Chase Duane Swanson made his initial appearance in Southwest Judicial District Court on Friday, charged with three felonies related to the homicide of Rhame resident Nicholas Johnson.
WARNING: The following story contains graphic information. Please be advised.
(Updated 10:35 a.m. to reflect Swanson’s bond amount; updated 11:30 a.m. with information on West’s future hearing)
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
Chase Duane Swanson made his initial appearance in Southwest Judicial District Court on Friday morning, charged with three felonies related to the homicide of Rhame resident Nicholas Johnson.
Swanson and Madison Beth West were charged with a Class AA felony of conspiracy to commit murder, which has a maximum punishment of life imprisonment without parole, in addition to two Class C felonies of theft of property and felon in possession of a firearm.
Swanson is currently being held at the Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center in Dickinson on a $5 million cash bond.
Bowman County State’s Attorney Stephanie Pretzer told The Pioneer that a date for West’s initial hearing is not yet known
Todd Anthony Pashano, who allegedly was kidnapped by Swanson and West though it was not confirmed by law enforcement, was also charged with hindering police, a Class C felony. According to a criminal complaint filed with the court, Pashano allegedly had hindered the police investigation by not contacting law enforcement upon discovery of Johnson’s body and by providing transportation to the couple.
Timothy Helmer of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation stated in a court affidavit signed Sept. 1 that Swanson, 21, West, 26, and Pashano, 28, had fled the scene Aug. 20 at the El-Vu Motel in Bowman, where Johnson’s body was found, and traveled to West’s father’s residence in Cheyenne, Wyo. Police later discovered bloody clothing and personal items belonging to the victim at the residence.
Through interviews with El-Vu Motel guests, investigators learned that Pashano was seen entering and leaving the room of Swanson and West, according to the affidavit.
Pashano had contacted 911 while in Denver and was found hiding in a hotel room bathroom. Police then located Swanson and West in a parking garage near the hotel, in possession of the pickup truck belonging to Johnson. There were some items in their possession that were covered in blood, the affidavit stated. After executing a search warrant on the truck, according to the affidavit, Johnson’s wallet and driver’s license were located, along with a Ruger nine-millimeter handgun with an obliterated serial number.
Helmer indicated that during an Aug. 22 interview with Pashano he had said he witnessed Swanson strike Johnson in the head with a Maglite flash light and West repeatedly stomp Johnson while in the El-Vu motel room. Pashano then told Helmer that he was held at knifepoint and forced to collect Johnson’s items, then forced to drive to Swanson’s residence where he retrieved the handgun. He was then held at gunpoint while driving the two to Wyoming and ultimately Denver.
According to the affidavit, Pashano told Helmer he had witnessed Swanson and West discuss the murder during the drive.
The medical examiner concluded that the cause of death was by asphyxiation.
The Pioneer will have a full story in its Sept. 9 edition.