Unnamed Friend

What a strange night that must have been.

Yeah, I'm not surprised. It seemed helpful to put on a candlelight vigil, so that's what they did. And Karen's son, Preston, went before TV cameras with an emotional appeal.

Yeah, I'm not surprised. It seemed helpful to put on a candlelight vigil, so that's what they did. And Karen's son, Preston, went before TV cameras with an emotional appeal.

And I love you, Mom. Angie Gallagher became friends with Karen when the Swifts lived in Arkansas and was desperate to do something.

And I love you, Mom. Angie Gallagher became friends with Karen when the Swifts lived in Arkansas and was desperate to do something.

Nearly 20 of them showed up on their horses. They rode for miles, scouring the woods around Karen's house. None of it was easy, mostly because of the dense kudzu vines that grow everywhere in Dyer County.

Nearly 20 of them showed up on their horses. They rode for miles, scouring the woods around Karen's house. None of it was easy, mostly because of the dense kudzu vines that grow everywhere in Dyer County.

And of course, the sheriff's investigators were learning everything they could about Karen Swift.

And of course, the sheriff's investigators were learning everything they could about Karen Swift.

Karen was a stay-at-home mom who didn't really care much for staying at home.

Karen was a stay-at-home mom who didn't really care much for staying at home.

Up for anything, apparently, huh?

Up for anything, apparently, huh?

Including all kinds of mischief. She even joined her kids with a supply of toilet paper to do some decorating at Robin's house a few days before Halloween.

Including all kinds of mischief. She even joined her kids with a supply of toilet paper to do some decorating at Robin's house a few days before Halloween.

So you gave them toilet paper all over the trees, yeah?

So you gave them toilet paper all over the trees, yeah?

David had a good job as a manager in a factory that made gas pipelines, shared a deep sense of faith with Karen, and was devoted to his children.

David had a good job as a manager in a factory that made gas pipelines, shared a deep sense of faith with Karen, and was devoted to his children.

Karen told friends how much she wanted her kids to live in a happy home, something she said she didn't have growing up.