The Mokena man accused of stabbing 21-year old Grace Taylor of Ottawa to death has pleaded guilty. 30-year old Michael Swift was sentenced to 53-years in prison Thursday. LaSalle County State’s Attorney Todd Martin says Swift confessed to Ottawa Detective Sgt. Kyle Booras that he killed Taylor out of jealousy or anger. He says Swift entered Taylor’s south side Ottawa apartment through an unlock door and stabbed her in her bedroom with a knife he owned. The knife was later found in a trash can at the apartment. Swift apologized to the family of Taylor who were in the courtroom before he was sentenced.
Martin also says a family member called 911 after Swift confessed that he killed Taylor to them. During a search of Swift’s apartment a box that held the knife that he used was found as well as Taylor’s bloody socks. Martin says he is very satisfied with the outcome because he was unsure if he would have gotten a better sentence if the case went to trial. Four other charges in the murder case were dropped.
Swift is still accused of trying to hire someone in the Kendall County Jail to kill two people involved in his murder case, which includes Judge Cynthia Raccuglia who sentenced him Thursday. She says she didn’t recuse herself because she never saw a conflict of interest and doesn’t have anything against him. Swift will be back in Kendall County Court in August.