Delayed Justice

I read with interest a story by John Agar of mlive chronicling the drug dealing and prison sentence of Michael Paiva, the son of Arthur Carlton “Carl” Paiva, the ringleader in the murderous crew who left Janet Chandler dead in a snowbank, Jan. 31, 1979. Paiva senior died several years ago in prison. He was there for life after a 2007 trial that saw five others also sentenced for the crime. Four–including Paiva–for life. The other two for lesser terms.

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It was sad to see that story and it served as a reminder that there are many victims when a murder is committed. I wrote to John noting one mistake in his story. He reported that all six who went to prison were Wackenhut guards in town at the time to protect a “struck” plant. Wasn’t so, I reminded him. There was Janet’s roommate, purported best friend (at the time) and supervisor at the Blue Mill Inn–Laurie Ann Swank. He agreed that he knew that. It’s a small mistake. I make some along the way, too.

Then I went to check the Offender Traking and Information System, OTIS, and discovered that Laurie Ann had been paroled Sept. 20, 2016. And she was paroled to her home state of Pennsylvania.