Beulah Man Faces 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire

October 28, 2019

A Beulah man is facing up to 30 years in prison for the attempted murder of his live-in, pregnant girlfriend by lighting her on fire and hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer multiple times with enough force to cause a brain bleed.

Kenneth Duaine Swanger entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, and aggravated battery on a pregnant person. He will be sentenced November 22.

Swanger, 43, and the 23-year old victim had been romantically involved and resided together for about a year preceding these offenses. The victim had originally worked for defendant as a maid prior to their relationship.

Between July and September 2018, Swanger set the victim on fire with lighter fluid, hit her over the head with a blunt object, and punished her with other numerous acts of verbal and physical abuse. Swanger misled friends and family by telling them the victim was a drug addict, and attempted to explain her injuries away as being related to her addiction. Though he told friends and family that he took her to the hospital and contacted law enforcement, it was later learned the victim was unable to leave the home without him, and he had screwed all of the doors and windows shut from the inside.

On September 15, 2018, the victim escaped, leaving everything behind, and ran to the Tom Thumb on Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road where she called her family in Mississippi. Once she received proper medical attention for her injuries, it was discovered she had second degree burns over 15% of her body, subdural hematoma, and broken fingers. It should be noted, at the time of her escape, she was 26 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s baby.

Comments

9 Responses to “Beulah Man Faces 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire”

  1. Sedition on November 2nd, 2019 10:15 am

    Let the punishment fit the crime. I’ll spring for the gas, lighter and sledge hammer.

  2. rance on October 29th, 2019 1:51 am

    with any justice your last breaths on this earth will be in a prison cell

  3. Charlotte Bates on October 28th, 2019 11:27 pm

    My first husband was very abusive. When I finally got out of that marriage, I swore I would never allow another man to hit me. I am with a good man now, and yes, he did hit me once, but he soon found out really quick, that was a huge mistake. I was on him like stink on crap. He never hit me again, and that was twenty years ago. So, women, and men as well. NEVER ALLOW A MAN HIT YOU, OR NEVER ALLOW A WOMAN TO HIT YOU. It does go both ways. I just pray this young lady will be o.k., and find her someone that will treat her like a lady. But right now, she just needs to get herself healed, and figure out what she wants out of life, and realize she does not need a man to take care of her, especially this day and age. If you want a man in your life, make sure you both are a team member and you love each other.

  4. Mary on October 28th, 2019 10:34 pm

    GIVE HIM TO ME!!!!! LET A BURN VICTIM HANDLE HIM I PROMISE YOU HE WILL BE BEGGING FOR LIFE. YOU LOW LIFE POS MY GOD IF THIS IS THE NEW ROMANCE THE HELL WITH IT I PRAY GOD DEALS WITH YOU BECAUSE THE LAW WILL NOT ALLOW US TO.

  5. Sgt Friday on October 28th, 2019 3:43 pm

    Nice touch, kenny.

    30 years is all?

  6. Just Saying on October 28th, 2019 2:36 pm

    Put him in the cell with the sex trafficker, they deserve each other! Two sick individuals!!!

  7. EMD on October 28th, 2019 1:39 pm

    If this is romance, I want NO part of it. Women: Never marry a man to get out of a bad situation. You may get into one that is worse.

  8. Candy on October 28th, 2019 1:18 pm

    OMG!!

  9. Dale Flowers on October 28th, 2019 1:11 pm

    Turn this guy over to the victim’s father, uncles and brothers.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News