Suspect denied lower bond

Published 11:44 pm Saturday, August 21, 2010

The suspect accused in the death of Richard A. Swartz III, was denied a lower bond and his case has been sent to the Pearl River County Grand Jury.

In a preliminary hearing held on Thursday in Pearl River County Justice Court Judge John Mark Mitchell found probable cause to send the case against 50 year-old Oscar K. Lindsey of Brandon to the grand jury. Lindsey is being charged with manslaughter for the death of Swartz.

During the hearing Lindsey’s attorney, K.C. Hightower, requested that his client’s bond be reduced from it’s current amount of $20,000 cash, according to Justice Court records. A cash bond means the full amount of the bond must be paid before the suspect can be released. Mitchell denied the request, leaving bond at $20,000 cash.

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Lindsey is suspected of being involved in Swartz’s death after he was the one who provided details concerning the location of Swartz’s skeletal remains. Those remains were found in a rural location on Jesse Wells Road near Poplarville. Lindsey told investigators that Swartz was left at that location shortly after overdosing on Heroin. Lindsey told investigators that he made no attempt to call emergency services either before or after the incident in question took place.

Swartz was reported as missing by his family late in July. His body was found Aug. 8. County medical personnel state that a human body can decompose to a skeletal state in the summer heat in a week or two, especially when animal activity comes into play.

Swartz was the son of St. Tammany Parish 22nd Judicial District Court Division C Judge Richard Swartz Jr.