went from Gabbiee`s house to the suspect, Freddie Grant`s, house. So we`ve got that information, as well.
GRACE: So we`ve got her at his place immediately when she goes missing. We`ve got some blood in her bedroom. To me, that`s enough to make out a kidnapping offense. Hop on your computer, El, and tell me what`s the max - - OK, never mind, I`ve got Clark here.
Clark, what`s the max we could get him in that jurisdiction on aggravated kidnapping or just straight kidnapping? Aggravated is probably with a weapon or some if other offense was included, like robbery or rape. What`s straight kidnapping? Give me the max you can get on that.
OK, to Victoria Taft, talk show host, KPAM. Weigh in, Victoria.
VICTORIA TAFT, AM 660 KPAM: Well, Nancy Grace, I have to say that this guy looks like he`s guilty. He`s not saying one word. And he has DNA evidence in his house. And they sniffed in the junkyard across the street from his house. And now, hope against hope, they think that they might still be looking for a live young girl, poor Gabbiee, 15 years old.
GRACE: But explain to me why they think she`s still alive? Because you know that is in direct conflict to statistics. Why do they believe Gabbiee`s alive? Which means that somewhere, if that`s true, she`s being held against her will right now somewhere. If she`s still alive, somebody is helping him.
TAFT: Well, they think that there`s a dearth of evidence in the house and a dearth of evidence in his house. But he had a key. You`ve laid it out. The fact of the matter is the searches that we`ve seen so far are places where you don`t stuff somebody who`s alive, Nancy.
GRACE: OK. Got it. It`s 30 years for kidnapping, 30 years behind bars. And I want to find out something else while I`ve got you on the computer. In that jurisdiction, is it day for day? Do you get good time, or is it really 30 years? If he gets 30 years, does he do 30 years? Because he`ll never make it. He`ll never make it to 82 behind bars.
This family is so desperate to find their little girl, they are looking in trash cans for evidence of their little cheerleader. They can`t walk by a trash can without sifting through the trash can.
Hey, I have children, praise God. Can you imagine that you cannot walk by a trash can, a dumpster, without feeling you`ve got to pull your car over and get into the dumpster and start going through the dumpster, looking for evidence of your teenage girl?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m asking, you know, for God`s sakes, tell us where she`s at.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s not all over because my daughter is not home yet. She`s not here yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elvia says community support gets her through bad days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s when it`s over for me, when she comes home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s concerned people will give up on Gabbiee.
GRACE: Tonight, police conducting searches just 12 miles away from where Gabbiee last seen in her own bedroom. This high school cheerleader at Ridge View High -- happy, upbeat, straight-A student, played an instrument in the church`s Praise Band, was going to a magnet school for children interested in medicine. Where is Gabbiee?
Police now intimating, as well as the family, they believe this girl is still alive somewhere, being held against her will. Where is she and what is happening to Gabbiee?
We are taking your calls. Out to Heaven, Illinois. Hi, dear. What`s your question?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nancy, I was wondering (INAUDIBLE) you believe the motive of all this is. Has there been any evidence that maybe he was interested in the girl (INAUDIBLE)
GRACE: Well, typically, Heaven in Illinois, your motive is either going to be sex or money or somebody drugged out of their skull that doesn`t know what they`re doing, which is not insanity, I might add. Voluntary consumption of drugs or alcohol does not constitute insanity. So you`ve got sex, you`ve got theft. Nothing was stolen from the home, OK?
Let`s go back to Ellie Jostad. Ellie, wasn`t there something -- wasn`t Gabbiee questioning the disappearance of his last girlfriend?
JOSTAD: Well, Nancy, there`s another case that he`s involved in that he is considered a person of interest in. It`s a man who was found shot to death in his front yard. That man apparently argued with Freddie Grant about the missing girlfriend.
And Nancy, the other thing to mention, too is, is that Adriana Laster`s disappearance has led to a bunch of people coming forward that knew both Freddie Grant and Laster and say that he has a history of domestic violence with this former girlfriend.
GRACE: Unleash the lawyers, Becca Crumrine, John Manuelian, Kirby Clements. Out to you, John Manuelian, joining me out of LA. Weigh in, John. He`s clamming up. If he`s innocent, why?
JOHN MANUELIAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don`t know why. But I can tell you that the defense attorney for him should step up, contact the prosecutor`s office and try to get a deal on the table so that we could find out some more information about where this girl is, if she is alive.
Remember, a defense attorney`s job is not only to defend, it`s also to protect the community. So I would be telling this guy, Look, if you know where she is, `fess up, mitigate your damages, don`t aggravate them.
GRACE: Before I go to Becca Crumrine and Kirby Clements, I`m hearing in my ear -- I`m just now in touch with Tembi Gray. This is the assistant director at GMG Music Center, where Gabbiee took guitar and vocal lessons. Tembi, thank you for being with us.
TEMBI GRAY, ASST. DIR. OF GABBIEE`S MUSIC CENTER (via telephone): You`re welcome.
GRACE: Ms. Gray, what can you tell me about Gabbiee? I`ve got so much video of her singing. And I know she was a cheerleader and just so bright and sparkly, the love of her mother`s life.
GRAY: Yes. She is.
GRACE: Tell me about Gabbiee.
GRAY: Yes, she`s definitely a phenomenal young lady. She attended our summer camp this past June for an entire four weeks, where she was able to take lessons in vocal and guitar. She was able to interact with other students with a passion and desire to do the same thing in music.
And because she did so well during that first session, and her -- you know, her passion and so forth, we actually had her volunteer and come back the next month in July to volunteer as a teacher assistant and a mentor to our younger students.
And so Gabbiee -- she is -- she lights up the room when she comes in. I mean, she always has a smile on her face. She`s a positive person. She`s very intelligent, not only in music she`s gifted, but she`s also academically, you know, gifted in that area, as well. And so Gabbiee is a phenomenal young lady.
GRACE: You know, Ms. Gray, my mom also is a musician and she teaches piano. She plays classical piano. She says that if you`re musically gifted, it`s just -- you`ve got a muse. You`ve got something that other people don`t have.
I understand that Gabbiee played an instrument in her Praise Band at church?
GRAY: Yes, that`s correct. And I remember her telling me how she is joining the Youth Praise Band and she`s excited about that. And I believe her mom just got her a new guitar and an amp, and she was just really excited about that, you know, really excited about just everything coming up with the 10th grade year, just her future in general.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have great faith. The Bible said all you need is faith as small as a mustard seed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Swainson describes her daughter as a good student, a cheerleader at Ridge View High School.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bring my baby home. I believe she is still alive.
GRACE: We are taking your calls. Is Gabbiee still alive? If so, she is being held right now somewhere against her will. Her mom sees her 3:00 AM there asleep in her own bed, 7:30 AM she is gone. Her mom working overtime to try to send her to a good school, to get her guitar lessons, buy her a new guitar. Where is the cheerleader, Gabbiee? We are evaluating the clues left behind.
I want to go out to Ellie Jostad. Ellie, I also understand that searches are going down, we have learned in the last hours, within 12 miles of her home. Where are the searches?
JOSTAD: This is actually within 12 miles of the suspect`s home. Now, police will not talk about anything they`re doing right now as part of the investigation, but a source in Gabbiee`s family tells us that police have been doing recent searches near the suspect, Freddie Grant`s, home. This is just about 12 miles or so away from where he lived in Elgin, South Carolina.
GRACE: But that is not inconsistent with the cops` belief she`s still alive. They could be searching for other evidence...
JOSTAD: Correct.
GRACE: ... that has been discarded.
JOSTAD: That`s right, Nancy.
GRACE: We are taking your calls tonight. Where is Gabbiee?
To Pat Brown, criminal profiler, author of "How to Save Your Daughter`s Life," what do you make of this? Is there a chance she`s alive? We know cops are conducting searches. We`ve learned that in the last hours, 12 miles from her home. The family is saying she`s still alive, being held.
The guy behind bars, the handyman who had a brief relationship with the mom, has totally clammed up, not saying anything, Pat Brown.
PAT BROWN, CRIMINAL PROFILER, AUTHOR OF "ONLY THE TRUTH": Yes, I don`t believe the police really think that she`s alive. I think they`re just keeping that option open. I think they probably think she was strangled in his home.
This man is an anger retaliatory killer. He does things just on the spur of the moment when he thinks it`s a great idea. Hey, here`s a girl to kidnap and rape. I don`t see him as the type to plan carefully, to make a bunker to put her in. And if she`d been in a -- she had to have assistance or she`d be dead by now a month later.
GRACE: Out to the lines. Shy, Oklahoma. Hi, dear, what`s your question?
SHY, CALLER FROM OKLAHOMA: Hi, Nancy. I was just wanting to say I love you very much and Oklahoma loves you.
GRACE: Thank you. Thank you.
SHY: I was -- you`re welcome. I was calling to see, have the guy wanted to make any type of deal to try to, you know, lower what he might get or to try to find her?
GRACE: You know, Shy in Oklahoma, let`s go to the lawyers on that. I see where you`re coming from, like make a deal in exchange for getting a light sentence, tell where she is, be she dead or alive.
Becca Crumrine, John Manuelian, Kirby Clements. What about it, Kirby?
KIRBY CLEMENTS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, quite honestly, I mean, as a defense lawyer, that`s -- you really couldn`t tip your hand too much. I think that the ball is in the prosecution`s court. They should probably say, look, we`ll forego the death penalty if your guy will tell us where this woman -- where this young lady is. If they want it -- if they really want to find her and --
GRACE: Well, wait a minute. Put Kirby up.
CLEMENTS: And resolve that matter.
GRACE: Kirby, what the lawyers say amongst themselves, their plea negotiations, will never come into evidence. So --
CLEMENTS: Well, no, no. That`s true.
GRACE: -- the defense lawyer could absolutely say, hey, you give me a deal, you give me the right number of years, I`ll tell you where Gabbiee is.
CLEMENTS: But no, but that --
GRACE: Now that way the lawyer would be saying whether she`s dead or alive. But no, no, no. If a deal`s in place, then a deal`s in place. If they find the body or they find Gabbiee, the prosecution is still bound to the deal. Who would -- they wouldn`t care if it came out then. They`d be walking off with a sweetheart deal. Am I right, Becca?
BECCA CRUMRINE, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY: You know, absolutely. But the same point, I mean, you know, what`s the prosecution losing by doing that? And he needs to talk. The defense needs to tell him he needs to talk that -- he needs to tell them where her body is.
GRACE: Well, OK, morally you`re right, but under the law, Becca, of course they don`t have to.
CRUMRINE: Of course.
GRACE: Of course he needs to, but he`s not going to unless he has an incentive. You`ve got a carrot and you`ve got a stick, Manuelian. You can offer him a deal in exchange for where she is, dead or alive. That`s a pretty steep price in my opinion. Because I`d want to know before I enter into any deal, is she dead or alive, because I would not offer him 10 years if she`s dead. If it`s a kidnapping and she`s alive? Maybe. If I could find her and save her life, hell yes, Manuelian.
MANUELIAN: But whatever you do, you`re still helping your client out. I mean you could tell this guy no matter if you start assisting right now you`re making your situation better, not worse, so there is incentive.
GRACE: OK. I want to go back to you, Kirby. The possibility of a deal in exchange for the location of Gabbiee. I mean, Kirby, if there`s a chance to save her life, I`d offer the guy straight probation to save her life, I`d give him anything to save her.
CLEMENTS: No, I agree. And when I was a prosecutor, I would have -- anything you want. I mean you`re not going to walk away free, but anything you want if this girl is going to come back alive. I agree with your other guest who said that they don`t think -- we really don`t think she is alive. But quite honestly as a prosecutor, I would say if she`s alive, you -- we won`t -- you will not be executed, obviously. We will offer you something that you can live with. But we need to find this girl.
GRACE: Oh, no, no, you`ve got to be specific, Kirby. You`ve got to be specific. If she`s alive, the family would probably go with an extremely light sentence, if she`s alive.
CLEMENTS: No -- absolutely.
GRACE: Which makes me wonder, Kirby, is she dead? And that`s why they`re not doing a deal, getting down and dirty and doing a plea deal, because they know that she`s dead.
CLEMENTS: Exactly.
GRACE: You know -- you know, Pat Brown, back to you. Would he be honest with his defense attorney if the girl was dead or alive?
BROWN: Well, he may be since the defense attorney can`t say anything. But they`re absolutely what`s the point of a deal if you`re just going to tell them where her body is. You might as well hold out that they can`t find it claim -- his defense attorney can claim after he kidnapped her and did whatever he did he let her go and she ran away from home. Stupid but hey.
GRACE: I want to go to Morgan Daniels. This is Gabbiee`s cheerleading coach.
Morgan, what can you tell me about Gabbiee?
MORGAN DANIELS, MISSING GIRL GABBIEE`S CHEERLEADING COACH: Gabbiee was one of my JV cheerleaders. She is a beautiful young lady. She had a gorgeous smile. And she`s a hard worker and willing to do anything you ask of her.
GRACE: She was extremely close to her mother, by all accounts, is that correct?
DANIELS: Yes, ma`am. Miss Elvia was very involved as a parent with our program. She participated in all of Gabbiee`s fundraisers with her. She would -- we sold doughnuts and Miss Elvia I think sold the majority of the doughnuts. And just -- she was always a present parent.
GRACE: To Caryn Stark, psychologist, joining us tonight out of our New York studio.
Caryn, weigh in with what the mom is going through, because she has apparently, unwittingly introduced this guy into her daughter`s life. I mean how was she supposed to know that the guy who was cutting the grass and remodeling -- she did have a brief relationship with him. She did. We got that finally.
At first he was just titled an acquaintance. Finally we figured out that she had a relationship with him. It`s long been over. She asked for the key back. He lied about it. What is the mother going through?
CARYN STARK, PSYCHOLOGIST: Nancy, nothing is worse than losing your child and not having your child around and not knowing where your child is. And this mother, in addition to the normal guilt that anyone would feel if their child is missing, is now telling herself that she caused this to happen. So she is in emotional turmoil and I could understand where she`s taking every minute, going through garbage bins, doing whatever she can to locate her daughter because she is in agony.
GRACE: The tip line for Gabbiee, 1-888-CRIME-SC. There`s a $6,000 reward for help.
GRACE: Where is the cheerleader? We are re-evaluating, reinvestigating, sifting through the clues left behind.
Straight out to the lines. Janet in Florida, hi, Janet. What`s your question?
JANET, CALLER FROM FLORIDA: Hi, Nancy. Thanks for covering this case. It`s so important that we keep Gabbiee`s name alive in the media.
My question is, and I don`t mean to come down on the family, I`m sure it`s awful, but why if they believe she`s alive are they searching through trash cans, dumpsters, crawl spaces? I mean if she`s in there, she`s dead, right?
GRACE: Well, hold Janet in Florida. Janet, you`re right, but I`m sure -- you know, you sound like a legal eagle -- that you must understand that there are two parallel investigations going on. There`s got to be a homicide investigation as well as a kidnapping investigation. They have to do parallel investigations.
Ellie, speaking of the police investigation, what can you tell me about an attempt by the defense to put a gag order on the sheriff in this case who has spoken with us many times, Sheriff Lott?
JOSTAD: Right, Nancy. Freddie Grant`s defense attorney said that the comments that Sheriff Lott was making about this case were going to make it impossible for Freddie Grant to get a fair trial down the road.
You know, Sheriff Lott has been very outspoken, called Grant a monster, talked about his past criminal record. However, Nancy, the judge denied this gag request order. She said that what the sheriff was doing was of utmost importance since there was a missing 15-year-old girl out there. She also said that he had a First Amendment right to speak. So the judge said, you know, I`m going to let judge -- rather, Sheriff Lott talk, but she did warn him that, you know, he needs to abide by his professional rules of conduct.
But she declined to put anything in place that would prevent him from speaking out as he`s done in the past.
GRACE: OK. So the question from Janet, if they`re looking through trash cans, how can they say they think Gabbiee is alive?
Unleash the lawyers. Becca Crumrine, John Manuelian and Kirby Clements. But first Steve Kardian, former police detective, it`s absolutely consistent with the parallel investigation, kidnapping and homicide, is it not?
STEVE KARDIAN, FMR. POLICE DETECTIVE, SELF-DEFENSE EXPERT, LEAD INSTRUCTOR AT DEFEND UNIVERSITY: Yes, it is, Nancy. It is a parallel investigation. But law enforcement is looking at this man. He doesn`t have the organizational skills to pull off an Elizabeth Smart/Jaycee Dugard type of a case. He acts on impulse and law enforcement is going to be treating it strictly as a homicide investigation. We have to keep faith for the family. That`s why they`re responding as they are.
GRACE: Out to the lines. Caroline, Texas. Hi, Caroline. What`s your question?
CAROLYN, CALLER FROM TEXAS: Hey, Nancy Grace, thank you for taking my call. We love you in Texas.
CAROLYN: And I`m just wondering why on earth in god`s name haven`t they arrested this man? Our little community is a small area and our sheriff -- with all that evidence would have already had him behind the bars and then we`d have found out the rest of the information.
GRACE: Caroline, they`ve got him. They`ve got him on a couple of specific counts, but not murder. And Caroline, he`s still not talking. What do you make of that, Caroline in Texas?
CAROLYN: It`s Carolyn? But I think that they need to just get in here and do like they would here in Setting County, and put him to some real hard down-to-earth questioning and put somebody like you and our sheriff in there with him and he`d come up with some answers.
GRACE: You know what, I can`t help but agree with you.
You know, back to you, Pat Brown, what, if anything, can be done to make him talk? You know, unless you`re going to give him straight probation on a deal.
BROWN: Well, you know, here`s the thing about psychopaths. They will talk when there`s something in it for them. If there`s nothing in it for them, they`re not going to say anything.
GRACE: He`s not going to talk. OK.
BROWN: He`s not going to talk.
GRACE: To Dr. Bill Manion, medical examiner, joining me tonight out of Philly. Dr. Manion, I want you to evaluate the duct tape, I want you to evaluate what they found in the home and why, based on the physical evidence, they have not charged him with a murder.
DR. BILL MANION, M.D., MEDICAL EXAMINER, BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ: Well, as was mentioned before, there wasn`t that much of a volume of blood. I don`t think they found any semen, they didn`t find any evidence of rape. But obviously if they`ve got duct tape and blood and she`s going for 30 -- 30 days, I would favor that she`s dead. I would favor that.
Unless they can come up with some confederate he would be working with who would be trying to keep her alive and trying to keep her as his woman out in the wilderness somewhere, I think she`s gone.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/202820/2/Ridge-View-Holds-Moment-of-Silence-for-Gabbiee
Ridge View Holds Moment of Silence for Gabbiee Swainson
Richland County, SC (WLTX) - Ridge View High School held a moment of silence Friday for missing teenager Gabbiee Swainson.
Swainson, 15, was last seen back on August 18. She attended Ridge View and was a part of the cheerleading team.
Friday night, members of the cheerleading team wore armband's with Swainson's name on them.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/203027/2/Group-Searches-for-Gabbiee-Swainson-?odyssey=tab|topnews|bc|large
Group Searches for Gabbiee Swainson
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Sunday, members of the community went searching for any clues that can help investigators find Gabbie Swainson.
Williams and Lakeanlya McNeil are both mothers and wanted to do something to help law enforcement, so they went searching for any clues that could help find Gabbie.
"Some of my co-workers and I got together and instead of just sitting around talking about it, we wanted to put some footwork in it and go out and start searching for her," said McNeil.
Elvia Swainson holds on to the hope Gabbiee will be found
Posted: 53 mins ago (September 23, 2012)
"I cant wait for her to come home so she can get the full story of everything we have gone through to try to find her," said Elvia.
The single mother's life has dramatically changed since her daughter went missing back in August.
"No one feels the urgency like a parent feels the urgency "like do this now, do this now, we have to do this now," waiting is the hardest part, waiting because you dont know day to day what to do," said Elvia.
She now spends her time looking for her daughter.
During a community search Saturday, Elvia and others walked door to door passing out fliers asking about Gabbiee.
Many gave her the same response, that they knew nothing but had heard about her on the news, it's the way many know the teens story.
Since Gabbiee dissappeared Elvia said she has had to deal with multiple issues on top of her child going missing, such as false social media sites.
The single mother said,"The official Gabbiee facebook website is "Help us find Gabbiee" with two e's. This is the only website that was created by the family of Gabrielle Swainson for spreading awareness and gathering assistance from the community.
Post by: MuffyBee on October 04, 2012, 05:01:19 PM
http://www.thestate.com/2012/10/02/2465701/richland-county-girls-alleged.html#.UG33Bq7BnIU
Richland County girl's alleged kidnapper pleads 'not guilty' to federal ammunition charge
The man accused of kidnapping a missing Richland County teenager pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal ammunition charges.
Freddie Grant, 52, was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Columbia on one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. His case was assigned to a judge, and attorneys were given an Oct. 22 deadline for filing motions. He is being held without bond at the Lexington County Detention Center, which houses federal prisoners.
The maximum penalty if he is convicted is 10 years in prison. However, that penalty could increase to 15 years if a judge determines Grant is an armed career criminal with three prior convictions for violent crimes or serious drug offenses.
Grant, handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail uniform, said little during the hearing, only answering "yes" when asked if he understood the charges and had met with his attorneys about them.
After the hearing, Grant's attorney, Langdon Long, a federal public defender, declined comment. Richland County public defender Fielding Pringle, who is representing Grant on a pending circuit court kidnapping charge, also attended the hearing and declined comment.
Grant was arrested on the federal charges in August after FBI agents discovered .38-caliber bullets and shotgun shells in his home as they were searching for Gabrielle Swainson, a 15-year-old Ridge View High School student who has been missing since Aug. 18. Grant was not allowed to possess the ammunition because of a previous conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, according to court documents.
Post by: grace-land on October 18, 2012, 10:53:33 PM
http://www.wistv.com/story/19849313/the-search-continues-for-gabbiee-swainson
2 months later: The search continues for Gabbiee Swainson
Posted: Oct 17, 2012 10:39 PM CDT Updated: Oct 18, 2012 7:54 AM CDT
ELGIN, SC (WIS) -
Today marks two months to the day since 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson was taken from her home.
Swainson, an outgoing and energetic student from Ridge View High School, has been missing since Aug. 18. Since then, the entire Columbia community has come together to find her.
Meanwhile, the man who may know more about where Gabbiee is, Freddie Grant, is still not talking. Investigators say he had a key to the Swainson home.
Gabbiee's mother, Elvia Swainson, still lives in the home where the teen was last spotted. Elvia has to avoid her teen daughter's room because of the pain it brings.
"If I continue to come up here, then I know that she's not in here," said Elvia. "If I don't come up here, then I can continue to be strong for Gabbiee."
Since then, Elvia has searched everyday for Gabbiee. She has even reached out to Grant in order to speak with him.
"I reached out, but I never got a phone call nor a letter saying I can come talk to him," Elvia said.
There has been a lot of criticism of what type of connection Elvia and Grant had. Elvia says everything isn't what it seems.
"People are people," said Elvia. "They are going to do just that. I don't expect them not to. I would hope that everybody would pray for the truth to come out before they start making judgements."
So her search continues until Gabbiee comes home.
"I still have a lot of faith that she will walk through those doors," said Elvia.
If you know anything about Gabbiee's disappearance, you are urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC. There is a $6,000 cash reward.
http://www.midlandsconnect.com/sports/story.aspx?id=819041
Man accused of kidnapping Gabbiee Swainson heads to court
Posted: 10.30.2012 at 7:26 AM Updated: 2 hrs, 15 mins ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A man accused of abducting a Columbia teen last seen more than two months ago is expected in court on a federal ammunition charge.
Records show Freddie Grant is scheduled to appear in federal court in Columbia on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Grant pleaded not guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Federal-trial-delayed-for-accused-SC-kidnapper-3992075.php
Federal trial delayed for accused SC kidnapper
Updated 1:27 p.m., Tuesday, October 30, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The federal ammunition trial for a man accused of abducting a Columbia teen is delayed and the man's attorney said Tuesday that his client might plead guilty if he loses an argument to suppress certain evidence.
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie said during a brief hearing that Freddie Grant can have more time to prepare his case because he recently retained a new attorney.
Currie set a January court date for Grant, 52, who has pleaded not guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. During a search of Grant's house for Gabbiee Swainson, a 15-year-old Richland County girl last seen in August, authorities found.38-caliber bullets and shotgun shells — ammunition Grant isn't allowed to have as a convicted felon.
Local authorities also lodged a kidnapping charge against Grant after the girl's blood was found on duct tape near his home. Authorities have said he had dated Gabbiee's mother and used a key he'd claimed to have lost to enter the family's home and take the girl.
On Tuesday, John Delgado, Grant's new attorney on the federal charge, said he would plan to file court papers early next month arguing that some evidence authorities have uncovered against his client should be suppressed. Currie tentatively set a January trial date for Grant, but Delgado also said in court that his client would likely plead guilty if he loses the evidence motion.
Grant didn't speak much in court Tuesday, only answering routine questions from the judge on whether he understood the delay in his trial
Post by: Northern Rose on November 02, 2012, 06:17:45 PM
Mother of missing teen, Gabbiee Swainson, wants meeting with accused kidnapper as she searches for daughter
Friday, Nov. 02, 2012
RICHLAND COUNTY, SC — The mother of a missing northeast Richland County teenager said she has written letters to her daughter's accused kidnapper asking for a meeting with him.
But Elvia Swainson said she has not received a response from Freddie Grant.
"That is my only purpose and goal at this time to find my child and bring her home," Swainson said.
Swainson joined Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott in a Friday afternoon press conference aimed to keep her daughter, Gabrielle, in the public's mind. Gabrielle, who goes by Gabbiee, would have been a sophomore cheerleader at Ridge View High School.
Lott said his department continues to search for Gabbiee and follow up on the hundreds of tips that have been given by the public. He also said his investigators continue building their case against Grant.
Investigators have confirmed that DNA belonging to Grant and Gabbiee was found on a roll of duct tape in Grant's Elgin home, Lott said. Already, Lott had announced that investigators had found pieces of duct tape with Gabbiee's blood and hair on it in Grant's home and in a nearby junk yard.
http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/02/2505683/mother-of-missing-teen-gabbiee.html
Post by: grace-land on November 03, 2012, 12:00:50 AM
http://www2.counton2.com/news/2012/nov/02/sc-kidnapping-suspect-wants-bond-federal-charge-ar-4882537/
SC kidnapping suspect wants bond on federal charge
Published: November 02, 2012 Updated: November 02, 2012 - 4:12 PM
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Federal prosecutors say the man suspected of abducting a Columbia teen should not be released on bond because of his extensive criminal past.
Grant's federal attorney has said he might plead guilty if he loses an argument to suppress certain evidence.
http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/02/2505318/sc-kidnapping-suspect-wants-bond.html
Sheriff: DNA links kidnapping suspect to SC teen
"The case against him ... is as strong as you can get," Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference. "The justice system will speak, and it is going to speak loud and clear."
Authorities have said Grant had dated Gabbiee's mother and used a key he'd claimed to have lost to enter the family's home and take the girl. On Friday, Lott said testing had also confirmed that the roll that tape came from had DNA from both Grant and the missing girl - and that the mixed DNA was transferred to the tape roll at the same time.
http://standrews.patch.com/articles/hope-for-gabbiee-renews-search-support#c
'Hope for Gabbiee' Renews Search Support
After a press conference revealed that Gabbiee Swainson had not been found, the community is gathering for a night of "upbeat" entertainment at the Hope for Gabbiee event to renew support for the missing girl's search.
The event is set for 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at The Village at Sandhills stage. Park behind the Red Bowl or Five Guys.
Post by: Northern Rose on November 05, 2012, 11:58:09 AM
Gabbiee Swainson's Mother Pens Letter to Supporters
After rain cut the Hope for Gabbiee event short, Elvia Swainson thanked supporters through social media.
About 20 minutes into the Hope for Gabbiee event, rain caused electrical hazards with the musical equipment and guests were sent home. Now, Elvia Swainson, mother of the missing girl, writes that the event will be rescheduled and thanks supporters for coming out.
The event had several hundred people at 6 p.m. Sunday night, most of who brought umbrellas and ponchos ready to brave the rain.
http://northeastcolumbia.patch.com/articles/gabbiee-swainson-s-mother-pens-letter-to-supporters
Group Finds Missing Boys, Turns to Help Gabbiee Swainson
CUE, a group out of North Carolina, was hailed as heroes in the search and recovery of the bodies of Jake Ziegler and Ray Pierce. Now they're helping in the search for Gabbiee Swainson.
Elvia Swainson, mother of the missing 15-year-old girl from Northeast Richland County, announced Sunday night that CUE would be helping the Richland County Sheriff's office in the search to find Gabbiee Swainson.
http://standrews.patch.com/articles/group-finds-missing-boys-turns-to-help-gabbiee-swainson
Post by: grace-land on November 07, 2012, 11:10:16 PM
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/208118/2/Bond-Denied-for-Man-Accused-of-Kidnapping-Teen
Judge Denies Bond for Man Accused of Kidnapping Gabbiee Swainson
5:10 PM, Nov 7, 2012
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A federal judge has denied bond for the man Richland County deputies say kidnapped a Columbia teen.
Wednesday afternoon, Freddie Grant, the man Richland County deputies say kidnapped 15 year old Gabbie Swainson, appeared in court for a detention hearing on a federal ammunition charge. At the end of the proceeding, Judge Shiva Hodges refused to grant him bond.
Swainson has not been seen since August 18th. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has said repeatedly he believes Grant took Swainson from her home and took her to his home in Elgin. Officers have not speculated on what they believe may have happened next.
Gabbie's mother, Elvia Swainson, was in the court for the hearing.
During the hearing law enforcement also released new information about Gabbiee Swainson's DNA being found in wine bottles in Grant's home. The agent also said duct tape that was found in Grant's home was in the shape of a mask, meaning it had an impression of a mouth and a nose.
http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/20090298/affidavit-gabbiees-cell-phone-pinged-near-grants-home-on-morning-of-disappearance
Affidavit: Gabbiee`s cell phone pinged near Grant`s home on morning of disappearance
Posted: Nov 13, 2012 10:10 PM CST Updated: Nov 14, 2012 7:57 AM CST
We're learning more details about the search for 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson. WIS just obtained a copy of the search warrant for Freddie Grant's home and the surrounding area.
The information was submitted back in August when Grant first became a suspect, but it is just now being made public.
Gabbiee has certainly been on the hearts and minds of many people since she disappeared.
An affidavit was submitted just three days after Gabbiee was reported missing. Investigators noted in the search warrant they were looking for Gabbiee's pajamas, cell phone, blood, hair, fibers, DNA, fingerprints, and any other evidence that may lead them to the missing teen.
In one of the sworn statements, investigators say the teen's cell phone was last activated at 7:35 a.m. the Saturday Gabbiee went missing. The signal was last detected in Elgin just 400 yards from Grant's home. The investigator even calls it "more than a simple coincidence" that Gabbiee's phone was turned on for the last time near "the mother's boyfriend's residence."
Investigators requested Gabbiee's cell phone records, including all incoming and outgoing calls, text messages and Internet activity.
Investigators also say Grant was accused of making inappropriate sexual comments toward Gabbiee. That information combined with blood found in Gabbiee's bed, phone GPS coordinates near Grant's home and the relationship between Gabbiee's mother and Grant convinced a Kershaw County magistrate to let investigators to search Grant's home
In Elvia Swainson's own words: Do you think Freddie Grant is involved?
Posted: 11.15.2012 at 10:00 PM
Updated: 11.16.2012 at 6:00 AM
COLUMBIA (WACH) — "No matter what it is, I want the truth to come out." The words of Elvia Swainson surrounding her daughter Gabbiee's disappearance.
Elvia discovered that Gabbiee was missing when she arrived home from work on Saturday, August 18, beginning a search that has continued for three months.
In the days that followed her disappearance, the Richland County Sheriff's Department named Freddie Grant as a suspect. He was subsequently charged with kidnapping and additional federal ammunition charged was filed against Grant, who is being held in Lexington County.
"No parent wants to go through this," Elvia Swainson says about her search for Gabbiee. "You wouldn't wish this on your worst enemy." Swainson has given several interviews and appeared alongside Sheriff Leon Lott at press conferences and updates for the public, however, she has said little about Grant, saying "that's not helping me find my child."
Post by: MuffyBee on December 11, 2012, 06:18:42 PM
http://www.abccolumbia.com/news/local/Online-Petition-Demands-Answers-182268151.html
Online Petition Seeks Answers in Swainson Case
Signatures target sheriff and suspect
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) -- An online petition is circulating asking that suspected kidnapper in the Gabbiee Swainson case, Freddie Grant, start talking. Gabbiee's mother, the police and a legal analyst speak out on whether signatures on a a piece of paper can get the answers an entire community wants to hear.
Elvia Swainson, mother of missing Midlands teenager Gabrielle Swainson, was the 85th person to sign an online petition to find her daughter. The teenager was taken from her Northeast Columbia home August 18th.
But even Elvia has doubts about this latest effort to locate her child.
"Many people want to do something, trying to help and I appreciate that. I just don't know how effective it is," said Elvia Swainson.
The petition, called 'Questioning Freddie Grant for the kidnapping of Gabbiee Swainson,' was started by a 12-year old girl who said if she went missing she would want people to help and she would want the person suspected of the crime to talk.
The1000-signature goal is more than half way met. Meanwhile, suspected kidnapper, Freddie Grant, remains silent about the case, even though authorities say they located Gabbie Swainson's DNA and other evidence possibly linking him to the crime at his Elgin home.
Richland County law enforcement says every little bit of information helps. However, legal analyst and attorney, Robert Rikard, says such a petition is a great public effort, but legally has no standing.
"It can't force the prosecution to do anything, police or a criminal defendant to do or not do anything."
:Meanwhile, the community wide search efforts in the case will spill over into the new year. Elvia Swainson says fundraiser to assist in locating the missing teenager has been scheduled for January 8th a Cici's Pizza at the Village at Sandhill in Northeast Columbia from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. A percentage of the proceeds will go towards the missing child fund in Gabbiee's name.
Post by: grace-land on December 16, 2012, 11:16:21 PM
http://www.wistv.com/story/20356433/teen-remains-missing-after-4-months
Teen remains missing after 4 months
Posted: Dec 16, 2012 9:39 AM CST Updated: Dec 16, 2012 9:45 AM CST
While the holiday shoppers passed through the Village at Sandhill, Elvia Swainson wants to remind people that her 15-year-old daughter, Gabbiee, is still missing.
"We just have to get the word out to the community that we're still looking for my daughter and we're hopeful that she's coming home any second now," said Swanson. "(That's) what I keep confessing every day - every second now."
"I don't think any parent stops looking for their child," she said.
Music, reflection and hope filled the room as people gathered for the "Hope for Gabbiee" concert Saturday night at the Village at Sandhill.
"We're just hoping to touch the right person that may have seen or heard but hadn't come forward to pretty much do that is what we're hoping happens," said Swainson.
Sheriff Lott said forensic evidence, including Gabbiee's blood on a piece of duct tape, linked Grant to forcefully taking her from her home.
Grant still isn't cooperating with authorities.
If you know anything that can help investigators, call Crimestoppers at 1-888-Crime-SC.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/213299/2/Judge-Freddie-Grant-Case-to-Move-Forward
Judge: Freddie Grant Case Involving Gabbiee Swainson to Move Forward
Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- A federal judge denied requests by Freddie Grant's attorneys to challenge warrants issued to search his home.
Grant is facing federal charges of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition. Investigators say they found the ammunition in his home, while searching his home for evidence in the case of missing teenager Gabbiee Swainson.
Jury selection for Grant's trial on the federal ammunition charge is scheduled for January 10th. The told the judge he may need to postpone the date of the trial due to his schedule. Grant said he was against any delay and asked for the trial to begin on January 14.
Grant told the judge that he understood his attorney may not be as prepared and that he would not be able to challenge any result of the trial based on that. He still opted to go with the date next month.
Post by: grace-land on January 15, 2013, 11:41:39 PM
http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Jury-finds-SC-man-guilty-on-federal-ammo-charge-4196191.php
Jury finds SC man guilty on federal ammo charge
Published 12:21 pm, Tuesday, January 15, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A man suspected in the disappearance of a Columbia teen has been convicted on a federal ammunition charge.
A federal jury on Tuesday found Freddie Grant guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Grant could face life in prison when he's sentenced in April.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/216786/2/Swainsons-Father-I-Dont-Think-Shes-Alive
Gabbiee Swainson's Father: "I Don't Think She's Alive"
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The man accused of kidnapping teenager Gabbiee Swainson was found guilty on separate federal ammunition charges Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the girl's father is expressing deep concerns about her ultimate fate.
"I don't think she's alive," said Alvin Thompson, Swainson's father. "I don't think she's alive. It's been way too much time. Only one person knows that for sure: him."
Post by: grace-land on February 07, 2013, 11:56:14 PM
Videos at link
The search for Gabbiee continues with the help of private investigators
In the days, weeks, and months that have passed, law enforcement investigators have been joined by a private investigation firm hired by Elvia.
"A lot of time with cases like this, there may be people who have had bad experiences with law enforcement," explains Senior Investigator Jael Gilreath about the use of a private investigation firm in a missing person case. "They may be more willing to talk to someone who isn't trying to get them in trouble – just trying to gather information."
There have been several bits of information released by police investigators in hopes that the information may trigger a memory or more information. According to Gilreath, duct tape with Gabbiee's DNA was found in Grant's house, as well as in a fenced in junk yard adjacent to his house when the area was searched.
Although it has been several months, efforts have not stopped.
"People still remember things, people still find things, and people still hear things," says Gilreath. She says that any information is important, regardless of how small it may seem to be. For private investigators like Gilreath, information and interviews still continue in hopes of finding clues.
If you have any information about Gabbiee Swainson's disappearance, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers, 1-888-CRIME-SC.
UPDATE: You can see more with Investogator Gilreath, and the exclusive video from the junk yard under the video section of this story.
Post by: grace-land on February 08, 2013, 11:38:02 AM
http://www.thestate.com/2013/02/08/2623366/grant-to-be-charged-in-richland.html
Friday, Feb. 08, 2013
Grant to be charged in Richland County teen's disappearance
RICHLAND COUNTY, SC — The Richland County Sheriff's Department today will charge Freddie Grant, of Elgin, in the disappearance of Gabrielle Swainson.
Sheriff Leon Lott announced Thursday evening that Grant will be taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on Friday for a 2:30 p.m. bond hearing in which he will be charged with kidnapping Swainson, the 15-year-old Ridge View High School student last seen in her home Aug. 18, 2012.
::MonkeyNoNo::
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/220766/2/Suspect-in-Teens-Kidnapping-Waives-Right-to-Hearing
Freddie Grant Waives Right to Hearing on Charge of Kidnapping Gabbiee Swainson
4:04 PM, Feb 8, 2013
Richland County, SC (WLTX) - A man Richland County deputies say kidnapped a Columbia teen has waived his right to a bond hearing.
Freddie Grant, 53, was scheduled to appear at the Richland County Detention center for a bond hearing on a kidnapping charge. However, about an hour before the proceeding was set to begin, he made his decision to not appear before the judge.
http://www.abccolumbia.com/news/local/SC-Teens-Disappearance--190304581.html
Suspect in Teen's Disappearance Waives Bond Hearing
Story Created: Feb 7, 2013 at 8:18 PM EST
(Story Updated: Feb 8, 2013 at 5:24 PM EST )
Columbia, SC (WOLO)-- Freddie Grant, the lone suspect in the Gabbiee Swainson kidnapping case, was a no-show at a bond hearing Friday, waiving his right to appear to answer to that charge. Richland County authorities have been building a kidnapping case against the 53-year-old since Swainson disappeared in August but were not able to formally charge Grant until now.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department says Grant waived his right to a bond hearing this afternoon and was returned to the Lexington Co. Detention Center, where he is being held awaiting sentencing on a federal ammunition conviction.
In January, Grant was convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He will be sentenced in that case in April.
Prosecutors have not set a date for his trial on the kidnapping charge.
Post by: grace-land on April 18, 2013, 01:49:44 AM
http://www.wistv.com/story/22005882/freddie-grant-to-be-sentenced-on-ammunition-charge
Freddie Grant to be sentenced on ammunition charge
Posted: Apr 17, 2013 4:08 PM CDT Updated: Apr 17, 2013 4:08 PM CDT
Freddie Grant, the prime suspect in the kidnapping of 14-year-old Gabbiee Swainson, will be sentenced in federal court Thursday on ammunition charges.
Investigators believe Grant kidnapped Gabbiee from her northeast Richland County home in August. He still refuses to work with authorities on the disappearance.
Both Sheriff Leon Lott and Gabbiee's mother, Elvia Swainson, plan to be the sentencing. He faces 15 to life. It will keep Grant behind bars, giving the county more time on their case.
Lott says an offer for leniency in exchange for Gabbiee's whereabouts was made, but he says Grant did not bite at the offer.
"There's been talks through his attorney about what the state, what the Solicitor's Office, and what the Sheriff's office has been willing to offer in exchange for him telling us where Gabbiee's at," said Lott. "That offer has been made. He hasn't accepted."
Nearly 8 months after Gabbiee disappeared, Lott says the county is ready to bring the case to court.
"We could go to court today," said Lott. "We're ready. We're prepared. The forensics are in, our leads have been followed up, we've done all the work, so we're ready to go, but we don't have to go right now, and that's the key.
So they're waiting, and won't bring this before a judge unless forced by Grant's attorney for a speedy trial.
Post by: grace-land on April 18, 2013, 05:11:09 PM
http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=886837#.UXBeOL4o7IV
Freddie Grant gets more than 17 years in prison on ammo conviction
Posted: 33 mins ago
COLUMBIA (WACH / AP) - A man believed to be the prime suspect in a 15-year-old Blythewood girl's 2012 disappearance is going to prison on a federal weapons conviction.
Freddie Grant, who Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott believes is responsible for the possible kidnapping and disappearance of 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson, got more than 17 years in prison on charges of possessing ammunition by a felon.
Prosecutors presented a recording of a conversation between Grant and his daughter, Dominique, while Grant was awaiting trial on federal weapons charges.
His attorney says he plans to appeal that verdict.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/23/3999034/sc-kidnapping-suspect-appealing.html
SC kidnapping suspect appealing ammo conviction
Posted: Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. A man charged with kidnapping a Richland County teen is appealing his 17-year prison sentence on a federal ammunition charge.
Court documents filed Monday show that an attorney for 53-year-old Freddie Grant has asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider his client's case.
Post by: Sister on April 24, 2013, 04:48:23 AM
Quote from: grace-land on April 23, 2013, 08:44:38 PM
oh boo to the hoo!
Post by: MuffyBee on April 24, 2013, 11:07:42 PM
http://www.abccolumbia.com/news/local/Missing-Teen-Honored-During-Senior-Night-203325241.html
Gabbie Swainson Honored During Senior Night
http://www.thestate.com/2013/04/18/2730616/accused-kidnapper-freddie-grant.html
Accused kidnapper Freddie Grant sentenced to 17 years for ammunition
COLUMBIA, SC — Accused kidnapper Freddie Grant was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison Thursday amid accusations that he pressured his adult daughter to lie on his behalf during his trial.
Grant was found guilty in January to being a felon in possession of ammunition, found in his Elgin home while police were looking for missing Richland County teen Gabrielle Swainson.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie said she gave Grant a higher than usual sentence because he is an armed career criminal who has broken laws since he was 20 years old. He has previous convictions for assault with grievous bodily harm and kidnapping while stationed in Korea with the Army, and a possession with intent to distribute cocaine conviction in South Carolina.
Currie also ruled that prosecutors had presented credible evidence that Grant pressured his daughter into lying on his behalf during his January trial on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
"He put incredible pressure on her to lie for him," Currie said. "He put her in a position to perjure herself in a federal court."
No charges have been filed against his daughter, Dominique Grant, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Haynes, who prosecuted Freddie Grant, said no decisions have been made on whether to charge her.
During the jury trial, Dominique Grant testified that she stored .38-caliber bullets and shotgun shells at her father's house after she moved around between college and her early working career. She said she left the ammo in bags and boxes in a bedroom at her father's house.
However, pictures taken when investigators found the ammunition showed that the bullets were in a nightstand drawer and the shells were on the bottom shelf of an end table in Grant's cluttered, fire-damaged home.
Those pictures showed that even if Dominique Grant originally owned the ammo, her father knew it was in the house and had moved it around. Currie noted that in court, saying Dominique Grant's testimony damaged her father's case.
"He put her in tremendous jeopardy, and, in fact, convicted himself," Currie said.
Prosecutors suspected the Grants had cooked up a story about the ammunition and had asked the Lexington County Detention Center for audio recordings of their phone calls, Haynes said. All inmate calls at the detention center are recorded.
Haynes read transcripts of several calls in the month before the trial in which Freddie Grant and his daughter talked about a checklist. He warned her not to talk about it on the phone.
"Handle the checklist," Haynes said as she read Freddie Grant's side of the conversation. "I need you to do it. I love you. Let the chips fall where they may."
After Thursday's sentencing, Dominique Grant declined to talk about the perjury accusations.
"It has become clear to me that I'm being accused of a crime," she said.
Freddie Grant's kidnapping charges are pending in Richland County circuit court. He is accused of kidnapping 15-year-old Swainson, who disappeared from her mother's Northeast Richland home in the early morning hours of Aug. 18. He also is a suspect in the disappearance of Adrianna Laster, who was 28 when she was last seen in the fall of 2011. She was living with Grant before she was reported missing.
Freddie Grant had dated Gabrielle's mother, Elvia Swainson.
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/04/18/2730616/accused-kidnapper-freddie-grant.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.wistv.com/story/22054899/suspect-in-gabbiee-swainson-disappearance-to-appeal-federal-ammo-conviction
Suspect in Gabbiee Swainson disappearance to appeal federal ammo conviction
The lone suspect in the disappearance of 15-year-old Gabrielle Swainson is appealing a federal ammo conviction that promises to lock him up for more than 17 years.
Last week Grant, 53, was convicted of possession of ammunition by an individual who is disqualified to do so because of a prior conviction.
A federal judge handed down a sentence of 212 months in prison.
Grant's attorney on Monday filed the notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Investigators found a box of shotgun shells and a box of .38 caliber bullets in Grant's home while they were searching for clues in Swainson's disappearance.
Swainson remains missing after 8 months.
Richland County investigators plan to bring Grant back to court again any day now to face a kidnapping charge.
Thursday's verdict appears to give investigators more time to look into and follow up on leads in the case.
Post by: grace-land on July 11, 2013, 09:56:59 PM
http://www.abccolumbia.com/news/local/Arrest-in-Gabbiee-Swainson-Case-215154271.html
Arrest in Gabbiee Swainson Case
Story Created: Jul 11, 2013 at 6:33 PM EDT
(Story Updated: Jul 11, 2013 at 7:16 PM EDT )
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO/RCSD) -- There has been an arrest in the disappearance of missing Midlands teenager Gabbie Swainson. Dominique Grant, daughter of suspected kidnapper, Freddie Grant, was arrested and charged with Accessory After the Fact of a Felony, in connection with disappearance of Swainson.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott stated that on June 18, 2013, Gabbiee's cell phone was recovered behind a Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, by a delivery driver. The sheriff stated that Dominique Grant placed the phone there with the sole purpose of planting evidence to throw off the investigation. The sheriff added that both Freddie Grant and Dominique Grant have information on what specifically happened to Gabbiee and are working together to destroy evidence and thwart the investigation.
Post by: MuffyBee on July 11, 2013, 10:37:59 PM
Thank you for the update grace-land. It's good to know the investigation into Gabbiee's disappearance has been going on all this time and they're making headway. I was worried this might be one of the cases where LE has strong suspicions but no evidence for an arrest and conviction and it would end up in the cold case files. I hope Gabbiee can be found and those responsible for her death and anyone that helped her murderer/murderers pay for their deeds.
Post by: Sister on July 12, 2013, 08:07:57 AM
Quote from: MuffyBee on July 11, 2013, 10:37:59 PM
::rhino::
I was worried, too. Maybe the LE will be able to get some useful information from his daughter and help bring Gabbiee home.
Video at the link
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/242375/2/Sheriff-Evidence-Extracted-From-Gabbiees-Cell-Phone
Sheriff: Evidence Extracted From Gabbiee's Cell Phone
6:36 PM, Jul 12, 2013
"Elvia, Gabbie's mom gets a call from Gabbie's phone," said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. "Elvia's in church. She checked her phone when she got out and there was a missed call from Gabbiee. I can only imagine the emotion."
Lott says a worker found the phone and didn't know it belonged to a young woman who'd been missing for almost a year.
"Anything that could have been taken from that phone, we've done," Lott said. "Now the fact that we can connect that phone to Freddie Grant and his daughter is just more evidence of what we already know that Freddie is responsible for kidnapping Gabbiee and for her disappearance."
Lott says 27 year old Dominique Grant placed the phone at the grocery store. She's the daughter of Freddie Grant, the man police have charged in Gabbiee's disappearance.
"I don't want people to think Gabbiee was in Myrtle Beach. Gabbiee was not in Myrtle Beach. The phone was placed in Myrtle Beach," Lott said. "We know the last time that phone was used and pinged from was by Freddie Grant's residence."
When asked about other clues taken from the Myrtle Beach scene, Lott said, "Nothing that we're going to reveal at this point."
Oh my gosh! How heartbreaking for Elvia to have a missed call from Gabbiee under such tragic circumstances. ::MonkeyNoNo::
It is heartbreaking for her mother. Now, the only hope in finding Gabbiee is for the daughter of Grant to do the right thing and cooperate with the le. imo
Post by: cw618 on July 17, 2013, 05:34:05 PM
good im betting the grants left more evidence somewhere to, the daughter will go down too
whats it call obstuction of justice,evidence tampering
yea LE ::MonkeyGavel::
Post by: darla on August 08, 2013, 07:24:39 PM
Breaking News......http://www.wltx.com/news/article/245399/2/Sheriff-Lott-The-Search-for-Gabbiee-Swainson-is-Over
::snipping3::Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says he believes his officers have found the location where the remains of missing Columbia teen Gabbiee Swainson have been found.
Lott says 53-year-old Freddie Grant led officers to a location near Elgin Thursday where Grant has said he buried the girl.
"The search for Gabbiee is over," Lott said. "She is coming home."
Swainson, 15, had been missing since August 18th, 2012.
Grant has been the prime suspect all along in Swainson's disappearance. He was being held in a prison in Kentucky after a conviction on a federal charge.
::snipping3::More at link!
http://www.wistv.com/story/23088103/sheriff-leon-lott
Video at link.
Post by: klaasend on August 08, 2013, 07:47:01 PM
http://www.wistv.com/story/23088103/sheriff-leon-lott (http://www.wistv.com/story/23088103/sheriff-leon-lott)
Sheriff Leon Lott: "The search for Gabbiee is over"
Posted: Aug 08, 2013 3:39 PM PST Updated: Aug 08, 2013 4:43 PM PST
By Jeremy Turnage - email
Lott made the announcement Thursday evening at a 7 p.m. news conference. Deputies are currently at the scene near the fire department in Elgin searching for Gabbiee's remains. The area was searched when Gabbiee disappeared last August and the FBI set up a command post there.
"Many, many people walked that area," said Lott. "But the way she was concealed, you wouldn't know. The type of hole that he dug, the things he put on top of it. The cadaver dog would not have been able to find it at the depth that it was. We just couldn't find it. There's just no way of finding it without someone taking us to that area and showing us."
"We've provided them with a backhoe," said Kershaw County Sheriff James Matthews. "They are continuing to dig. They have found a body."
Matthews said although Swainson's body was found in Kershaw County, the case remains with the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Matthews was called to assist the investigation Thursday afternoon.
Title: Re: Gabrielle "Gabbiee" Swainson 15, Missing from SC Home 8/18/12(Body Found)
So sad, but so glad she has been found. He gave up the info to help his daughter who got rid of the phone in Myrtle Beach. Sorry POS.
Quote from: darla on August 08, 2013, 07:55:01 PM
Thank you for bringing the news Gabbiee's been found, darla. I felt so badly for her mother not knowing where her daughter's remains were all this time.
It's a shame a deal was made, but it may have been the only way Gabbiee could ever have been brought home.
I hope there will be forensic evidence from Gabbiee's remains to help justice along. Hoping and praying there will be justice for Gabbiee. ::justice2nj2::
YW Muffy....She was only a a block or so from his home. Sheriff Lott said that Freddie Grant did not lead them to the body out of the goodness of his heart! They said the way she was buried , she would have never been found if he had not taken them to the spot.
Thank you, Darla! Gabbiee is coming home! Rest in Peace, Gabbiee. ::MonkeyAngel::
In the video, Sheriff Lott said that the turning point came when Freddie's daughter was arrested.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/245399/2/Sheriff-Lott-The-Search-for-Gabbiee-Swainson-is-Over
In the article below, his daughter said that she was not going to lie for him, and she wanted Gabbiee to be found.
http://www.thestate.com/2013/07/11/2857644/daughter-of-accused-kidnapper.html
Daughter of accused kidnapper charged in Gabrielle Swainson disappearance
During sentencing, U.S. District Court Cameron McGowan Currie said prosecutors presented credible evidence to suggest Freddie Grant pressured his daughter to lie for him in federal court.
But at Thursday's bond hearing, Dominique Grant said is innocent, that she wouldn't lie for her father if it meant losing her freedom. She also wants Gabrielle to be found, she said.
"If I have to lose my freedom to find out what happened to her, that's OK," she said.
::monkeyscissors::Just after 9 p.m. Thursday night, Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews said crews finished removing the body from the scene, after an excavation effort that took several hours.
Lott was not specific, but said that something recovered at that scene led him to conclude beyond a doubt that his officers had found the girl's remains. ::snipping3:: :
When I go that way again, I will leave a memorial for the Monkeys. I am familiar with the area. RIP Gabbiee!
Thank you darla.
Rest in peace Gabbiee! ::MonkeyAngel::
Yes...TY Darla
Post by: Sister on August 09, 2013, 11:26:13 AM
That will be so kind of you Darline.
::MonkeyAngel::
http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/08/2908377/sheriff-calls-7-pm-press-conference.html
Body found in Elgin confirmed to be Gabrielle Swainson; suspect charged after leading deputies to grave
Published August 8, 2013, Updated August 9, 2013 (47 minutes ago)
UPDATE: 12:27 p.m.
Paperwork was filed Friday morning to drop charges against Freddie Grant's daughter, who was accused in June of trying to mislead investigators looking into Gabrielle Swainson's disappearance.
Dominique Grant was charged with accessory after the fact to a felony when she was spotted near a Myrtle Beach grocery store where a truck driver found Gabrielle's phone in June. Dominique Grant has been held on a $300,000 bond at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center for more than a month.
It's believed that Dominique Grant's release was part of a deal that led to her father revealing the location where he buried Gabrielle.
Meanwhile, Freddie Grant appeared before a magistrate judge Friday morning, where he was formally charged with murder in the teen's death.
UPDATE 11:30 a.m.
Examiners Monday were able to confirm that the body found buried in Elgin Thursday was that of Gabrielle Swainson, according to a Richland County Sheriff's Department release.
The girl's identity was released as the Richland County Coroner's Office conducts an autopsy. Exactly how Gabrielle died isn't yet known, but that information will be released later by Richland County Coroner Gary Watts.
Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/08/2908377/sheriff-calls-7-pm-press-conference.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.wistv.com/story/23093593/paperwork-filed-to-dispose-charges-against-dominque-grant
Dominique Grant released from jail, paperwork filed to dispose of charges
Posted: Aug 09, 2013 10:50 AM CDT Updated: Aug 09, 2013 3:20 PM CDT
Dominique Grant, the daughter of murder suspect Freddie Grant, is out of jail and paperwork has been filed to dispose of the accessory after the fact charge against her.
"A point where this case took a very important turn was where Freddie's daughter, Dominique, was arrested," said Lott. "That was, I guess, the breaking point as far as to getting Freddie to lead us to where Gabbiee was at. So I don't want anybody to think he did this out of his conscience or he felt bad for Gabbiee or Elvia or this community. He didn't do that. He did it solely because his daughter was arrested and she was facing some very serious jail time. That's what we needed."
The Sheriff alluded to a deal between Freddie and investigators in order for Freddie to give up the location of Swainson's body, but Lott never elaborated on the details of that deal.
It is not clear if Dominique's charges being disposed was part of the deal.
According to criminal defense attorney Joe McCulloch, deals like this are not uncommon to get results.
"No, it's not all that unusual," said McCulloch. "There are a number of factors, the significance of his daughter's complicity here, whether she cooperated."
RIP Gabbiee...u did nothing to deserve what happened to u. I am so sorry that u did not get to grow up sweet girl.
http://www.wistv.com/story/23127580/freddie-grant-to-appear-in-court-on-murder-charge
Freddie Grant to appear in court on murder charge
Posted: Aug 13, 2013 4:06 PM CDT Updated: Aug 13, 2013 4:08 PM CDT
The man accused of kidnapping and killing 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson will appear in court on Wednesday afternoon.
Freddie Grant, 53, is scheduled to be at Richland County General Sessions court at 2:30 p.m. to hear the charge of murder.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/245841/2/Funeral-Services-Set-for-Gabbiee-Swainson-
Funeral Services Set for Gabbiee Swainson
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Funeral services have been set for Columbia teen Gabbiee Swainson.
Services will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Right Direction Church on Broad River Road in Columbia.
The service will take place one year after the 15 year old body was kidnapped from her home. Her body was found last Thursday in a field in Elgin. She had been missing for 357 days.
Meanwhile, the town of Elgin is holding a candlelight vigil for Swainson on Wednesday night at 8:15 at the Town Square on Main Street. The event is open to everyone.
http://www.wistv.com/story/23130252/coroner-gabbiee-swainson-died-of-homicidal-violence
Coroner: Gabbiee Swainson died of "homicidal violence"
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts confirmed that 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson died as a result of homicidal violence.
The coroner plans to release a more in-depth report detailing the circumstances surrounding Gabbiee's death.
http://www.wistv.com/story/23137035/court-documents-reveal-gabbiee-swainson-died-of-asphyxiation
Court documents reveal Gabbiee Swainson died of asphyxiation
Gabbiee Swainson died from asphyxiation, according to court documents.
An indictment for murder signed by Fifth Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson reads: "That Freddie Grant did in Richland County on or about August 18, 2012, willfully, feloniously, and intentionally kill the victim, Gabrielle Swainson, with malice aforethought, either express or implied, by means of asphyxiation, and the victim did die as a proximate result thereof.
http://www.wistv.com/story/23137483/freddie-grant-gets-30-years-for-killing-gabbiee-swainson
Freddie Grant accepts deal, gets 30 years for killing Gabbiee Swainson
The man who kidnapped and killed Gabbiee Swainson will spend 30 years in state prison for his actions, after negotiating a deal with authorities. He will first serve 18 years at a federal facility before starting his state sentence.
In front of a packed Richland County courtroom, Freddie Grant, 53, agreed to plead guilty and accept concurrent sentences of 30 years on charges of kidnapping and murder with no chance for parole in return for showing authorities where the 15-year-old's body was buried.
He faced up to life in prison.
"This case has deeply affected our community," said the judge. "I will go along with this negotiation because of the need for Gabbiee's family to have closure."
Prosecutors also agreed to drop charges against Grant's daughter, Dominique, as part of the deal. She was facing accessory after the fact charges in connection with the discovery of Gabbiee's cell phone in Myrtle Beach.
Fifth Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson and Richland County Leon Lott, the two men responsible for the agreement with Grant, were in attendance to explain the process behind the negotiations.
Johnson said he and Lott began mulling approaching Grant's attorney, a public defender, after the sheriff came to the conclusion that searchers may never find the Ridge View High School student.
"I don't think anybody can imagine what she has been living with for the past year," Johnson told the court on behalf of Elvia Swainson, Gabbiee's mother. "Given the pain she has gone through, I think she wants the court to know that nothing you can do in this courtroom can be enough for what he deserves. She loved her girl."
Ultimately, it was the discovery of Gabbiee's cell phone behind a Myrtle Beach grocery store that helped to break open the case, Johnson said.
"That made us feel we were able to approach this defendant," Johnson told the Court.
According to Johnson, Grant bound Gabbiee's hands and face and suffocated her before disposing of her body in a deep grave not far from his Elgin home.
Grant is currently serving a 18-year federal sentence on an ammunition conviction. He is appealing that sentence.
As part of the deal, Grant will not be able to appeal the state ruling.
Post by: cookie on August 15, 2013, 10:55:57 AM
Sooooo sad!
Quote from: cookie on August 15, 2013, 10:55:57 AM
What a long year for her family.
::MonkeyTears::
Rest in Peace, Gabbiee. ::MonkeyAngel::
http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/18/2927669/live-updates-hundreds-mourn-gabbiee.html
Hundreds mourn Gabbiee at last farewell
Published: August 18, 2013 Updated 12 hours ago
(http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2013/08/18/22/28/WUZk3.AuSt.74.jpeg)
Elvia Swainson raises her hand in prayer before a photograph of her deceased daughter, Gabbiee Swainson, during a "Celebration of Life" memorial service held Sunday evening at Right Direction Church International on Broad River Road. C MICHAEL BERGEN
More than 1,000 on Sunday bid a last goodbye to Gabbiee Swainson, the long-missing murdered teen whose disappearance a year ago and tragic discovery of her body earlier this month has long riveted the Midlands' attention.
"I'm not going to tell you God needed another flower in heaven — He created all the flowers, and this wasn't His way of getting flowers," the Rev. Herbert Bailey told the crowd .
"Some of you hear preachers tell you that kind of stuff — that's a lie. Tell them I told you."
Bailey said he couldn't explain why Gabbiee's life had been taken and urged the audience to take refuge in faith, that "God will comfort us in any trouble" and find a way to bring good out of the inexplicable grief left by Gabbiee's death.
The service at Right Direction Church International, a nondenominational Christian church, lasted more than two hours, but few left before the end as the hymns, songs and testimonies by adults and young people who knew Gabbiee — who exceled at dance, academics and music — kept the crowd's attention.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl