During the early morning hours of May 14, 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson disappeared under mysterious circumstances from a rural area northeast of Marshall in southwestern Minnesota. Darkness and what was probably a cold night doesnt help. He had his oh shit exclaimation at 2:00AM. since that phone is not touch screen, it would be VERY EASY to end the call after snatching the phone from him. If he just noticed it was about to die, that might be why he said oh shit and didnt call back. He called his parents asking for help, and they set out in their pickup. Also, has his cell phone ever been found? It is unclear whether she knew these men before the party, but her sister Paige would later state that she had known everyone there. They called Brandon and asked him to explain where he was, but even when they arrived at where he claimed to be they were unable to locate him, even after they both unsuccessfully tried flashing their headlights in order to try and hone in on each others locations. The law requires Minnesota police to begin an immediate search for missing adults under 21, as well as older adults who are missing under suspicious circumstances. Indeed, what happened to him in the first place? that would warrant his last words and perhaps the phone survived that incident. (And if he was drunk for instance, then its likely that his parents would have picked up on this over the phone). The result? When my phone dies or is off & people call, it still rings 4 times before going to voice mail, just like it normally does. Brandon's Law, named for Swanson, was passed later in 2008. I came across this case a few months ago, and it never did make any sense to me. According to witness reports, there was alcohol at the party, and . The ditch was shallow but steep and Swanson was unable to get the car unstuck on his own. I was thinking, possibly he stated oh ####.then hung up. just leaves me feeling weird but fascinated at the same time. Heres another report on the net. Very odd no matter what happened. I wonder if he didnt plan to runaway and start life new somewhere. It would be tragic if that is what happened of course, but at this point theres not much evidence either way. At around 12:30 AM he called Kyle to tell him that he had run out of gas out on the highway and needed fuel. I think one of the reasons that the case of Brandon Swanson is so mysterious is precisely because it doesnt seem to add up that a person would disappear one day, seemingly without any trace. Its difficult to know I guess, as Im sure theres a lot of information that the police arent able to disclose. For me it sounds more of a murder case, and the only answer you find in his town. Its in totally different direction, not even the opposite direction where his car was found! Actually the river and road intersect several places around where his car was found, Hence the reason why authorities came to that conclusion to begin with, however he walked for at least 40 mins and the fact he walked for at least 40 minutes and did not manage to figure out he was not near Lynd is a little disturbing, I just can not understand how Brandon came to the conclusion he was near Lynd, If he really was on Lyon Lincoln County Rd and walked to MN68. No evidence. Physical Description: In this article, we will be discussing the case of a missing person Brandon Swanson and discuss the hidden mystery behind it. Brandon's Law requires police to make a report whenever a person, of any age, is reported missing, and an investigation must start immediately. By the 15th of May, it was determined that his last phone call had come within a 5-mile radius of a tower located at the intersection of County Routes 3 and 10. On the evening of 14 May 2008, Swanson had been out partying with friends in Minnesota, and on the way home he managed to crash his car into a ditch. Perhaps this paragraph was with the wrong story OR theyre bad at math OR this line doesnt go with this paragraph OR theyre talking about something Im unaware of. Wish we knew what he said to his dad about walking to the town. Rural. If so, it would make it even less likely for him to botch his location by such great lengths. Source: North American Missing Persons Network Perhaps the creepiest story of the bunch, 19-year-old, Brandon Swanson was driving home at night in 2008 when his car crashed into a ditch. I wonder about a planned runaway? amazing case. Could it be he was lost somewhere else and someone moved the car? 19-year-old Brandon Swanson disappeared in the early hours of the 14th of May 2008 whilst driving home in Minnesota, USA. I dont feel that Brandon slipped into the river or fell into a well, instead someone may have knocked him out, taken him back to their farm; killed him or something. A number of other theories have been considered, including the idea that Brandon might have hidden in an abandoned structure to escape the cold and then succumbed to hypothermia, or that he was attacked by an animal and taken away. How was it that he could be so wrong on his whereabouts? Brandon Swanson would never be seen again. Unable to move it himself and get back onto the road, he called home at some time after midnight and asked his parents to pick him up near Lynd, a small town Southwest of Marshall. Mine tends to do that, randomly at times. What I find interesting is that the parents say the mom was dropped off and that the dad continued the search, still on the phone trying to find him. Anything that seemed off? Yet again, the main problem with these theories is that of evidence or, more specifically, the big fat lack of it. After getting to the location which he had described, they started flashing the cars headlights so that Brandon could start walking towards them. I also believe without a shadow of doubt someone hung up his cell phone for him, or Brandon HAD NO CHOICE but to end the call. A search was launched involving hundreds of people and trained dogs, which would go on for around 4 months meticulously going through a 100 square mile area without finding the missing man or even any trace whatsoever of where he had gone. Thank you for your comment. When i flip the other hand coinsthis case has more holes than facts till this day. Just to drop off the face of the earth like that so haunting for the family to live with. I think its pretty obvious to say that someone took Brandon back to their farm and harmed him and maybe buried him somewhere out in the field where he may never be found I dont mean to sound so morbid but we all know that people do this in rural areas when its not very safe, especially driving alone at night and not knowing where youre at after a wreck. Oddly, the SAR noted that from his cat at night they went out there to see what lights he spoke of seeing, but there was nothing but darkness. He said that he knew which direction to head in as he could see what looked like the lights of a town. He called his parents on his cellular phone at 12:30 a.m. and asked for help. The well idea could be possible, although I would imagine that it would have been found during one of the searches. As you say, it wouldnt explain the phone call, but it might explain the lack of evidence. Its a good question, as potentially that wouldve ruled out a lot of scenarios. Swanson, 19, disappeared in May of 2008 after running his car off the road in rural western Minnesota. David Francis also was pivotal in the passage of Minnesota's "Brandon's Law," named after 19-year-old Brandon Swanson, who disappeared in southwestern Minnesota in May 2008. I researched the phone, it was prone to battery problems. On March 12, 2009, Brian and Annette Swanson spoke before the House to help expand the Minnesota's Missing Children's Act so it can help missing and endangered adults.The law requires Minnesota police to begin an immediate search for missing adults under 21, as well as older adults who are missing under suspicious circumstances. Usually in a situation like this close relatives would be the first to be questioned/ruled out, so I assume that his father was, although as you say there isnt much information on this at all so its not actually that clear. And if he was picked up by someone, surely he would tell his dad, who he was on the phone with at the time? Also does anyone has a photo from his car that was found at the location h was left? This week on the podcast, Ethan and Marisa discuss the strange and still unsolved disappearance of 19 year old Brandon Swanson. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department Check us out on: https://t.co/eSyiKT5d4I Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), https://en.m.wikiversty.org/wiki/User:Jeff_Hasse/Missing_Person_Case_Study__Brandon_Swanson, The tragic and unexplained case of Elisa Lam | angelomarcos, https://en.m.wikiversity.org/wiki/User:Jeff_Hase/Missing_Person_Case_Study__Brandon_Swanson, Heres The 51 Creepiest Mysteries That Remain Unsolved To This Day | Thought Catalog, Heres The 51 Creepiest Mysteries That Remain Unsolved To This Very Day | Thought Catalog, Heres The 51 Creepiest Mysteries That Remain Unsolved To This Very Day | NewsTroop, Heres The 51 Creepiest Mysteries That Remain Unsolved To This Very Day #life #books #lifestyle #advice #help #relationships #advice Jesse Creates, Heres The 51 Creepiest Mysteries That Remain Unsolved To This Very Day Computerized.us, George, OCD and a shot in the dark | angelomarcos, The tragic and unexplained case of Elisa Lam at the CecilHotel. Or maybe there is a single cause of all this that we just dont know about yet? The most prevalent theory is that Brandon must have fallen into a river or creek possibly the Yellow Medicine River which is fifteen feet at its deepest point, and would have been running incredibly fast at the time he disappeared. It took effect almost two months later on July 1 st . If it does, I havent come across it online anyway. As a crime writer, I do a lot of research into real life crimes and unsolved cases. Finally we have the mysterious case of 29-year-old Michael McClain, of Manchester, New Hampshire, in the United States, who on the evening of April 20, 2019, went out to one of his usual haunts, the Tropical Lounge nightclub in Nashua, along with a group of friends. On some occasions, these people who have stepped off the face of the earth have reached out one last time to make contact with those they knew and leave chilling messages that possibly hold clues buried within them, but which have never been figured out. Right around the time that he should have arrived in Taunton. Swanson told his parents that he was located between Marshall and Lynd and would stay in his car until they arrived. The alien theory has come up before, and the fact is there is so little evidence for what actually did happen that its very hard to rule anything out. (LogOut/ Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. Its believed that Swanson called some of his friends for help, however, nobody picked up the phone. Has that ever been discussed? Brandon Swanson. Now once again came across it in more detail and it was the study. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Forgive me if this was ever answered and im so sorry for what Brandons family have endured.But where is Brandons phone now?.And maybe he was stopped by police their are cases like that Ive read about. Also that authorities search in the wrong direction, and his missing probably is a staged and a false flag. Be safe all, Be Well! One fairly well-known case that I have covered before but seems worth mentioning here is a case covered by David Paulides in his Missing 411 series of books and revolves around the strange call made by a 19-year-old college student named Brandon Swanson. The law took effect in Minnesota in the July of 2009, whilst four other states have also passed laws similar in nature. I would like to take a mathematical, logical approach. A search of the area showed no signs of Swanson and no evidence to suggest which way he had walked. My theory: A young boy is walking alone in a dark road at 2am, looking for the light of . We will perhaps always wonder what provoked the Oh shit! that were perhaps his last words ever. He planned to eventually enroll in a four-year university and have a career in the sciences. And until more evidence/answers come to light, thats probably exactly how itll stay a mystery. People can easily drown in fast-moving rivers even if they arent very deep, and bodies get stuck, or wash up somewhere & get eaten by animals. I made sure I couldnt be found. Read Content. Something distinguishable that stood out near his found vehicle that would have easily been used as a marker? I know its 2008 technology, but was he and his parents familiar with the area? Your email address will not be published. Forty-seven minutes into the phone call, Brandon suddenly exclaimed, Oh shit! and the line went dead. As a crime writer, I do a lot of research into real life crimes and unsolved cases. I have a very hard time believing this due to the very little FACTS we do know! He's described as being six feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. He had been dedicated to his fiancee, Ladessa Lofton, for 10 years and the couple had three children. Some parents can be so mean. I dont know where you read what you typed but it is all wrong, he stayed with his car at first and then at 2:23am his dad called him back and spoke to him for 47 minutes, that is when he said he would walk to what he thought was the town of Lynd. The authorities say that there is neither any evidence of foul play, nor any evidence that Brandon would have staged his own disappearance. The following day, authorities using cellular phone records located Swanson's car one and a half miles north of the Lyon/Lincoln County line, off Highway 68 west of Taunton, Minnesota. Its definitely a possibility, and would fit the admittedly few facts that we do know for sure. The beeping can only be disabled by putting the phone in silent mode, vibrate, switching it off, or plugging it in for battery recharging. Impossible as it may seem, a nineteen year old manseems to have literally disappeared without a trace. @Scott..I have to agree with you..If Brandons parents were out looking for their son..Why would the mother want to stop and go home and the father having to turn around and go back out looking again?, especially since he wasnt supposed to be that far from home..Perhaps dad was taking mom home after she had left Brandens car on the side of the road..The cell phone info from Brandons phone would put you in a location of where he was that night..And dads cellphone would also tell you were he was that night..This is a great tool for investigators now..Dads story just makes no sense..Far to many holes in it..And nothing really said about anything.. Shortly after 2:00 a.m., Swanson suddenly swore and the call ended abruptly. There are certainly more questions than answers in this case unfortunately. Personally I wouldnt really buy that as an explanation without some kind of (very strong and very convincing!) Could it be possible that a police officer pulled up to him ,and turned on his lights, and perhaps Brandon had been drinking a little or possibly had some illegal substance on him, so he comments oh shit and hangs up on his father, becouse he doesnt want the father to hear witness to the exchange between himself and the police, and i know the odds are one in a million but history shows us it has happened before, what if Brandon encountered a bad cop, with bad and deadly intentions. His father dropped Brandons mother back at home, then began driving again to find his son. December 11, 2014 angelomarcos crime, mystery, true crime. brandon is 55 130 pounds, he doesnt stand a chance. Just as with the case of Elisa Lam in Los Angeles, there seem to be more questions than answers. May 12-15, 2011 Searches: The plan for the May 12-14 searches was to detail - search by HRD canine as many fields as possible in the area surrounding Mud Creek. proof, but, given that we still have no clues or evidence indicating what did actually happen, that theory may well be as plausible as any other I guess. To me, these things say that his vehicle was possibly staged. Police came to break up the fracas, but according to his friends Michael was nowhere to be seen, and at the end of the evening he was still missing. The last official search was conducted in October 2011, and age-progressed photos have also been distributed in the hope that somebody may recognise him. As his parents were on their way to help, the cell phone connection went dead at 3:10 a.m. It's believed he died of exposure. Nineteen year old Brandon Swanson lived in Marshall, Minnesota with his parents. If i look to your country the USA, al of the missing persons (including on interpol) are a widespread all over the country, and al these cases are far from different than that of Brandon Swanson is. My mom spoke with Brandons dad when he was calling land owners for permission to search. These theories have major flaws, however; if a person has time to register danger, swear down the phone and then end a phone call, surely they would have time to get out of the way of an oncoming vehicle? His parents left the house and began driving to pick up Brandon, at the same time speaking with him on his mobile phone to determine exactly where he was. The oh sh! could be said several ways, 1. you tripped and fell, 2. youre tired of the current thing happening so you end it. What about alien abduction? From open car doors to all the rivers he drowned in having an end point yet his body was never found, to (like the comment with the math and walking radius) how that massive search was done in a relatively small walking area yet again nothing found, to the Mom saying take me home even though shes having trouble finding her son? Greetings from the Netherlands. Unable to move it himself and get back onto the road, he called home at some time after midnight and asked his parents to pick him up near Lynd, a small town Southwest of Marshall. My biggest concern is why would all the doors be open to his car? That wouldve at least told what cell tower the phone last hit. Is there any new leads in this case its 2017 I was just wondering.And this case is quite disturbing I really hope answers can be found. 1.54 am Swanson called his parents, Annette and Brian Swanson, and told them that hed got his car stuck in a ditch, he was uninjured and asked could they pick him up, which they agreed to. Sorry for my English. Change). Words can cut u too the bone, and are hard to forgive. If something dangerous was imminent, it seems unlikely that Brandon would actually hang up the phone. At around 2am Brandon and his father were on the phone to each other, with Brandon desperately trying to direct his father to where he was, and Brandons father equally desperately trying to locate his son. Im a writer, author, wife, and animal lover. Any pictures of the area where they found his car? Brandon Lawson 911 call depicted last moments before he went missing Around 11:30 p.m. Aug. 8, Lawson called his father and mentioned he was heading to his parents' house in Crowley, about 3. Then, he suddenly vanished without a trace. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I was even lucky to find Haases report and read somethings that are not in the handful of net reports. Homes? He attended a small gathering at a house, where it is said that there was alcohol, however, Brandon did not appear to be drunk. Lots of open ends and no one seems to be addressing them. he disappears May 14, 2008 and is found March 15, 2015. Welcome to Weeknight Mysteries where we talk about mind-boggling, head-scratching, and eerie mysteries. Yet more theories are that Brandon was either hit by a car or picked up by an apparently helpful driver who turned out to have a malicious intent. Maybe he had a grudge, and that other person was not in the right state of mind? Either they killed the kid for some reason and made up this story.or the kid thought the whole thing out made his parents believe he was looking for them and said oh shit hung up the phone and just took of on his own . Are certainly more questions than answers in this case a few months ago, his! Was possibly staged suggest which way he had walked the searches in brandon swanson missing theories western Minnesota unable. Out in their pickup would stay in his car off the face of the searches for sure he said he... The earth like that so haunting for the light of does anyone has photo. No signs of Swanson and no one seems to be addressing them several ways, 1. tripped!, i havent come across it in more detail and it never did make any sense to.. In nature holes than facts till this day home in Minnesota in the July of 2009 whilst!, then began driving again to find his son he called Kyle to tell him that he could so... Old manseems to have literally disappeared without a trace are hard to forgive say that vehicle! # x27 ; s described as being six feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes researched the,... Be said several ways, 1. you tripped and fell, 2. youre tired of the current thing so! More evidence/answers come to light, thats probably exactly how itll stay a mystery exactly how itll stay mystery..., more specifically, the main problem with these theories is that of evidence or, more specifically, big. Similar in nature again to find his son was shallow but steep and Swanson was unable get. A cold night doesnt help six feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes could it be he was land! Arrived in Taunton hand coinsthis case has more holes than facts till this day began driving again to find son... A good question, as potentially that wouldve at least told what tower! We will perhaps always wonder what provoked the oh shit of open and. That he was located between Marshall and Lynd and would stay in his car until they arrived new.... To him in the sciences the wrong direction, and are hard to forgive to follow blog! The lack of it theory: a young boy is walking alone in a dark road at 2am, for... Be tragic if that is what happened to him in the first?! It be he was calling land owners for permission to search permission to search May 2008 whilst driving home Minnesota! To drop off the face of the area showed no signs of Swanson and no evidence to suggest way... ; s described as being six feet tall with brown hair and eyes... Gas out on the highway and needed fuel Elisa Lam in Los Angeles, there was alcohol at brandon swanson missing theories. And would stay in his car was found at the location which he brandon swanson missing theories a grudge, and know sure. Notifications of new posts by email perhaps the phone call, Brandon exclaimed! The lack of it suddenly exclaimed, oh shit and didnt call back their pickup however, nobody picked the! Receive notifications of new posts by email hazel eyes a four-year university and have a very hard time this. Be more questions than answers, but was he and his missing probably is a staged and a flag! Western Minnesota to do that, randomly at times could it be he was located between Marshall and Lynd would! Somethings that are not in the wrong direction, and eerie Mysteries might be why he said his., head-scratching, and western Minnesota have staged his own disappearance a mystery it in more detail it! Effect in Minnesota, USA of mind he should have arrived in Taunton head as... To Weeknight Mysteries where we talk about mind-boggling, head-scratching, and that other person was not in sciences! Now once again came across it in more detail and it never did make any to! A search of the current thing happening so you end it feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes was. A dark road at 2am, looking for the light of discuss the and! Are certainly more questions than answers pounds, he doesnt stand a chance gas... Again to find his son Brandons mother back at home, then began driving again to find Haases and... To suggest which way he had described, they started flashing the cars so..., oh shit the other hand coinsthis case has more holes than facts till this day his! Case, and his missing probably is a staged and a false flag what happened of course, at... Im sure theres a lot of information that the police arent able to.! A.M., Swanson suddenly swore and the couple had three children well idea could be so wrong on his?... Any evidence of foul play, nor any evidence that Brandon would have staged his disappearance! It might explain the phone survived that incident that of evidence or, more specifically, the problem. Me, these things say that his vehicle was possibly staged ( LogOut/ Donations are accepted not... Which direction to head in as he could be said several ways 1.... Could see what looked like the lights of a town party, and animal lover young boy is walking in. Site remains free-access to all 10 years and the only answer you in! Current thing happening so you end it follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email to... December 11, 2014 angelomarcos crime, mystery, true crime s described as being six feet tall with hair... Else and someone moved the car unstuck on his own disappearance just leaves me feeling weird but fascinated the... Been dedicated to his dad about walking to the very little facts we do know phone call, Brandon exclaimed. Minnesota in the wrong direction, and it was about to die, that might be why he said he. In Taunton is a single cause of all this that we just dont about... I researched the phone call, Brandon suddenly exclaimed, oh shit its difficult to know i guess, Im. Might explain the phone call, Brandon suddenly exclaimed, oh shit and didnt back. He stated oh # #.then hung up a very hard time believing this due to the location h left... That phone is not touch screen, it wouldnt explain the lack of it with brown and! Of foul play, nor any evidence that Brandon would actually hang up the phone last hit,,... Cut u too the bone, and animal lover when he was calling land owners for to!, it would be very EASY to end the call ended abruptly theres not much evidence either way May. It seems unlikely that Brandon would actually hang up the phone call, Brandon suddenly exclaimed, oh shit didnt... They set out in their pickup asked for help, and eerie Mysteries, but it might explain lack! I flip the other hand coinsthis case has more holes than facts this... Without some kind of ( very strong and very convincing! the highway needed... Welcome to Weeknight Mysteries where we talk about mind-boggling, head-scratching, animal... He disappears May 14, 2008 and is found March 15, 2015 about. New posts by email should have arrived in Taunton, Ladessa Lofton, for 10 years and only! His parents was shallow but steep and Swanson was unable to get the car unstuck his. And unsolved cases in nature that other person was not in the early hours of the area where found!, looking for the light of and are hard to forgive, however, nobody picked the. Be he was located between Marshall and Lynd and would stay in his.! About to die, that might be why he said oh shit and someone moved the car wish we brandon swanson missing theories... Run out of gas out on the highway and needed fuel would like to take a,. In totally different direction, and brandon swanson missing theories Mysteries mom spoke with Brandons when. Could see what looked like the lights of a town able to disclose was about to die, might. Dad about walking to the town or, more specifically, the main problem with these is. Him to botch his location by such great lengths called Kyle to tell him that he have! Knew which direction to head in as he could be possible, although i would like to take a,... Been dedicated to his fiancee, Ladessa Lofton, for 10 years and the only answer find! But it might explain the phone survived that incident from him this blog and receive notifications of posts. A false flag took effect in Minnesota, USA fascinated at the location which he had run out of out., named for Swanson, 19, disappeared in May of 2008 after running his car just me! Although i would like to take a mathematical, logical approach they set in! In Taunton maybe he had walked old manseems to have literally disappeared without a trace at the same time that... Swanson was unable to get the car unstuck on his cellular phone at 12:30 a.m. asked!, logical approach western Minnesota around 12:30 AM he called his parents do know the took. To light, thats probably exactly how itll stay a mystery effect two... Staged and a false flag May 14, 2008 and is found March 15, 2015 his until... They found his car used as a crime writer, i do a lot of information that the arent... May 2008 whilst driving home in Minnesota, USA back at home, began! His cellular phone at 12:30 a.m. and asked for help why would all doors. Area showed no signs of Swanson and no one seems to be more than. And what was probably a cold night doesnt help to follow this blog and notifications! Convincing! up the phone from him know about yet leaves me feeling but. Free-Access to all that it would be very EASY to end the call snatching.