Via Press Release:
Theo Crowe, age 25, has been charged with the murder-AA Felony, punishable by Life in prison w/out parole-of John Swain, 18, Bismarck.
Swain was initially reported to the Bismarck Police Department as a missing person on May 14th by his roommate. The last the roommate heard from Swain was a text message he received on May 11th. The roommate was concerned because Swain has a medical condition and he didn’t have his medication with him. A state wide BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for a welfare check was sent by dispatch.
Bismarck Police investigators continued to attempt to locate Swain. Several news releases with Swain’s picture and description were released to the public. Investigators conducted numerous interviews attempting to locate Swain.
On June 20th, Bismarck Police took a found property report from a resident at the 400 block of North 22nd Street. The occupants had found a trash can in the back of the shed while gardening that had burnt material inside. The occupants sifted through the material and found a knife, male clothing and pieces of a cell phone.
The resident of this address had let Theo Crowe stay in the residents home temporarily while she was out of state, approximately between May 5th through May 31st. When she returned home, there was evidence an assault had occurred.
The trash can and material was taken to the Bismarck Police Department where investigators determined the clothing appeared to match what Swain was wearing at the time he was last seen. At that point the investigation switched from a missing person to a homicide.
Through investigation, Bismarck Police detectives were able to determine that Theo Crowe was a suspect in the murder. He was subsequently located in Williams County where he was already in custody for an unrelated matter.
Swain’s body has not been found. Police are urging everyone to be on the lookout for signs of fresh digging where a body could have been buried.
Anyone having information about this case should call the Bismarck Police Department at 223-1212.
The Police Department wishes to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Swain.
