Reward grows for information in murder of Clearwater couple

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The family of a Clearwater couple murdered in their home a month ago is pleading for any information to help solve the case and is offering a $25,000 reward.

Police say David Swan, 88, and his wife, Mina, 80, were found dead in their home on September 29. Police said they believe the murder could have happened sometime between Sept. 27 and 3 p.m. Sept. 28.

"Evidence does show that the offender came with the intent to kill David and Mina. This doesn't appear to be a random act," police said at a September news conference.

Monday, which marked one month since the murders, family members announced they're offering a $25,000 reward for information in the murders, in addition to the existing $3,000 reward from Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County.

"Just heart-wrenching is an understatement. No one is prepared to deal with anything like this. Nobody,” said John Wolf, Mina Swan’s son, during a news conference Monday.

"Mom and Dave were described in one of the reports and elderly. They weren't elderly. They were our parents. They rode horses a month before on vacation. They were still looking forward to riding roller coasters with their grandchildren,” added Noel Devine, Mina’s daughter, who, along with a neighbor, found the couple shot to death. “They knew they had great-grandchildren, of course, and loved them but they still thought of themselves as young and looking forward to life. So for us, we would really like the answers that could help us and we would like them before it's too late. So please help us."

The Swans got married in 1998. David was a former CPA and Mina was a former schoolteacher at Clearwater High School. Chief Slaughter said they were living out their retirement in a "quiet and peaceful neighborhood."

Devine has said the couple "loved life," and just returned from their second trip to Ireland.

"When Dad married Mina, they both taught us many things: To live each day to the fullest, dance when you hear music and the love of family,” said Julie Baginskis, David Swan's daughter. “They still had many things to teach us. If you have any information relating to what happened to our parents, please come forward -- even the smallest thing. We loved our parents very much and we are heartbroken."

Anyone with information in the case is urged to call police. In addition to the tip line, anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Pinellas at 1-800-873-8477 or online at crimestoppersofpinellas.org.