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Unsolved murders in Placer County, no matter how long ago they
occurred, remain active in law enforcement case files. There are a
number of vicious murders still being investigated since there is no
statute of limitation for a homicide. These cold case files remain open
and detectives continue to look for clues and information that could
lead to solving the crimes. The Sentinel will be revisiting some of
those brutal, unsolved slayings, and the progress in bringing the
murderer or murderers to justice, in future editions.
by Bill Wilson, Sentinel contributing writer A 14-year-old boy walking with a friend southbound along Highway 49 near Palm Avenue on a warm August evening was struck and killed by a pickup truck whose driver fled the scene.
Gabriel Swendner, a graduate of E. V. Cain School a few months earlier, died in a ditch alongside the highway and the other youth, whose identity is being protected by authorities, was injured. Swendner was hit and thrown into his friend, knocking him away from being hit or run over by the pickup, police said.
Auburn police investigators believe new technology will help solve the
21-year-old case, and they are getting closer to finding out who was
the driver of the vehicle. They also have witnesses to the fatality,
and in recent months have developed additional new witnesses. Jerry Johnson, a former Placer County sheriff’s deputy who now
investigates cold cases for the Auburn Police Department, said it is
unknown why the driver of the pickup only slowed down after the
teenagers were struck at 10:15 p.m. on August 3, 1986. “The surviving boy told investigating officers he was knocked to the
ground, and as he got up he saw a vehicle slow down but did not stop.
He said it was dark and he was unable to find Gabriel and ran to a
friend’s house for help,” Johnson said. A witness to the hit-and-run told investigators he was driving
southbound alongside a full size dark colored pickup truck just north
of Palm Avenue when he heard a loud noise and glass breaking. He also
told police he saw a tennis shoe fly across the road. It appeared there
were two persons in the truck, according to the witness. Lt. Scott Burns, a police detective at the time of the traffic death,
said a front right headlight, a right rear-view mirror, grill pieces
and other items were recovered at the scene. The items indicated they
came from a 1978 Ford full size pickup. which would have had body
damage to the hood, grill and right front fender. There also was a
fingerprint recovered from the mirror. “We are running that print through all local and national data bases,”
explained Johnson. “The print may be from the driver,” but he added the
print also may not be from the driver, but may help locate the driver. Investigators said metallic blue non-factory color paint samples from
the truck also are being looked at again using new technology. Science
can tell who made the paint and where it was sold or used during the
years the pickup was on the road. “We are re-interviewing all witnesses, and there are several
possibilities being investigated,” said Johnson, who did not elaborate.
He said it is believed that the pickup driver talked to other people in
the days and weeks after the hit and run, and Johnson encouraged those
people to come forward with any information. “The facts of the case indicate because of the darkness of the night
and the very narrow road shoulder, the driver of the truck may not have
seen the boys before hitting them. Had the driver stopped there most
likely may not have been any charges filed,” Johnson said. “However,
because we do not know the driver’s side of the story the case sits as
a vehicular homicide and hit and run.” The Auburn Police Department investigators believe with the additional
tools of new science and additional witnesses this case will be solved. “If the driver wants to come forward, we will consider the facts as
they occurred at the time as to what charges are filed,” said Johnson. Johnson can be reached at 530-823-4068 and Burn’s telephone number is 530-823-4237, ext. 202. Subscribe to the Sentinel and receive this weekly newspaper (the only general circulation newspaper in the area that is locally owned and operated) delivered right to your mailbox. Call the Sentinel at 530-823-2463 for more information.
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