John Edward Swindler is a name that evokes dark memories in Arkansas' and Fort Smith criminal history, marked by a violent spree that culminated in the cold-blooded murder of a locL police officer.
Swindler's life, filled with crime from a young age, ended on Arkansas' electric chair, making him both a notorious figure and a significant point in the state's judicial narrative.
Born on May 12, 1944, in South Carolina, Swindler's criminal career began early. Illiterate and with a penchant for violence, by age 15, he was already known to law enforcement. His crimes escalated from car theft to arson, leading to multiple incarcerations.
Released from the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, in September 1976, Swindler embarked on a multi-state crime spree.
Upon release, Swindler's actions quickly turned deadly. He murdered two teenagers in Columbia, South Carolina, and committed several other felonies, including abductions and robberies. His path of destruction led him back to Arkansas, where fate would seal his infamous legacy.
On September 24, 1976, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Swindler's crime spree intersected with law enforcement. While driving a stolen car with a South Carolina license plate, Swindler, who had been pout of prison for less than three weeks, stopped at a service station at the intersection of Kelley Highway and I540.
Fort Smith Police Officer Randy Basnett, briefed earlier about Swindler, recognized the criminal and his vehicle. Before backup could arrive, Swindler shot Basnett twice in the chest. Basnett managed to return fire, wounding Swindler in the leg, but succumbed to his injuries in an ambulance.
Patrolman Basnett had served with the Fort Smith Police Department for 4-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, stepdaughter, stepson, parents, sister and brother. He daughter was born shortly after his death.
The shooting occurred across the street from the Arkansas State Police Troop H. headquarters. . Several troopers who heard the shots pursued Swindler and assisted other Fort Smith officers in arresting the suspect a short distance away.
After his arrest, Swindler was tried twice for Basnett's murder. The first conviction was overturned due to issues with jury selection and venue.
The second trial, held in Scott County, resulted in a guilty verdict and a death sentence for capital murder. Despite numerous appeals citing issues like inadequate legal representation and mental health considerations, his conviction stood firm through state and federal levels.
John Edward Swindler was executed on June 18, 1990, at the Cummins Unit of the Arkansas Department of Correction. He was the first person executed in Arkansas since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 and the last to die by electrocution in the state, as Arkansas had switched to lethal injection but allowed Swindler to choose his method of execution.
He chose not to, leaving the decision to prison officials, who opted for electrocution.
Swindler's final moments were spent in solitary reflection, with his last meal being the same as other inmates, devoid of special requests. His execution was witnessed by a select few, including Basnett's family members, who saw it as the end of a chapter of grief and justice served.
Swindler's life and death are encapsulated in true crime literature, notably in Anita Paddock's "The Killing Spree: A True Story of a String of Brutal Murders, Rapes, and the Cop Who Tried to Stop It."
