This brings me to another theory that I want to keep under this category as theyre both similar. As explained by Minnesota's Unsolved Cases, it is possible that the teen left the area on his own and is now living under a new identity. Source: https://en.m.wikiversity.org/wiki/User:Jeff_Hase/Missing_Person_Case_Study__Brandon_Swanson. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I do want to mention that Swanson had been flashing his lights whilst hed been sitting in his car waiting for his parents and tits possible that this caught the attention of an unsavoury character.Id also like to talk about one small detail in this section that does pique my interest in regards to the foul play theory according to the FBI, written on the ViCAP page for Swanson, his vehicle was discovered with the car door still open. rumors from people in the area of Marshall, is he owed lots of money to some drug dealers. On March 12, 2009, Brian and Annette Swanson spoke before the House to help expand the Minnesota's Missing Children's Act so it can help missing and endangered adults.The law requires Minnesota police to begin an immediate search for missing adults under 21, as well as older adults who are missing under suspicious circumstances. There was no evidence found that the man had had anything to do with the disappearance and he was not held as a suspect, although the fire, which had started on the couch, was deemed suspicious. Police would launch a massive search for the missing woman, scouring 16,000 acres in three Kentucky counties with dogs, drones, and aircraft, but no sign of her was ever found. When he took off walking, my guess is that he found himself trespassing somewhere he wasnt wanted. It is not known why he went there, and he had not mentioned it to Melissa or anyone else. My two cents. All of these theories are good, however, but this one makes the most sense to me personally. This boy is missed in an area of approximately 20/30 miles, that to me feels realy realy weird, and never i find such an odd missing case like that of Brandon. To me, these things say that his vehicle was possibly staged. I quote: He further stated that he had encountered two fence lines and noted that there was water nearby. Sheriff Vizecky continued to walk along the 2 mile stretch of the Yellow Medicine river from the 5-mile radius for 30 days. Good information, Darrin. My biggest concern is why would all the doors be open to his car? Nothing. The tone is so important it would tell so much. Its just interesting how no one, at least online, will address ALL the discrepancies because theres a ton. I wonder if he didnt plan to runaway and start life new somewhere. Its also important to note that Brian Swanson didnt get the impression his son was intoxicated whilst on the phone with him; Brandon seemed his usual self despite being frustrated about his situation, there was no slurring of his words or any other telltale signs that he may have been drunk.Nancy Scott interviewFor anyone interested in hearing Annette Swanson speak on the situation, I found a snippet of an interview she did with Nancy Scott which can be viewed below. Police came to break up the fracas, but according to his friends Michael was nowhere to be seen, and at the end of the evening he was still missing. If someone or something were to get the drop on him then he likely wouldnt have even had time to make a remark. Her books are available on Amazon. The law is named after Brandon Swanson, whose car got stuck in a ditch near Taunton along the Lincoln and Lyon county line in southwest Minnesota on May 14, 2008. Brandon Lawson was a 26 years old young man at the time of missing on August 9, 2013. I havent read much about that angle of investigation either to be honest. Book Author Jenn is a lawyer-turned-author and true crime writer. It wont be a precise ping. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Im certain he found him and dealt with Brandon that night. I do feel that the evidence maybe suggests the solution might not be as cut and dry as that, but as Ive said previously, at this point there is so little to go on that one theory is probably as valid as another. Everything I say is a guess, of course, but in May in Minnesota, that river was probably freezing. She writes about missing persons, unsolved murders, and human rights. Given his location, it could have been slightly more likely than my other explanations. Dont worry, what youve written doesnt come across as rude or offensive. I grew up in a small town near where Brandon disappeared and remember seeing all the missing posters and people searching in fields for him. Facebook gives people the power. Hopefully therell be an answer one day, but until then there are really more questions than answers. Unable to move it himself and get back onto the road, he called home at some time after midnight and asked his parents to pick him up near Lynd, a small town Southwest of Marshall. . My name is Julie Fidler. The law . Where did he go and what were the meanings of those last calls? [], [] 2.The disappearance of Brandon Swanson. His car was found abandoned in a ditch with the car doors open and keys missing. If he really dropped it, I feel like it would have been found, especially with how crazy the search was. Heres another report on the net. The Mysterious Men in Black and Their Equally Weird Cars, Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Are Being Developed for Biocomputers, Strange Accounts of Dwarf Aliens and their Apocalyptic Messages from Mexico, Heres How You Can Study One of the Largest Collections of Sasquatch Footprint Castings Online. As a crime writer, I do a lot of research into real life crimes and unsolved cases. But I really feel in such cases as these most of these wind up revealing foul play. So he didnt crash it, he took a turn too hard skid and stopped. Dail is a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. Hypothermia can set in very fast. Search dogs also picked up the scent of human remains multiple times in an area north of Porter, but no body was found. For the reason that he saw a car on the road and knowing his father wouldnt agree to hitch hiking, thats why he hung up. In the messages he says (grammar and typing mistakes and all) Like Some crazy shit is going on. As stated above, Swansons phone records showed he was 25 miles away from where hed told his parents he thought he was. My thoughts are that since his Dad said in the SAR report in that secret 47min call, Brandon told his Dad he was crossing fields and hopping fences. It might shed some light on things if there was a trail left by the mobile phone, although this may be something that the police have already looked into. His dad tried calling back a number of times, but Brandon never picked up his phone. Another strange thing thats never mentioned due to the fact Im sure most people dont know, Brandon was legally blind in his left eye I believe, (been years forgive me if it was his right) and in the SAR report, Brandons glasses where left in the front passenger seat. The last official search was conducted in October 2011, and age-progressed photos have also been distributed in the hope that somebody may recognise him. He wasn't injured in the accident. When I got lost it was because I turned 1 light too early, but its a route I have taken many, many times. Among the many mysterious vanishings out there, a few of them have left behind very chilling clues that only serve to make them even more ominous and frightening. I know this will sound a bit harsh, insensitive and maybe far-fetched (but what other theory isnt? Note: As a result of these events, a new law has been introduced. Now multiply 4km from the car in all directions. Brandon crashed about 2 miles away from the town of Taunton. Swanson got his car stuck in a ditch and called his parents to ask if they could pick him up from somewhere between Marshall and Lynd, where he believed himself to be. At time of writing six years later there is still no evidence or even a trace indicating what happened. [] 2. He had driven off the road, was intoxicated, and was trying to figure out where he was when the call cut off. He disappeared outside of Marshall when he was 19. May 12-15, 2011 Searches: The plan for the May 12-14 searches was to detail - search by HRD canine as many fields as possible in the area surrounding Mud Creek. Authorities were also a bit perplexed, as the route Brandon had been traveling was very familiar to him and that he had always taken a very specific route to and from school each day, so it was a mystery as to how he could have gotten so hopelessly lost and how his car had ended up so far off of that path. At the time of her disappearance, Dail was 23 years old, 5 feet tall (152 centimetres), and weighed 96 pounds (44 kilograms). The episode starts with Dave reading a few letters from the mailbag. No evidence. He then went off and met Melissa at approximately 12 AM, after which they were reported as having partied together and done a good amount of drugs. My bet is that an intoxicated/somewhat drugged Brandon stumbled into water and drowned. From what Ive read there hasnt been any link made between the smiley face murders and Brandon Swanson, although its possible that this is something that is being investigated. This requires police in Minnesota to begin immediate searches for missing adults under the age of 21, as well as any older adults who have been reported missing where there are suspicious circumstances. But he had struggled with substance abuse issues in the past and had recently relapsed shortly before his disappearance. It can happen. Because yesterday i had the feeling it could be an accident, but by now i have searched every page of this case that you can find on the web, but you only read about the searching. If it was a flip phone, the call may have ended had the phone closed due to a possible slip and fall. Possibly. His parents said that they couldnt anything either. Search efforts were focused on this 5-mile radius, which included part of the Yellow Medicine river, and so the Yellow Medicine county authorities were part of the search party. Here in NC we have them, property owners dont know they are out there due to over growth, but why do I also think this? 2012 record: 6-8-2. I mean, if this case can be looked at from every angle, then should the father be a short-term suspect even if for a minute? Around 91% of all cases are closed within 48 hours, and 99% of cases are solved . A sudden surprise wouldnt answer why the phone abruptly when dead, and still able to receive calls later. Your email address will not be published. An equally spooky case also comes from 2013, and concerns 26-year-old oil worker Brandon Lawson, of San Angelo, Texas. Although, as Ive said earlier, its such a mysterious case with so many unanswered questions, that its probably best not to assume anything including my assumption about finding a well. Could the dad call Brandons phone and then answer it himself to make it appear as if Brandon answered the call? He said that he knew which direction to head in as he could see what looked like the lights of a town. It would be tragic if that is what happened of course, but at this point theres not much evidence either way. These theories have major flaws, however; if a person has time to register danger, swear down the phone and then end a phone call, surely they would have time to get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle? He was travelling from Canby to Marshall and for some reason thought he was all the way down in Lynd.WTF?!?!?!?? If anyone knows where to find more details let me know. I believe like most 19 year old college students he was drinking. During the early morning hours of May 14, 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson disappeared under mysterious circumstances from a rural area northeast of Marshall in southwestern Minnesota. At 3.10 am, Swanson exclaimed Oh shit! down the phone, and remained silent for the rest of the phone call. I am wondering if taking off his glasses and not wearing them was normal for Brandon and why do you think all the car doors were left open? Ive been following this story since it happened in 2008. There was no damage to the car and no signs of any injuries sustained in the accident. I havent read all the comments and dont know if it was previously mentioned. He had his oh shit exclaimation at 2:00AM. The statistics are mainly from the FBIs website. He called his parents on his cellular phone at 12:30 a.m. and asked for help. So, case closed. near the end of his call with his dad, someone comes up behind him and and grabs his phone, at the same time brandon says oh shit, then the kidnapper ends the call on the phone. There was no sign of him at the scene. Updated 7 times since October 12, 2004. There is NO WAY he can defend himself from an attack with that height and body weight. They went looking for Brandon, but were unable to find . The only thing that has ever been found is Brandons car, which was discovered around twenty miles away from where he told his parents he thought he crashed. Something distinguishable that stood out near his found vehicle that would have easily been used as a marker? Check us out on: https://t.co/eSyiKT5d4I Brandon's Law, named for Swanson, was passed later in 2008. At 11 AM things got even odder, when Melissa received a series of very strange text messages from Matthew. Plus, your lungs still have oxygen whenever you drown and makes you float back up to the top and the river carries you to the nearest river bank, its obvious that someone held a gun up to his head kidnapped him, and killed him as a robbery (or just being plain mean) gone wrong. There are a huge amount of statistics on there regarding missing persons cases and as you can imagine the sheer volume of information is both fascinating and horrifying. Your email address will not be published. Thanks for taking the time to comment Geo. Required fields are marked *. Its genuinely tragic for Brandon Swansons poor family and friends, and hopefully one day theyll have an answer. But even that I have hunted the river bottom where he disappeared, every year, and have not found any way he could have drowned in that river unless it was flooded 4-5 feet. I think somebody in that town kidnapped or killed Brandon. Swanson stayed on the phone to his parents whilst they were on the way to collect him, with Swanson flashing his lights on and off and Brian and Annette doing the same in hopes of locating each other quicker. Being a native of Marshall, he graduated from Marshall High School in 2007. On the evening of 14 May 2008, Swanson had been out partying with friends in Minnesota, and on the way home he managed to crash his car into a ditch. Brandon died of hypothermia after falling into the Yellow Medicine River. Even if the car would had been moved afterwards, why Brandon would say he is near Lynd?! He was crossing grassy fields, came to another unexpected fence possibly one around an old cistren, hopped it, being dark, fell in slipped on the rocks around the edges, and dropped his phone on the outside. Then, he suddenly vanished without a trace. And with difficult weather it must be hard to find a body in the mud after a while. I just wanted to include this theory here as its just as likely as the other theory and they are both similar in nature. On the theory that Brandon might have drowned, boats from the state's Department of Natural Resources were deployed along the river, and gates were installed. Road signs? 2) The drivers side door of his car was left open. Brandon Swanson would never be seen again. On the theory that Brandon might have drowned, boats from the state's Department of Natural Resources were deployed along the river, and gates were installed. What happened to Brookelyn Farthing? Its a good question, as potentially that wouldve ruled out a lot of scenarios. Swanson had finished his last day of classes at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Canby, where he was enrolled in a wind turbine program. I came across with this reddit post. Established by Brian and Annette Swanson and sponsored by House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) and Senator Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm), Brandon's Law was signed by Minnesota's Governor Tim Pawlenty on May 7, 2009. His father dropped Brandons mother back at home, then began driving again to find his son. When Brandon Lawson vanished in 2013, it left authorities baffled and his family in shambles. Thanks for your comment. Indeed, what happened to him in the first place? 13th May 2008 Minnesota, USABrandon Swanson went to a small get-together at a friends house to celebrate finishing the school year. If the phone was still working after Brandon hung up, why didnt the police try to locate the cell phone? On the night of 14 May 2008, after celebrating the last day of college classes with a friend, he was driving home along a gravel road, and somehow crashed his car into a ditch. He lived with his sister, who cared for him (a job that included moving him around the house, to the toilet, outside for fresh air, etc). 6.30 am Brian and Annette Swanson attempted to report Brandon as missing to local law enforcement but were advised to wait as this type of behaviour was not unusual for young men. Similar things happened such as a phone call and leaving a party, and well the last name.. Searches of the river didn't produce his body, however, and there's no evidence to support any theory. Im a volunteer firefighter and we deal with a lot of car vs ditch simple reason Im in the marine town of New Bern craven county and the Marines do not know how to drive on gravel roads. As a crime writer I find this case fascinating and disturbing, and I have looked at countless theories around what happened that night. I think he could have suffered a head injury in the crash and became very confused about what was happening. I think its pretty obvious to say that someone took Brandon back to their farm and harmed him and maybe buried him somewhere out in the field where he may never be found I dont mean to sound so morbid but we all know that people do this in rural areas when its not very safe, especially driving alone at night and not knowing where youre at after a wreck. But there are a couple of issues with this theory, largely revolving around the phone call. As a crime writer I find this case fascinating and disturbing, and I have looked at countless theories around what happened that night. Swanson wears black wire-framed eyeglasses. The amount of alcohol hed drank that night isnt 100% confirmed (possibly one beer and one shot of whiskey) but its not thought to have been enough to have caused disorientation. If you believe you have important information regarding Brandon Swansons disappearance or his whereabouts, I urge you to contact Lincoln Countys Sheriffs Department on (507) 694-1664. A few hours later at around 6.30am they notified the police. Swanson's case remains unsolved. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). After looking into some theories, I have come up with my own. Brandon Swanson has brown hair and blue eyes, stands 5'6" and weighs . He told them that he was near the town of Lynd, Minnesota. Would love to see what the police unofficially thought happened. Brandons LawI have the utmost admiration for families who have been through such unimaginable pain but still find the energy within them to advocate for laws that will help others. Brookelyn then texted her ex-boyfriend and asked him to come get her, which he said he would after he finished work. Although I suppose there would still be a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the phone call and Brandons exclamation before the line cuts out. Change). (LogOut/ Such a sad case. Brandon Swanson, 19, was last seen on 5/14/08 in Canby, Minnesota. The last official search was conducted in October 2011, and age-progressed photos have also been distributed in the hope that somebody may recognise him. I found out about this disappearance and wanted to know more and found this post. He was on the phone with his father while he was walking. Detectives are still looking into whether this was a homicide case or just teenage folly, either way, our hearts go out to his family members who were left hanging for 91 soul crushing days after the night of the mysterious phone call.. Using circle area formula, Area equals Pi times r squared, that is a search radius of 50km squared. Eventually, Brian and Annette hung up the call and tried to call their son back the phone would ring but nobody answered, sending the calls to voicemail. On the subject of the phone call, a huge question here is why the phone call was ended. I dont want to be rude or anything, but all over the internet i only came acros the searching that took over years from volunteering. My thought is, he fell into a cistren/well that is unmarked or unknown. Investigating Agency Lincoln County Sheriff's Department 507-694-1664 Source Information On August 8, 2013, Lawson got into an argument with his longtime girlfriend, Ladessa, after he had come home in the early morning hours and made her worry. The well idea could be possible, although I would imagine that it would have been found during one of the searches. Rural. Both sides got increasingly frustrated, and Brandon eventually said that he was going to start walking towards the town of Lynd, to a friends house. Also I dont get the last line in the paragraph who were left hanging for 91 soul crushing days after the night of the mysterious phone call. 91 days? Was he walking on the road or through fields? Nothing. With that being said, I cant make it clear enough that I think this bill is excellent and Im amazed by the Swansons ability to channel their pain and tragedy into something that has undoubtedly helped others and will continue to help others. 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