ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — Nearly four years after she vanished without a trace, their has been a update in the Bethany Brown case.
Authorities announced that a Taylorsville man has been arrested and charged with murder following a cold case breakthrough tied to forensic evidence. The arrest marks a significant step in the investigation, which had remained unsolved for years despite extensive searches and interviews by law enforcement.
On January 7, 2026, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, working in coordination with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), took Tony Elias Swaney into custody in connection with Brown’s death.
Bethany Brown Reported Missing From Taylorsville Home
Bethany Brown was first reported missing on April 10, 2022, when her mother contacted the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office after being unable to reach her. At the time, Brown was living at 81 Caldwell Drive in Taylorsville, North Carolina, a residence she shared with Swaney, according to investigators.
Following the missing person report, deputies and SBI agents conducted numerous interviews and searched multiple locations connected to Brown’s last known whereabouts. Despite those efforts, no sign of her was found, and the investigation eventually went cold.
Cold Case Breakthrough After Remains Identified
The case resurfaced on January 13, 2025, when hunters discovered skeletal remains near the Caldwell Drive property where Brown had last been known to live. The remains were sent to the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination.
On December 18, 2025, officials confirmed the remains belonged to Bethany Brown. With assistance from the SBI Crime Lab, the medical examiner determined that Brown’s cause of death was a gunshot wound.
Tony Elias Swaney Charged in Bethany Brown Murder
Based on the medical examiner’s determination and the evidence gathered during the investigation, authorities charged Tony Elias Swaney, a 37-year-old white male from Taylorsville, with one count of murder in the death of Bethany Brown.
Swaney is currently being held at the Alexander County Detention Center without bond. Court records show he is scheduled to make his first court appearance on January 12, 2026.
