A "person of interest" being questioned in connection with the murder of Anne Swaney, a producer for ABC7 Chicago who was killed while vacationing in Belize, has been charged with an unrelated crime and sentenced to prison, authorities said.
Belize Police Department Spokesperson Raphael Martinez said a Guatemalan was sentenced to six months in prison for illegal entry into Belize. He has not been charged with Swaney's murder as of Monday.
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"Since he was charged with illegal entry I am sure the persons that interviewed him could squeeze absolutely nothing in relation to the death of Anne from him, however, the investigation continues as police are following several leads," Martinez said.
The 24-year-old man who had entered Belize illegally was taken into custody Friday morning, and was being interrogated by police. Authorities say he told police that he was on a fishing expedition in the area of the resort where 39-year-old Swaney was staying.
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Belizean police revealed Sunday that they planned to bring in two tour guides for questioning as well.
Swaney was the executive producer of online operations for abc7chicago.com.
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She was found dead after a daylong search with bruises on her neck and lacerations on either side of her head, Benque Viejo Police Superintendent Daniel Arzu told NBC Chicago. Police believe she may have been sexually assaulted.
Post-mortem reports show that Swaney was bleeding profusely, but there was no blood on the deck where her belongings were found, police said Sunday, which leads them to believe that the crime may have been committed somewhere else.
Swaney arrived more than a week ago alone for a seven-day vacation at Nabatunich Resort, Arzu said.
She went out to do yoga Thursday morning around 8 a.m. along the Mopan River near the resort, Arzu said. Hours later, a tour guide found her belongings along the river but no sign of her.
Dogs were brought in to help search for Swaney Thursday night. Her scent was picked up near the river, though she was not located until the following day when she was found floating face-down in the river wearing only a bra, authorities say.
"We suspect that she may have been sexually violated,” Arzu said. “She had bruises around her neck that reveals that there might have been some strangulation or some sort of fight back.”
However, an autopsy performed by the Benque Viejo Police Department was unable to determine conclusively if she had been sexually assaulted. The cause of death was ruled to be asphyxia by compression of the neck, manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head and neck, which police believe was committed with a rock.
DNA evidence was collected from Swaney's body, according to authorities. It was not semen, but is being analyzed to find a possible link to any persons of interest.
Police say the Guatemalan man had given them misleading information and conflicting statements. According to authorities, when he was taken into custody near the scene Friday morning, he did not have any fishing equipment, but he did have a knife, which is currently being analyzed. He appeared in court Monday morning.
"We will be pursuing an interview and investigation to for him to give account for himself and as well we will be relying on the results of the post mortem examination and the forensic evidence collected from the area," Arzu said of the man in custody on Saturday morning.
Based on his interrogation, police believe he will greatly assist in the investigation, though the entire staff and tour guides will also continue to be questioned, Arzu added. He also said that the Benque Viejo Police Department is bringing in more detectives from other areas to work on the case, and they are warning tourists against being in remote areas alone.
Swaney's family members will not be traveling to Belize, but are arranging to have her body taken to the U.S. by no later than Wednesday. A visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Rollins Funeral Home. A private family graveside service will follow.
Swaney was an avid world traveler and lover of horses, friends said.
"When she walked on the premises, it was like you knew Anne was here," said Carol Waynauskas of Sarah's Stables in Willow Springs, where Swaney spent much of her time with her horse Sequia.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for contributions to the Northland Therapeutic Riding Center and the Changing Leads Equine Rescue, both located in Missouri.
"A lot of people are terribly broken up about this," President and General Manager of ABC7 John H. Idler said. "She had that capacity to make everybody around here better. She demanded that from those around her. She mentored people throughout her career."
Photo Credit: ABC 7