Patricia Yvette Swaim was 49 when her remains were found in a field near her Mocksville, North Carolina home on March 23, 2011. Reported missing by her daughter on March 10, 2011, Patricia had been shot in the head; her body was dismembered, burned, and partially hidden under a stump. She was born May 19, 1962, and was the daughter of the late James Sulier and Kay Strickland Sulier. She is survived by her daughter Andrea Nicole Swaim and son Jason Gray Swaim.

David Earl Hughes, a 59-year-old man who had been living with Patricia, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Medical and legal evaluations noted a history of strokes, seizures, depression, anxiety and significant memory problems; records indicate he was found both capable and incapable of proceeding to trial at different times. In May 2014 Hughes pleaded to second-degree murder and received a prison sentence with a minimum of 144 months and a maximum of 182 months, with credit for time served.

Patricia’s family and members of both families spoke about the impact of her death and the loss felt by the community. If anyone knew Patricia, her movements in early March 2011, or has information about what happened, please come forward.