#3 The Missing Pieces: Vanished Without a Trace - The Disappearance of Niqui McCown (Part 2 of 3)

Could the chilling puzzle of Niqui McCown's disappearance finally be pieced together by examining the shadowy figure of Tommy Swint? As we peel back layers of this decades-old mystery, we confront the stark and unsettling possibility that Swint, with his law enforcement background, may hold the keys to not just one, but two unsolved cases. Discover how a web of connections and a shocking link to the unsolved murder of Tina Ivory through DNA evidence forced investigators to reexamine Swint's ties to Niqui, reigniting a cold trail that many had thought went dark forever.

With Tommy Swint's menacing presence looming large, we trace the timeline of events leading up to Niqui's disappearance, including her last known movements and the haunting discovery of her SUV in Dayton, Ohio, eerily close to Swint's home. As we scrutinize the unsettling parallels between Niqui's case and the brutal murder of Tina Ivory, we grapple with the notion that Swint's untimely suicide in 2010 may have taken the truth to the grave. This episode delves into a narrative that combines obsession, desperation, and unanswered questions, leaving us to wonder if we're forever on the brink of uncovering the truth. Listen as we navigate the twists and turns of a case that refuses to fade into obscurity.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the Missing Pieces podcast, where we go beyond the headlines to understand the people, places and mysteries that leave families searching for answers. In this second installment of Vanished Without a Trace the Disappearance of Nicky McCown we turn our attention to a name that has haunted this case for years Tommy Swint. Who was he, what was his connection to Nicky, and could he be the key to solving this decades-old mystery? In Part 1, we explored the events leading up to Nikki's disappearance her last known movements, the discovery of her SUV in Dayton Ohio and the questions surrounding her fiancé, Bobby Webster. Now we dig deeper into the investigation, the unsettling details that surfaced and a connection to another crime that changed everything. A suspect, her fiancé, bobby Webster, had raised suspicions by canceling their wedding so soon after she went missing, but there was no physical evidence linking him to her disappearance. Then a name kept resurfacing Tommy Swint. Tommy wasn't a stranger to Nikki. They had worked together as corrections officers and some people believed he had a deep admiration for her, maybe even an obsession, but at the time there wasn't much to go on. No evidence directly connected him to the case and investigators had little reason to pursue him further. That would all change years later. To understand why Tommy Swint became a person of interest, you have to look at his past. Born and raised in Dayton, ohio, he was known for having a strong presence, both physically and in personality. He was a big guy, confident and carried himself in a way that made some people uneasy. He worked in law enforcement, first as a corrections officer and later attempting to join the police force. On paper he was someone who enforced the law, but, as investigators would later discover, there was a much darker side to Tommy Swint.

Speaker 1: 2:09

In 2007, six years after Nikki disappeared, swint became a suspect in an unrelated murder in Dayton the brutal 1991 killing of a woman named Tina Ivory. Investigators had long believed Tina's case was connected to a serial offender and when new DNA technology became available, evidence pointed directly to Tommy Swint. The fact that his name was now linked to a violent murder forced authorities to take another hard look at his connection to Nikki. One of the biggest reasons investigators started to reconsider Swint as a suspect was timing. Nikki disappeared in July 2001. At the time, swint was living in Dayton, where her SUV was later found. He had worked with her at the prison. They had a known professional relationship, but some people close to Nikki claimed he may have wanted more. Was it possible that Swint had been following her waiting for an opportunity? When Nikki's car was discovered in Dayton, it was near Swint's home. Investigators now had to wonder was that a coincidence, or had the person responsible for her disappearance chosen to leave it there deliberately? One troubling theory emerged what if Swint had made a move on Nikki that day at the laundromat? What if she rejected him and it escalated into something more?

Speaker 1: 3:32

One of the most chilling aspects of Tommy Swint's involvement in Nikki's case is how much it mirrors his suspected role in Tina Ivory's murder. Tina Ivory was a woman from Dayton, ohio, whose body was found beaten and strangled in 1991. For years, her case went unsolved until DNA linked Swint to the crime. When police confronted him with the evidence, swint denied everything, but instead of facing trial, he took his own life in 2010 before he could be arrested. The parallels to Nikki's case were impossible to ignore. Like Nikki, tina had vanished without a trace. Her case involved a violent and controlling man with a history of working in law enforcement and, most disturbingly, both cases had clear links to Dayton Ohio. The very place where Nikki's SUV had been found had clear links to Dayton Ohio, the very place where Nikki's SUV had been found. If Swint was capable of murdering Tina Ivory, could he have been responsible for whatever happened to Nikki?

Speaker 1: 4:32

The problem with Swint's suicide was that it took answers with it. By the time police had enough evidence to charge him for Tina Ivory's murder, it was too late. He had avoided accountability and in doing so he may have taken the truth about Nikki with him. There's something unsettling about the way his name kept creeping back into the case. If he was involved in Nikki's disappearance, what happened that day? Did he approach her at the laundromat? Did she willingly get into a car with him or was she forced? And perhaps the biggest question of all, if Swint was responsible, where is Nikki? Because, despite all the suspicion surrounding him, her body has never been found.

Speaker 1: 5:14

For Nikki's family, the connection to Swint only brought more frustration. If he was involved, why hadn't investigators zeroed in on him sooner? Why had it taken another murder years later to put his name back in the spotlight? And, most painfully, would they ever get the closure they so desperately needed? Her mother, barbara, has never stopped searching. She has pleaded for anyone with information to come forward. Her sister, michelle, has continued to push for justice, keeping Nikki's name alive in the hope that one day someone will break their silence, because someone out there knows what happened. Someone saw something, and while Tommy Swint may have taken some answers to the grave, that doesn't mean the case is closed. As we move into Part 3, we're going to focus on what comes next. What is the most likely theory of what happened to Nikki? Is there anyone else who could be involved? And, with modern technology and new investigative methods, is there still hope for solving this case? Because, after more than two decades, her family deserves answers.