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A Nurse In Ohio Worried Her Neighbor Was Stalking Her. Now He’s Accused Of Murdering Her And Her Young Daughter
Dominque Swopes was charged in the deaths of Rebecca Pletnewski, who was found dead in her home, and her daughter Olivia Schneider, who was pronounced dead at a hospital from smoke inhalation.
Rebecca Pletnewski worried for months that she was being stalked by her neighbor, Dominique Swopes.
Her family said the 41-year-old nurse told him she wanted nothing to do with him despite his repeated advances.
On Nov. 20, Pletnewski, and her 8-year-old daughter Olivia Schneider were found dead in their burnt out home in Ohio — and police have now charged Swopes, 27, with two counts of murder and arson, according to Fox 8 Cleveland.
Authorities say Pletnewski was found dead in her Mayfield Heights home and had been fatally stabbed before the fire. Her daughter was pronounced dead at a hospital from smoke inhalation.
"He became a subject of interest that day because what family and friends had told us that Rebecca had warned them or told them of instances of potentially stalking by the neighbor," said Police Chief Fred Bittner told Fox 8 Cleveland. "He became our primary suspect at the time after talking to family."
"He just apparently had left her notes occasionally or talked to her outside. There were other advancements made through maybe social media, and she told him she didn't want anything to do with him, she had a boyfriend," Bittner said, according to the outlet.
Meanwhile, Pletnewski leaves behind her younger daughter, aged 4, who wasn’t at the home of the time of the incident, according to Fox 8.
Court records don't list an attorney for Swopes. Fire officials have said a K-9 detected possible accelerants at the home.
Authorities haven't commented on any motive.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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