PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A divorced man and woman from Chester are accused of sexually and physically abusing two mentally disabled adult women, stealing their Social Security benefits, and cutting them off from their families.
Prosecutors say 41-year-old Michael Swanson and 37-year-old Nicole Swanson exploited two women, ages 30 and 27. They both have IQs below the intellectual equivalent of a third-grade student, officials said, “making both victims incapable of consenting to the [Swansons’] actions.”
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office said the 27-year-old victim, already pregnant with Michael Swanson’s child, introduced the 30-year-old victim to him, and the trio began a sexual relationship.
Amid the abuse, the Swansons, their seven children and the two victims moved to Florida in July 2023 to “evade detection,” District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said. Investigators believe Michael Swanson was concerned about social services looking into his involvement with the 27-year-old victim he fathered a child with.
In Florida, police said the couple and their children beat the 30-year-old victim. Investigators also said both Swansons had sex with both victims, confiscated the victims’ phones, and changed both of their disability benefits to be issued to Michael Swanson. One victim told police she was forced to have sex with Michael Swanson in front of his children.
One of the beatings was recorded and sent to the 30-year-old victim’s family, and they were eventually able to locate her.
Michael and Nicole Swanson are each charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a person with a mental disability, theft, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
Michael Swanson is being held on $900,000 bail. Nicole Swanson is being held on $1 million bail. Authorities said there is an open investigation in Florida as well.