The Science of Death

State says science proves Swearingen guilt

"...death row for the kidnap-murder in 1998 of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter...."

Feb. 29, 2012 News Post by Jordan Smith

CCA Denies DNA Testing in Swearingen Case

Death row inmate doesn't have right to test murder weapon for DNA

"...exist on evidence connected to the 1998 murder of Melissa Trotter – including on the alleged murder weapon –..."

Feb. 5, 2014 News Post by Jordan Smith

Swearingen to CCA: Please Test the Evidence

State says testing won't prove innocence

"...on death row for the kidnapping and murder of Melissa Trotter, should be granted by the Court of Criminal..."

Dec. 5, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Swearingen Seeks DNA Testing

Execution scheduled for late February

"...related to the 1998 murder of 19-year-old college student Melissa Trotter, with just more than a month to go..."

Jan. 18, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Swearingen Gets Another Date With Death

Fourth time execution has been scheduled

"...2000 for the killing of Montgomery County college student Melissa Trotter, clearing the way for the trial court to..."

Dec. 21, 2012 News Post by Jordan Smith

The Science of Injustice

Capital murder case highlights Texas courts' resistance to physical evidence

"...It was indeed a body, that of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter, a Montgomery College student who had been missing..."

Aug. 19, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Dissecting the Science of Death

1998 murder case will get a scientific examination

"...responsible for the 1998 kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter, will be taken up in district court in..."

Feb. 24, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: Madness and Forensics

Two capital cases raise psychological and evidentiary issues

"...the 1998 murder of Montgomery County Com­mun­ity College student Melissa Trotter...."

Oct. 4, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

News briefs from Austin, the state, and beyond

"...say could not have committed the 1998 murder of Melissa Trotter in East Texas. The pathologists, including former Harris..."

Jan. 30, 2009 News Feature

Judge: Ready to Rule Against Swearingen

Transcripts aren't yet in, but judge has decided

"...is innocent of the kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter...."

Aug. 20, 2012 News Post by Jordan Smith

Questions Linger for Anthony Shore, Larry Swearingen

Shore to be first Texan executed in 2018

"...to confess to another murder: the 1998 killing of Melissa Trotter. Except Larry Swearingen had been convicted of kidnapping,..."

Jan. 12, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

DA Says Swearingen DNA Motion is Stall Tactic

Offer for expedited testing is rejected

"...27* for the 1998 kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter. Trotter, a community college student, disappeared from her..."

Jan. 25, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Execution Stayed

CCA postpones execution for third time

"...Swearingen was convicted of the 1998 kidnap-rape-murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter in Montgomery County. Prosecutors have said – and..."

July 28, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: 11 Face Execution in Coming Months

A quiet summer gives way to a deadly fall

"...man, convicted of the kidnap, rape, and murder of Melissa Trotter in 2000, made national headlines in recent years..."

Aug. 16, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Reed and Swearingen Evidence in Question

Two more death penalty cases under appeal scrutiny

"...death for the 1998 kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter. Prosecutors said last week that they have gotten..."

Aug. 24, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: Forced Testimony Over Evidence?

No physical evidence implicates Cardenas in his cousin's murder

"...was convicted of the 1998 rape and murder of Melissa Trotter, but maintains he's innocent.) If Swearingen's name sounds..."

Nov. 3, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch

Two death row cases go before courts

"...to die for the kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter, a community college student who disappeared Dec. 8,..."

Dec. 11, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: Crutsinger Seeks Last-Ditch SCOTUS Appeal

Following the Aug. 21 execution of Larry Swearingen, Crutsinger could be the fifth Texan killed this year

"...– one the murder weapon used to strangle 19-year-old Melissa Trotter in December 1998; the other allegedly found in..."

Aug. 30, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch: Court of Criminal Appeals Grants Stay to Clinton Young

Evidentiary hearing expected in Midland County

"...Shore plotted to claim responsibility for the murder of Melissa Trotter, for whom Swearingen has been convicted of killing...."

Oct. 20, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Death Watch: Questions of Competence

Hatten ends appeals; advocates push to amend state DNA testing law

"...weapon used to kill Montgomery County Community College student Melissa Trotter...."

Oct. 9, 2014 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

Headlines

"...testing on a length of pantyhose used to strangle Melissa Trotter in 1998. The court ruled that in order..."

Feb. 14, 2014 News Feature

Headlines

"...used in 1998 to kill Montgomery County college student Melissa Trotter. For more on the case, see Newsdesk, Feb...."

Feb. 7, 2014 News Feature

Swearingen Execution Stayed – Again

Judge rules to allow DNA testing

"...to pursue DNA testing in the 1998 murder of Melissa Trotter. Whether the state will formally oppose testing remains..."

Jan. 30, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Headlines

"...evidence" that he is innocent of the murder of Melissa Trotter outside Conroe. For more on the case, see..."

Oct. 12, 2012 News Feature

Gentlewoman and a Scholar

Smith takes home Texas Institute of Letters journalism award

"...lays out the case surrounding the 1998 murder of Melissa Trotter and calls into question the legitimacy of physical..."

April 17, 2012 News Post by Monica Riese

Headlines

News briefs from Austin, the state, and beyond

Jan. 30, 2009 News Feature