Unnamed Friend

It was October 29th, 2011, two nights to Halloween when they gathered to celebrate in their costumes and their masks. To hide their secrets, perhaps? But certainly to make a new one, the darkest secret of them all.

It was a who's who of Dyersburg gathered for a Halloween party. Jason Creasy, a locally prominent lawyer and judge, was one of the hosts.

It was a who's who of Dyersburg gathered for a Halloween party. Jason Creasy, a locally prominent lawyer and judge, was one of the hosts.

Including a woman named Karen Swift. Charismatic Karen. Life of the party, usually. What was she wearing?

Including a woman named Karen Swift. Charismatic Karen. Life of the party, usually. What was she wearing?

She didn't have much fun, either. Wasn't the Karen who loved to sing and dance. She was the plus one of another couple and felt like a third wheel. So she called her friend Jenny Gurian.

She didn't have much fun, either. Wasn't the Karen who loved to sing and dance. She was the plus one of another couple and felt like a third wheel. So she called her friend Jenny Gurian.

But Karen stuck it out. It was late when she left the party with the couple who had taken her, Bill and Kathy Bona. They stopped at a McDonald's for some fries. And then they went to the Bona's house, where Karen planned to spend the night. She would rejoin her own family in the morning. But after midnight, Karen got a call from her nine-year-old daughter, Ashley.

But Karen stuck it out. It was late when she left the party with the couple who had taken her, Bill and Kathy Bona. They stopped at a McDonald's for some fries. And then they went to the Bona's house, where Karen planned to spend the night. She would rejoin her own family in the morning. But after midnight, Karen got a call from her nine-year-old daughter, Ashley.

You were at a sleepover, and there were like three girls there, and they were kind of making you feel like the one left out, right?

You were at a sleepover, and there were like three girls there, and they were kind of making you feel like the one left out, right?

That feels crappy, doesn't it?

That feels crappy, doesn't it?

So, Mom Karen wasn't the only third wheel. You called your mom then, huh? Is that what happened?

So, Mom Karen wasn't the only third wheel. You called your mom then, huh? Is that what happened?

David Swift stayed up to make sure his wife and daughter got home safely, which they did after 2 a.m. David went to bed in one room while Ashley fell asleep with her mom in another. But she remembers waking up in a different room. What happened when you woke up in the morning?

David Swift stayed up to make sure his wife and daughter got home safely, which they did after 2 a.m. David went to bed in one room while Ashley fell asleep with her mom in another. But she remembers waking up in a different room. What happened when you woke up in the morning?

It wouldn't be slow for long. David and the girls woke up around 10 a.m., but Karen wasn't there. And then a neighbor told David that she saw Karen's car less than half a mile from the Swift home. One of the tires was completely flat, and there was no sign of Karen. Did you understand then that something must have happened to your mom, that she was missing and this wasn't good?

It wouldn't be slow for long. David and the girls woke up around 10 a.m., but Karen wasn't there. And then a neighbor told David that she saw Karen's car less than half a mile from the Swift home. One of the tires was completely flat, and there was no sign of Karen. Did you understand then that something must have happened to your mom, that she was missing and this wasn't good?

Karen didn't answer several texts and calls that morning. So David and Karen's friends, the Bonas, called the Dyer County Sheriff's Office. Terry McCrite is chief investigator. One of your deputies went to have a look at the car, right?