CENTREVILLE, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin announced on Monday that a suspect has been charged in connection with a cold case murder investigation that goes back to December of 1988.
Robert Odell Waters has been charged with the murder of Cathy Sue Swartz of Three Rivers. Waters was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2023 in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Marvin was informed Monday morning that Waters has waived extradition back to St. Joseph County for prosecution of this thirty-five-year-old murder.
Marvin said in a press release that St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman is already working on arrangements to transport Waters back to Michigan.
He added Chief Scott Boling and Detective Sam Smallcombe of the Three Rivers Police Department together with Detective Todd Peterson of the Michigan State Police solved this cold case and additional details will be provided from them later.
The 19-year-old Swartz was found stabbed to death in her home on December 2, 1988. Her infant daughter was found unharmed in a nearby room.
Three Rivers Police said a statement that Swartz managed to fight her attacker but was overcome by numerous stab wounds, a vicious beating and strangulation.
The suspect was finally identified through the use of Forensic Genetic Genealogy which narrowed the suspect pool down to one family.
Investigators then interviewed, fingerprinted and DNA tested the family members until the suspect was identified.
