In the summer of 2019, the life of 40-year-old Adam Nicholas Swim, a White male known for his kind soul and infectious smile, was tragically cut short. On the night of Sunday, June 16, 2019, he became the victim of a violent crime in his Charleston, West Virginia home. Friends and family remember him as a charismatic man who loved fishing, camping, and striking up conversations with new people. His sudden and violent death left his community in shock and mourning.
The grim discovery was made on June 17, 2019, when Adam Swim was found dead in his residence on Ash Street. An investigation revealed he had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The tragic events of that night were not limited to his death; a woman who was present at the home was also sexually assaulted during the incident, adding another layer of brutality to the crime.
The investigation into Adam Swim's murder led Charleston police to two suspects: LaSalle Javon Burnett and Samantha Ilise Slater, who
also went by the name Samantha O'Brien. In March 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for Burnett, who was 38 at the time, and he was subsequently taken into custody. Slater, then 33, was arrested in December 2020. The pair faced serious charges related to the events of that fatal night.
Ultimately, both suspects pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime. LaSalle Javon Burnett pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree sexual assault. In February 2022, he was sentenced to consecutive prison terms: 40 years for the murder and 15 to 35 years for the sexual assault. Samantha Slater pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a 10-year prison sentence for her involvement. Despite their convictions, law enforcement believes a third individual may have been involved in the crimes, and that person remains unidentified and at large.
