08-31-2012, 03:30 PM
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Investigators say blood belonging to missing 15-year-old Gabbiee Swainson was found in her bedroom.
During a Friday afternoon news conference Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told reporters that in addition to finding the blood in her room they also found her DNA on a piece duct tape. That tape was located in a junk yard near Freddie Grant's home.
Investigators also found strands of Gabbiee's hair in Grant's home, according to Sheriff Leon Lott.
Swainson was last seen in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 18th.
The focus of the investigation remains on 52-year-old Freddie Grant. "We know who has the key to finding her," Sheriff Lott said on Thursday.
Lott believes Grant abducted Gabbiee from her Tamara Way home during the early morning hours of August 18 while her mother was at work. Investigators have been able to track Gabbiee's cell phone to Grant's home, the sheriff said. That phone has not yet been located.
In the days after Gabbiee's disappearance, her mother Elvia Swainson organized several searches and informational efforts to bring attention to the missing teen.
During one or more of those early searches, Lott said Grant actually joined in on the effort to help find her. Lott said Swainson called Grant for help and he showed up shortly after that call.
"He walked and handed out flyers and did what everybody else was doing," said Lott. "That makes me sick to my stomach."
![[Image: rb7UX.St.74.jpg]](http://media.thestate.com/smedia/2012/04/30/11/19/rb7UX.St.74.jpg)
During a Friday afternoon news conference Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told reporters that in addition to finding the blood in her room they also found her DNA on a piece duct tape. That tape was located in a junk yard near Freddie Grant's home.
Investigators also found strands of Gabbiee's hair in Grant's home, according to Sheriff Leon Lott.
Swainson was last seen in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 18th.
The focus of the investigation remains on 52-year-old Freddie Grant. "We know who has the key to finding her," Sheriff Lott said on Thursday.
Lott believes Grant abducted Gabbiee from her Tamara Way home during the early morning hours of August 18 while her mother was at work. Investigators have been able to track Gabbiee's cell phone to Grant's home, the sheriff said. That phone has not yet been located.
In the days after Gabbiee's disappearance, her mother Elvia Swainson organized several searches and informational efforts to bring attention to the missing teen.
During one or more of those early searches, Lott said Grant actually joined in on the effort to help find her. Lott said Swainson called Grant for help and he showed up shortly after that call.
"He walked and handed out flyers and did what everybody else was doing," said Lott. "That makes me sick to my stomach."