Birmingham, Alabama – In a case that has gripped the city, Demarcus Chandler was sentenced to death this Tuesday for orchestrating the 2020 assassination of his girlfriend, Raven Swain. The sentencing followed a unanimous capital murder conviction by a Jefferson County jury for Chandler’s role in the fatal shooting that occurred at Underwood Park in Birmingham.
The decision came after jurors deliberated for three hours. Within a mere 15 minutes of concluding the penalty phase deliberations, they recommended the death sentence. The outcome was nearly unanimous, with 10 jurors supporting the death penalty and two advocating for life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Following the jury’s decision, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Streety formally imposed the death sentence. Throughout the proceedings, Chandler displayed no discernible emotion.
Investigations revealed Chandler, currently 27, had a lengthy criminal background and was in state prison for parole violations when he hired Solomon Minatee III to murder Swain. Chandler believed Swain had financially deceived him during his incarceration.
The chilling events surrounding Swain’s death unravelled publicly. Shortly after she was murdered, Chandler made a cryptic post on Facebook stating, “God forgive. Papa don’t.” This post was later referred to by Swain’s grieving mother, Lolita Braxton, during her poignant victim impact statement. Braxton struggled with emotions as she remembered her daughter as “the light of our lives,” whose future plans and dreams were abruptly stolen.
At the time of her death, Swain was employed as a sterile processing technician. Among her aspirations were her plans to become a traveling sterile processor, as highlighted by her mother in court, emphasizing the profound loss felt by her family and friends.
The case, which started on April 7, saw around 33 witnesses take the stand, presenting approximately 250 pieces of evidence. Chandler chose not to testify, and his defense counsel called no witnesses. Further complicating Chandler’s criminal endeavors, evidence suggested that while incarcerated, he used an illegal cellphone to arrange not only the murder of Swain but also potentially that of Minatee, to prevent him from testifying, and an assassination attempt on a state prison lieutenant who had confiscated Chandler’s cellphone.
Chandler’s defense pointed to a troubled upbringing, including a childhood head injury and challenges such as ADHD, as factors possibly mitigating his culpability. His public defender, Caty Swindall, urged the jury to consider mercy, stating, “Killers are not born. They’re made.”
However, Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrichs argued vehemently for the ultimate punishment, emphasizing Chandler’s manipulative actions from behind bars and his lack of remorse during the trial.
Following the trial, District Attorney Danny Carr expressed hope that the verdict and harsh sentencing might offer some closure to the family and honor Swain’s memory.
The trial also shed light on the toxic dynamic between Swain and Chandler, described by prosecutors as a glaring example of domestic violence. Evidence of threats and manipulation was prevalent in their communications, underscoring the lethal intentions Chandler harbored toward Swain.
As the community reels from the brutality of the crime, the legal proceedings for Solomon Minatee III are pending, promising further developments in this harrowing case of manipulation, murder, and the quest for justice.