PROSECUTOR: Principal Criminal Attorney Bret Wasley, Homicide Unit
Frank Swanson IV was convicted by a jury of the second-degree murder of his 78-year-old grandfather, Frank “Pete” Swanson II. The jury also found true that the defendant committed the murder while personally using a deadly and dangerous weapon.
In November 2019, Frankie Swanson IV moved in with the victim. In March 2020, Swanson became angry over a financial situation and stopped taking his medication for schizoaffective bipolar disorder. When Swanson began screaming and smashing things in the house, the victim threatened to kick him out of the house. The following morning, a live-in caregiver went to get a restraining order against Swanson. Later that day, Swanson walked over to the victim while the victim was at his computer and words were exchanged. Swanson then retrieved a baseball bat and struck the victim several times in the head. Swanson then went outside and called 9-1-1. When deputies arrived, the victim was non-responsive and still slumped in a chair in front of the computer. The victim died of blunt force trauma to the head.
In 2014, the defendant beat his pregnant wife with a wooden table leg while she was holding their other child. He received 3 years suspended sentence and went to Mental Health Court. He graduated from Mental Health Court in 2018.
Swanson faces a maximum sentence of 16 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for November 28, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 20 before the Honorable Michael Sweet.