Benefit planned for murder victim

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- As police continue their investigation, a grieving Perryville community is planning a benefit dance to help pay the funeral expenses of Kendra Swan, the 8-year-old girl who police say was sexually assaulted and murdered by her father.

"Some of it was donated, but the family still has a lot out of their pocket they have to pay," said resident Sandy Duvall, who is organizing a benefit dance for June 14. "We want to do what we can to help out with that."

Kendra was killed on May 16, when police say the second-grader was assaulted and strangled by her father, 26-year-old Jamie Swan, a Perryville resident whose body was later found hanging inside a barn. Kendra lived with her mother in Chester, Ill., but was visiting her father when the incident happened.

Her aunt is a home health-care worker who takes care of Duvall, who has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. Duvall said a similar benefit was held for her a few years ago.

"You do whatever you can to help out a child who went through something like that," Duvall said. "I feel like I'm really doing it for that little girl, even more than for the family. Every little bit helps."

The dance will be held at River Hill Eagles. The dance hall is being donated along with music by C&D Sound. All proceeds will go to a special account set up at a bank to help pay for Swan's funeral expenses.

Susan McClure of Schroeder-McClure Funeral Home in Chester said that the funeral home donated the funeral services, but the family still owes for a casket and cemetery charges. Kendra's family members, on both her mother's and father's sides, could not be reached for comment. Many do not have phones.

Meanwhile, Perryville police chief Keith Tarrillion said they are still investigating the murder-suicide. Tarrillion said investigators expected lab results back last week, but it's taking longer than they thought.

Now, results on DNA at the scene and hair fibers aren't expected back until next Monday at the earliest, he said. Police are also taking statements, he said. Tarrillion would not say from whom.

"It might be awhile before we know more than we already know," he said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137