Shivangi Sinha
In November 2013, Jennifer Swain received a call from her brother, Jimmy Tench, informing her that their mother was missing from her home in Brunswick, Ohio. Just a few hours later, she learned the devastating news that her mother had been brutally murdered. Shockingly, all the physical evidence pointed directly to Jimmy as the perpetrator. In the episode titled ‘He Murdered My Mother’ from ID’s ‘Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks,’ Jennifer opened up about her childhood and the lasting impact this horrific revelation had on her and her family in the years that followed.
Jennifer Swain Recounted Her Tumultuous Childhood With Her Brother
Jennifer Tench, the daughter of Mary and James Tench, grew up in Brunswick, Ohio, alongside her older brother, James “Jimmy” Tench. However, she shared that she never truly felt a sibling bond with him. Reflecting on her childhood, she recalled incidents that she later saw as early warning signs of his troubling behavior. One such memory was of a Christmas banquet in their community, where a raffle won her several prizes, including a boom box and karate class vouchers. When Jimmy didn’t win anything, he became enraged. By the time they returned home, he threw a major tantrum, prompting their parents to ask Jennifer to hand over her winnings to appease him. To her, it felt like he was always allowed to get away with everything.
This wasn’t an isolated incident, Jennifer recalled. She shared another troubling memory from when Jimmy was still in school. Their parents were once called in because he had allegedly created a “hit list.” At the time, the family brushed it off and didn’t treat it as a serious concern. But in hindsight, knowing what she knows now, Jennifer believes her brother was capable even then of taking their father’s gun and committing terrible acts. Over the years, she said, tensions with Jimmy continued to escalate. At one point, he was also allegedly stealing from their parents. Their father discovered unauthorized purchases on his credit card, which were later traced back to Jimmy. While their father wanted to report him, Jennifer said it was their mother who ultimately prevented any action from being taken.
Jennifer Swain Talked to Her Mother Hours Before the Latter’s Remains Were Found
Eventually, Jennifer moved out of the family home and began building a life of her own. In August 2011, her father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and by April 2012, he had sadly passed away. It was a challenging time for the family, and tensions only worsened when Jimmy moved back in with their mother at the family’s house. Jennifer alleged that her mother began to show physical signs consistent with abuse, though she never spoke openly about it. She said she suspected her brother was behind it, but she had no concrete proof. On the evening of November 11, 2013, Mary was supposed to babysit for Jennifer but called to say she wouldn’t be able to come.
According to Jennifer, her mother sounded as if she were trying to speak quietly. Mary didn’t share much and just reassured her that everything was fine. On November 12, around 2:30 am, Jennifer noticed two missed calls from Jimmy. When she called him back, he told her that their mother hadn’t returned home from work. Alarmed, she immediately began contacting her mother’s friends and co-workers, eventually learning that her mother had last been seen leaving work at 11 pm. The police were called, and not long after, Mary’s car was discovered just a few miles from the house, with her remains inside.
Investigators quickly found physical evidence like footprints near the car, DNA throughout the house, and Mary’s blood and DNA on several of Jimmy’s belongings. He was arrested and charged with her murder. For Jennifer, it was an overwhelming tragedy as she was trying to process the loss of her mother while also grappling with the horrifying truth about her own brother. She later shared how difficult it was to explain the situation to her children and how deeply it affected their lives.
Jennifer Swain Prefers to Lead a Quiet Life With Her Family
Jennifer Swain was informed by the police that the likely motive behind her mother’s murder was financial. Investigators had discovered a note in which Jimmy had promised to pay Mary’s rent, as well as a forged check for $13,000 that they alleged he had written himself. In 2016, Jennifer attended Jimmy’s trial, where prosecutors detailed the case and confirmed that both she and her husband had been cleared of any suspicion. She sat in court and watched as her brother was sentenced to death. Since then, she has severed all contact with him. What continues to trouble Jennifer is that Jimmy still insists he is innocent. She believes that the only thing that could bring her true peace is for him to finally take responsibility for what he did.
Jennifer and her husband, Matthew Swain, have maintained a low profile in the years since the incident. Their focus has remained on their three children—Jacob, Kayla, and Alayna Swain—who are the center of their world. The family is believed to still reside near Brunswick, Ohio. Jennifer has expressed that she does not plan to be present when Jimmy receives his final punishment and stated that she wants him to spend his last moments alone. She has firmly distanced herself from him and made it clear that forgiveness is not something she can offer, given the gravity of what he has done.
Read More: Mary Tench Murder: Where is James “Jimmy” Tench Now?
