Man Accused of Murdering His Mother, 70, in 'Gruesome Scene,' Before Killing Neighbor After Leaving Chilling Voicemail

Mar. 15, 2025

Roger Albert Schweda.Photo:Jackson County Jail

Jackson County Jail

A man in Michigan has been accused of killing his own mother before allegedly shooting his neighbor.

Roger Schweda, 40, was arraigned on Monday, Dec. 9 of two counts of open murder and two counts of felony firearms, Scott J. Grajewski, the Director of Public Safety for Leoni Township and Blackman Township, confirms to PEOPLE.

Officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department arrested Schweda on Saturday, Dec. 7, not long after police allegedly discovered Schweda’s mother (Shari Schweda, 70) and neighbor (Thomas Farnsworth, 57) dead on his property.

He is expected back in court on Jan. 3, police say. It’s unclear if he has obtained an attorney yet.

A photo of Welch Lake Road, Michigan.Google Maps

Google Maps

A wellness check first drove officers with the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safetys to the scene, the Jackson County Office of the Sheriff said onFacebook. They arrived just before 2 p.m. local time and discovered Farnsworth dead in the driveway and Shari in her bedroom,WLNSreported.

The police report, the prosecutor noted at Monday’s arraignment, described the bedroom in which Shari was found to be “a gruesome scene,“WILXreported.

Farnsworth, according to the local outlet, had contacted police to request they look in on Roger. Earlier in the afternoon, Farnsworth grew concerned for the defendant’s wellness when he listened to a voice message from Roger in which Roger allegedly said his mother was dead and he therefore couldn’t go inside his home anymore.

To get Roger’s exact address, Farnsworth walked over to his house, WILX reported. He then called the police back, telling them that he was in Roger’s driveway and that the defendant just so happened to be returning home.

A stock photo of a voice recorder app.Getty

Getty

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Local police there were able to track the vehicle and conduct a traffic stop, WLNS reported. But Roger fled the stop, prompting a police chase. He eventually pulled over and was taken into custody.

source: people.com