Swatzell Parole: Split Vote, ‘Fight Starts Again’

The Tennessee Board of Parole that heard convicted murderer Chad Swatzell’s request for release—and heard pleas from friends and family members of his 1988 victim, Carolyn Kilpatrick—reached a split decision, meaning Swatzell will remain behind bars for the time being.

Doreisha Davis, Director of Victim Services for the Board, told the Review in an email: “The vote ended in a split decision again. Once the date for the next hearing is schedule, the notifications will be mailed out.”

Kilpatrick’s daughter, Valerie Lindsey, as of press time Monday, had still not received notice of a hearing date—or whether it would be another year before Swatzell is up for parole again or sooner.

She posted on Facebook Sunday: “That means a new hearing will be scheduled and the fight starts all over again.”

This most recent parole request in July 2023 was Swatzell’s eighth attempt. He was convicted in 1989 of first degree murder and given a life sentence with the possibility of parole because he was sixteen when he shot Kilpatrick to death at her Highway 412 home.

The Review will provide updates as they become available.