CHILTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A trial started Wednesday on a misdemeanor obstruction charge filed against John Andrews for allegedly lying to police regarding the whereabouts of Starkie Swenson’s body – whose remains were found at High Cliff State Park nearly 30 years after his death.
Swenson was killed in 1983. Andrews was convicted in 1994 of homicide by negligent use of a vehicle. Swenson’s remains were found in September 2021 by hikers at High Cliff State Park, prompting the charge of hiding a corpse against Andrews. In July 2022, a judge ruled Andrews’ actions and statements to police did not meet the statutory definition for the hiding a corpse charge, so he dismissed it.
The obstruction charges, however, are for statements Andrews made in June 2021 – months before the remains were found at the park. In June 2021, police were searching for Swenson’s remains in the Omro area. It’s during that investigation that Andrews allegedly lied to police about knowing where Swenson’s remains were located.
A three-day trial is scheduled, and got underway Wednesday morning, a court official confirmed.
Pre-trial motions by Andrews, now 84, to have the charges dismissed were unsuccessful.
In Andrews’ 1994 trial, prosecutors said he hit Swenson with his vehicle while Swenson was on a bicycle. Prosecutors said Andrews was upset because he and Swenson were romantically involved with the same woman. Initially charged with first-degree homicide, Andrews entered an Alford plea – which means he maintained his innocence but acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him – and was convicted of a lesser charge of homicide by negligent use of a vehicle. Andrews served a two-year prison term.
