The last of six suspects have now
been arrested in connection with the death of a 23-year-old Hope College
student in 1979. They are accused of kidnapping, raping and killing Janet
Chandler (pictured in family photo) who was working as a night shift hotel
desk clerk in Holland, Michigan when she disappeared.
James Nelson, 59, and Freddie Parker, 47, were arrested on fugitive from justice warrants in West Virginia Monday. Previously arrested in the case were Robert Michael Lynch, 66, of Three Oaks, Michigan; Arthur Carlton Paiva, 54, of Muskegon, Michigan; Anthony Eugene Williams, 55, of McFarland, Wisconsin and Laurie Ann Swank, 48, of Nescopek, Pennsylvania.
Investigators say the arrest of Robert Lynch in February provided them with information that eventually led to the arrest of the other suspects in the 27-year-old cold case.
Suspects in Janet Chandler Case
According to the Michigan Attorney General's office, "at the time of
Chandler's murder, defendants Nelson, Paiva, Parker, and Williams were
employed as security guards on assignment at a local labor strike. Nelson,
Parker and Williams were temporarily residing at the Blue Mill Inn, while
Paiva lived in a corporate guest house near the site of the strike. Swank,
the manager of the Blue Mill Inn, was Chandler's roommate at the time of the
murder."
To Teach Her a Lesson
According to court records, Laurie Swank, Janet Chandler's boss and
roommate, lured her to a "party" that was a ruse for the six to torture and
rape her. The five men tied Chandler to a chair, duct taped her eyes shut
and assaulted her for hours.
They later strangled her and dumped her body on the side of Interstate 196 where it was found by a snowplow operator the next day.
Investigators say Laurie Swank planned and instigated the attack against Chandler out of jealousy and envy "to teach her a lesson."
A Hope College class produced a documentary about the Chandler case in 2004 that sparked new interest in the investigation.
See Also:
Charges Filed in Janet Chandler Cold Case Homicide Investigation
Cold Case: Pair Arrested in 1979 Student Slaying
Update: Chandler Murder Kept Secret for 27 Years
For the Suspects, Life Went On
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