A California man faces murder charges after an Illinois man was found dead in a Plano backyard late Tuesday afternoon, police said.
Officials confirmed that Plano police and firefighters were called to the 4600 block of Bending Oak Trail around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after a resident of the home called 911 to report that a dead man had been found in the backyard.
The victim was identified as 69-year-old Patrick King of Elburn, Illinois.
Plano police said they identified a suspect in connection with King’s death and tracked him down early Wednesday morning at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where he was arrested around 5:30 a.m. Police identified the man as 39-year-old Andrew James Swetland of California.
Police could not confirm on Wednesday morning whether Swetland had booked a flight or was trying to leave the area.
Swetland and King knew each other, police said, and the killing was not a random act of violence. Plano police confirmed to NBC 5 that Swetland is the homeowner’s brother-in-law and that King had been visiting the homeowner.
Police say Swetland is charged with murder and awaits arraignment. It is unclear if he has an attorney to speak on his behalf.
The investigation into King’s death is ongoing.
