Missing Sailor In Murder Case Turns Self In
Body Of Woman Found In Massachusetts
POSTED: 7:10 am EDT May 21, 2004
UPDATED: 7:16 am EDT May 21, 2004
GALLOWAY, Ohio -- A sailor wanted for several days in the disappearance of his roommate, whose body is believed to have been found in Massachusetts, drove to his hometown to see his family before turning himself in, his mother said.
It was Jarred Swartzmiller's idea to surrender Thursday, Carol Swartzmiller said.
"He was ready to do whatever he needed to do," she said at a family friend's home Thursday night. "He just wanted to see us before he did it."
The Galloway native was taken into custody without incident at FBI headquarters in Columbus and was being held on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Special Agent Kevin Horan said.
Authorities believe a partially burned, half-naked body found Monday in Hatfield, Mass., may be that of Swartzmiller's roommate, Laura Anne Skinner, 21.
Swartzmiller, 21, and Skinner lived in Virginia Beach, Va., and were assigned to the Navy's USS Theodore Roosevelt. Both were reported missing Monday by a third roommate when they failed to show up for work.
There were signs of a violent struggle at their home, and authorities issued warrants for Swartzmiller on charges of malicious assault and unlawful flight.
Carol Swartzmiller said her son rarely talked about his roommates, but said he was friends with them. She said she wasn't aware of any problems between them.
She said she's relieved her son is safe but is still in disbelief about the charges he faces.
"I couldn't believe it could be possible," she said. "It doesn't sound like my son at all. Even tonight he was so loving, gentle and caring."
Jarred Swartzmiller first sought out his younger brother, showing up about 4:15 p.m. Thursday at the pizza place where 19-year-old Jeff Swartzmiller works, the brother said.
"He seemed normal, just very much like a tired person," Jeff Swartzmiller said.
Jeff Swartzmiller then called his mother. She said she called a family friend, who phoned the police in Virginia Beach.
Jarred Swartzmiller met for about a half hour with his brothers, Jeff and Jason, and a friend, Colin Castle, said Carol Swartzmiller. Castle then drove Jarred Swartzmiller to the FBI office in Columbus so he could surrender, his mother said.
The friend also contacted the FBI, and agents told him to bring Swartzmiller in, Horan said. Swartzmiller surrendered about 6:45 p.m., Horan said.
Carol Swartzmiller had issued a plea Wednesday night for her son to come home. She said she hadn't been able to reach him on his cell phone.
Jeff Swartzmiller said he doesn't think his brother, an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan and comic book collector, would hurt anybody.
Jarred Swartzmiller was being examined Thursday night at Grant Medical Center in Columbus for a medical problem, said Horan, who declined to give details.
Horan said Swartzmiller eventually would be taken to the Franklin County jail. He did not know when the sailor would be returned to Virginia.
No positive identification had been made Thursday on the body. Virginia Beach police spokeswoman Rene Ball had said there were "a number of similarities" between the body and the physical description of Skinner.
Just last week, Skinner had married another sailor, Denis Alford, 21, in DeLand, Fla.
This kid's family lives around the corner from me. News trucks have been all over the neighborhood. The "family friend's home" that is referred to is right across the street from me. It's weird.
Anyone heard this news story yet?
