United Group Insurance

Trial for MN teen charged in IA slayings to begin in Carroll

News

June 18th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The first of two trials for a Minnesota teenager charged in the slayings of two Iowa convenience store clerks is scheduled to begin Monday in Carroll County. Michael Swanson, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery in the Nov. 15, 2010, shooting deaths of clerks in Algona and Humboldt. If convicted in either of the slayings, the 18-year-old from St. Louis Park, Minn., would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

The first trial is on charges in the death of Sheila Myers, who was working at a Humboldt Kum & Go store when she was killed. The trial was moved from Humboldt County to Carroll County because of pre-trial publicity.

Swanson’s trial in the Algona slaying is scheduled for July 27 in Lyon County.