The name David Swift has spent the better part of a decade tangled in a web of true crime headlines, small-town whispers, and courtroom drama. If you’ve been following the saga that started in Dyersburg, Tennessee, you know the basics. Karen Swift, a mother of four, vanished after a Halloween party in 2011. Her body was found weeks later. Her husband, David, was the prime suspect from day one.
But here is where things get complicated.
While the world was busy dissecting the cold case, David Swift was busy building a second life. He didn't just stay in Tennessee waiting for an indictment that took 11 years to arrive. He moved. He met someone. He got married again.
The Woman Behind the Second Marriage
When David was finally arrested in August 2022, he wasn't living in the home he once shared with Karen. He was in Birmingham, Alabama. He had a new life and a new wife.
Her name is Kelly Essman.
Most people think this was a quick rebound, but the timeline tells a different story. Kelly and David actually met about three years after Karen's death. They connected on a dating site—a detail Kelly later shared during a revealing appearance on ABC’s 20/20. They eventually tied the knot in May 2016.
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For a while, it seemed like a fresh start. David was working, living a relatively quiet life in Alabama, and the Tennessee investigators seemed miles away.
It Wasn't Exactly a Fairytale
If you're looking for a "happily ever after," you won't find it here. Honestly, the marriage to Kelly Essman ended up being almost as legally messy as the case that made David famous.
By the time the Tennessee authorities finally put handcuffs on David in 2022, he and Kelly were already divorced. And it wasn't an amicable split.
While David was fighting for his life in a Tennessee courtroom over the murder of his first wife, he was simultaneously facing charges in Alabama. The accusations? Stalking his second wife, Kelly.
It's a bizarre layer to an already dark story. Imagine being on trial for the 2011 death of your first wife while your second wife is telling the world—and the police—that you won't leave her alone. Kelly has been vocal about her experiences, alleging that David exhibited controlling behavior similar to what Karen’s friends described during the murder trial.
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The 2024 Trial and the 2025 "Final" Verdict
The legal system moves at a snail's pace. We saw this play out in real-time throughout 2024. David Swift stood trial for the murder of Karen Swift, and the outcome was something nobody really expected.
In June 2024, a jury in Weakley County, Tennessee, found David not guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree murder.
But they couldn't agree on everything. They were deadlocked on the charge of voluntary manslaughter. A mistrial was declared for that specific count. For a few months, it looked like David would have to go through the whole grueling process again in 2025.
Then came the curveball.
In March 2025, a judge basically ended the Tennessee saga. Judge Mark Hayes dismissed the voluntary manslaughter charge. Why? Because the statute of limitations had run out. Because the state waited so long to bring the charges, they legally couldn't pursue the manslaughter conviction anymore.
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Where is David Swift Now?
Even though the Tennessee murder charges are essentially a closed book, David Swift isn't exactly a free man with a clear conscience.
As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, the focus has shifted back to Alabama. The stalking charges involving his second wife, Kelly Essman, didn't just disappear when the Tennessee case fell apart.
Kelly has remained a central figure in the narrative. She’s provided a bridge between the man David was in 2011 and the man he became a decade later. For the public, she represents a living witness to his temper and personality, even if the Tennessee jury wasn't convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of his guilt in Karen's death.
Practical Takeaways from the David Swift Saga
If you’ve been following this case because you’re a true crime fan or just curious about the "new wife" headlines, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding how these cases work:
- Statute of Limitations Matter: In many states, murder has no expiration date, but "lesser" charges like manslaughter do. The 2025 dismissal proves that delay can be a defense.
- Trial Venues Can Change: David’s trial was moved from Dyer County to Weakley County to ensure a "fair" jury. This often happens in small towns where everyone knows the gossip.
- Second Marriages in Cold Cases: It is incredibly common for suspects in cold cases to remarry. Investigators often keep a close eye on these new partners, hoping they might hear a confession or see a pattern of behavior that mirrors the original crime.
The story of David Swift and his new wife is less about romance and more about the enduring shadow of a decade-old mystery. While the courts have spoken on the murder charges, the personal wreckage left behind in both Tennessee and Alabama is still very much being sorted out.
Next Steps for Followers of the Case
To stay updated on the remaining legal hurdles, you should monitor the Alabama court dockets for Jefferson County or Shelby County (where the stalking charges originated). Additionally, the Tennessee Court of Appeals may still weigh in on the state's attempts to revive the manslaughter charge, though legal experts suggest that is a long shot. Reading the full trial transcripts from the 2024 proceedings can also provide a deeper look at the specific testimony provided by Kelly Essman regarding David's behavior during their marriage.