Beulah Man Gets Max Sentence Of 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire

November 23, 2019

A Beulah man received the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison Friday 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 previously 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 the 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. At the time of her escape, she was 26 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s baby.

Comments

3 Responses to “Beulah Man Gets Max Sentence Of 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire”

  1. molino jim on November 23rd, 2019 9:59 am

    How about we break his fingers– light him up with lighter fluid and hit him in the head a few times. Then ask him if it’s fun having this done to him

  2. David on November 23rd, 2019 9:57 am

    @ Paul…I am with you but…do not wait 20 years to light him up…I will pay the electric bill and flip the switch

  3. Paul on November 23rd, 2019 5:35 am

    Fire up old sparky.
    30.yrs. Not enough

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News