Family Offers Reward For Tips In Clearwater Double Homicide

CLEARWATER, FL -- One month after an elderly couple was found shot to death in their Clearwater home, the children of David and Mina Swan announced Monday, Oct. 29, that they are offering a $25,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of their parents' killer.

This reward is in addition to the $3,000 reward offered Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County.

The police have yet to identify a suspect in the case, and the family is hoping the additional reward will generate tips.

David Swan, 88, and Mina Swan, 80, were found dead in their home in the 1000 block of Flushing Avenue in Clearwater on Sept. 29.

Mina Swan was a retired Clearwater High School art teacher. Her husband was a retired accountant. By all accounts, the Swans were an affable, well-liked couple. Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter said detectives have no idea why anyone would want the couple dead. (see related story).

The Swans' bodies were discovered after longtime neighbor Joel Locke noticed the lights were on in the house and the couple hadn't retrieved the newspaper from the driveway. He contacted the couple's children. It was Locke and the Swans' daughter who discovered their bodies on either side of the coffee table in the living room.

Slaughter said his forensic team and detectives have spent countless hours collecting trace evidence from the home in the hopes of finding a clue that will lead to the killer.

"They basically lived a quiet, peaceful life," said Slaughter. "They seemed like very nice people and it's hard to fathom the motive for their murders."

Nevertheless, Slaughter said they were targeted by their killer.

"The offender came with the intent to kill the Swans," he said. "It does not appear to be a random act."

Detectives have been interviewing anyone who knew the couple. In targeted murders such as this, Slaughter said there is usually some relationship between the killer and the victims.

A second marriage for both, the Swans exchanged vows in 1998. He had four children from his previous marriage. She had three.

"They loved life," said Mina Swan's daughter, Noel Devine. "They just returned from a trip to Iceland and were planning a trip to the fjords in Norway next year and a Caribbean trip this fall."

The couple was last seen on Thursday, Sept. 27 at about 3 p.m. Their bodies were discovered at 1:52 p.m. on Sept. 29.

Clearwater Police have established a tip line for this case. Anyone with information should call 727-562-4141.

Related stories:

Chief Says Murders Of Retired Clearwater Couple Hard To Fathom

Clearwater Police Release Names Of Double Homicide Victims

Image via Clearwater Police

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