On a tragic Tuesday afternoon, the life of 53-year-old Teresa Francisco was violently cut short in a Northeast Washington, D.C. apartment complex. On October 1, 2024, in the 900 block of Eastern Avenue NE, a sequence of terrifying events unfolded, shattering the peace of the residential community. The incident, which began inside the apartment Francisco shared with her husband, quickly spilled out into the open, culminating in her untimely death.
The ordeal started with a gunshot inside
their home, prompting a desperate flight for safety. Francisco, in a frantic attempt to escape, ran from her apartment screaming for help and pleading with witnesses to call the police. She sought refuge in a nearby work van, a temporary sanctuary that would tragically become the scene of her final moments. Her pursuer and husband, 48-year-old Wyatt Michelin Swan, showed no mercy, chasing her down and firing numerous shots into the van where she was hiding. The barrage of bullets proved fatal, and despite the efforts of first responders, Francisco was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to her neck, chest, and head.
In the immediate aftermath, Swan fled the scene, sparking a swift and intensive manhunt. The collaborative efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department, the Prince George's County Police Department, and the City of Bowie Police Department led to his apprehension in Prince George's County the very next day, on October 2, 2024. Initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, Swan was extradited back to D.C. to face the legal consequences of his actions. The investigation pointed to the motive being rooted in domestic violence, a tragic end to a romantic relationship that had turned deadly.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of justice for Teresa Francisco. On January 24, 2025, Wyatt Swan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed. Subsequently, on May 20, 2025, a judge in D.C. Superior Court sentenced him to 24 years in prison for the murder of his wife, a sentence that also includes five years of supervised release. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence and the coordinated law enforcement effort that brought a killer to justice.
