Authorities say they fear that a man who took the son of a St. Petersburg family may have abused other children.
By KATHRYN WEXLER
Published July 25, 2003
TAMPA - A drifter who won the confidence of a St. Petersburg family and was charged Monday with kidnapping their 8-year-old son has now been charged with four counts capital sexual battery on the boy, authorities said.
Officials fear Lawrence E. Swails may have abused other children, as well.
Wednesday, the Tampa and St. Petersburg police departments held a joint press conference to draw attention to Swails, hoping that if he has had contact with other children, parents will recognize him and come forward.
"He has targeted people in the past who were related to homeless shelters," Tampa Maj. George McNamara told reporters at Tampa police headquarters.
Swails, 39, was extradited from Tampa earlier this week to Palm Beach County to face an old charge of capital sexual battery on another child. That warrant was issued nine years ago, and Swails had eluded authorities until his arrest this week in Tampa.
Swails told officials he traveled extensively over the years. Other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have been contacted and informed of his longtime travels and recent rape charges, McNamara said.
Hillsborough County officials now want him returned to face the latest round of charges.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg police broke news of the new charges to the victim's family Thursday morning.
"They are grieving at this time," St. Petersburg Sgt. Joanne Lindsay said.
Swails met the boy's family at a church that provided free meals on Sunday mornings, Lindsay said. He ingratiated himself partly because he and the family had a mutual friend, she said.
On July 18, the boy's parents allowed their son to go shopping and stay overnight with Swails. He was supposed to return home Saturday. When he was still missing Sunday night, his parents called police.
Lindsay and McNamara said the incident should be a note of caution to parents everywhere.
"Make sure you know where your child is going," Lindsay said. "There are many more predators out there than you know."
Few details were released about where Swails took the boy during their disappearance. McNamara said they stayed east of downtown Tampa.
After the media broadcast images of Swails on TV Monday, he and the boy were recognized in a downtown Tampa bus station that afternoon. McNamara said it wasn't clear where Swails was headed, but "there is no indication he was going to return the child."
They are having a difficult time piecing together Swails' whereabouts over the years.
"He's not providing a plethora of information," McNamara said.
