In 1988, 19-year-old Cathy Swartz, a young mother residing in Three Rivers, Michigan with her fiancé Mike Warner and their 9-month-old baby Courteney, tragically met her end. Upon returning home on December 2, Warner discovered Swartz strangled and with her throat cut in their bedroom. Surprisingly, their baby Courteney was found unharmed in her crib. In a recent interview with David Muir for “20/20,” Courteney Swartz, now a mother herself, shared her thoughts on her mother’s untimely demise.
Despite the presence of the killer’s fingerprint on a pink phone and a bloody footprint in the bathroom, police were unable to match these prints to any known suspects after running thousands of comparisons. Additionally, the suspect’s DNA found on the phone did not yield any matches in the national DNA database, CODIS. For years, detectives pursued the case without identifying the perpetrator, leaving Cathy Swartz’s family seeking closure.
In an upcoming episode of “20/20” titled “The Code Breakers,” set to air on March 7 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streamed on Hulu the following day, David Muir delves into the revolutionary DNA technology employed by Othram to solve the long-standing murder cases of Catherine Edwards and Cathy Swartz, which had haunted their communities for decades. The episode will feature exclusive interviews with Cathy Swartz’s daughter, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and a previous victim speaking out for the first time about her encounter with Edwards’ killer.
Othram, Inc., a state-of-the-art forensic lab near Houston, Texas, has garnered attention for its prowess in utilizing advanced DNA testing technology to assist in cracking seemingly unsolvable cases. The lab, dedicated to collaborating with law enforcement on cold case investigations, has played a pivotal role in high-profile criminal inquiries like the Gilgo Beach serial killings and the Idaho college student murders.
Kristen Mittelman, Othram’s Chief Business Development Officer, emphasized the lab’s capabilities, stating, “We can identify almost any perpetrator anywhere from any case.” For families like that of Cathy Swartz, the closure provided by Othram after years of uncertainty is invaluable.
In Beaumont, Texas, Othram partnered with investigators on the case of Catherine Edwards, a beloved schoolteacher, after the investigation reached a standstill. On January 14, 1995, Edwards, aged 31, failed to meet her parents and twin sister for lunch. Upon visiting her home, her family made a chilling discovery: Edwards was found deceased, handcuffed behind her back, slumped over her bathtub.
Carman Brown Apple was emotional as she arrived at the scene and recognized the victim, Mary Catherine Edwards. She shared with David Muir that they had been college sorority sisters and described Edwards as full of life. The discovery of Edwards’ identity deeply affected Apple.
Despite collecting DNA evidence from the crime scene, police found no matches in CODIS, leading to a stalled investigation. Decades later, local law enforcement agencies in Beaumont and Three Rivers partnered with Othram to utilize their advanced DNA technology in a final attempt to identify suspects in the murders.
Through Othram’s DNA sequencing, investigators were able to build the suspects’ DNA profiles and compare them to publicly available databases like GEDMatch PRO. This enabled them to create family trees for the suspected killers.
In the case of Edwards, Beaumont detective Tina Lewallen and genetic genealogist Shera LaPoint traced a family tree that led to a suspect named Clayton Foreman, who had connections to the victim and a previous criminal record. Foreman was eventually located in Ohio, where he worked as a rideshare driver.
Foreman, who had not been in the CODIS database at the time of Edwards’ murder, was linked to the crime through DNA evidence and similarities to a prior assault case. He was convicted of Edwards’ murder in 2024 and sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
The investigation highlighted the importance of DNA technology in solving cold cases and bringing justice to victims and their families.
Former Beaumont Police Officer Carman Apple was photographed outside the townhouse where Texas teacher Catherine Edwards was discovered murdered in 1995 (ABC News). In the case of Cathy Swartz, Othram’s genetic genealogy team developed a DNA profile and family tree for the suspected killer using DNA provided by the police. This led investigators to focus on four brothers who grew up in the Three Rivers area. After thorough investigation, all but one of the brothers were cleared, with 53-year-old Robert Waters emerging as the primary suspect. Waters had relocated following the murder and was traced to Beaufort, South Carolina in 2023, where he ran a successful plumbing business and had a family. It was revealed that Waters had connections to Cathy Swartz’s fiancé and had visited the couple’s apartment before her death. Upon visiting Waters in Beaufort, detectives obtained his fingerprints and DNA sample, which matched those found at the crime scene. Waters was arrested in 2023 but later died by suicide in jail, leaving behind devotional materials on forgiveness in his cell. Othram founders David and Kristen Mittelman believe that the DNA technology utilized in these cases will become standard in criminal investigations, providing closure for families and solving cold cases. Courteney Swartz expressed relief at the case being solved with DNA, allowing her to move on from the longstanding burden. If you need support, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for confidential assistance 24/7.
