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CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFTS) — Detectives are actively searching for a suspect who murdered a couple in their 80’s inside their Clearwater home.
Officers continue to follow up on leads, including speaking with many people who had interactions with the pair over the past few weeks.
On Saturday, Clearwater Police Officers found 88-year-old David Swan and his 80-year-old wife Mina inside their Flushing Avenue home. They had been shot.
In a press conference on Friday, Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter said the couple was targeted.
“The evidence does indicate that the offender came with the intent to kill David and Mina. This does not appear to be a random act,” Slaughter said. “They went there to murder this nice, elderly couple,” he added.
Neighbors last saw the couple alive on Thursday afternoon, police say. They believe the crime occurred within a 24 hour window, from the last time they were seen alive Thursday, September 27 to 3 p.m. Friday, September 28.
Investigators are scouring over surveillance video from neighbors for leads.
Mina’s daughter also spoke at the conference, pleading with the public to remember the couple.
“Please remember our mom and dad,” she said through tears. “Keep them in your thoughts.”
The Pinellas County School District tells ABC Action News Mina Swan (formerly Mina Wolf) worked as an art teacher at Clearwater High School from 1983 to 1999.
Police Chief Daniel Slaughter said David Swan was a retired certified public accountant.
“You just can’t imagine who did it,” said Helen Scott, who lives next door, “You can’t imagine who had the motivation to kill both of them, you know who would do that.”
Neighbors say the couple loved to travel and “were the youngest 80-somethings on the planet,” according to Scott.
Clearwater Police officers told neighbors they should not be concerned for their own safety. They also told neighbors they have ruled out any home break-in, robbery or similar crime. The house was well organized when police arrived to investigate.
A neighbor and the victim’s daughter discovered the couple dead in their home Saturday and immediately called the police.
Detectives spent 48 hours combing the house on Flushing Avenue for clues.
In the neighborhood, several residents tell ABC Action News they consider themselves family.
Neighbors say the Swans were not the type to have enemies and they can’t think of a single motive.
“Nothing at all could justify them doing that to them,” Scott added.
“I’m going to miss them a lot,” neighbor Bob Anderson said while choking back tears, “Mina used to come over here and sit next to me and we’d talk for hours. Whoever did this ought to be severely punished.”
Mina Swan lived in the home for 40 years. Neighbors say when she married David about 15 years ago he moved into the home. They say both were outgoing and easily made friends.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Clearwater Police Department at (727) 562-4242.
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