July 01, 2025
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Suspect in Ottawa stabbing death to stand trial July 25

Swift to appear Monday on murder-for-hire in Kendall County

By Tom Collins
Michael Swift, 29, of Mokena, enters the courtroom at the La Salle County Governmental Complex in Ottawa on Thursday May 6, 2021. Swift has been charged with three counts for first degree murder in the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend Grace Taylor, age 21. His trial is set for August 16. Sentencing would range from 20-60 years with no possibility of probation.

Michael Swift, 30, of Mokena, will stand trial July 25 for the stabbing death of Grace Ann Taylor, 21. Though lawyers indicated they were negotiating a resolution as recently as two months ago, Swift was placed back on the trial call at a Thursday hearing.

A Mokena man accused of killing an Ottawa woman is back on the trial call, scheduled now to stand July 25 before a jury.

Michael S. Swift, 30, appeared Thursday for a status hearing. He is accused of killing 21-year-old Grace Taylor in her apartment on Ottawa’s South Side. Swift, who faces 20-60 years if convicted of murder, will next appear July 14 for a motions hearing.

Two months ago, attorneys disclosed in open court they were negotiating; but Thursday’s new setting suggests no plea is at hand. A complicating factor may be his pending murder-for-hire case in Kendall County, where he allegedly tried to arrange two killings while jailed in Yorkville. (He’s been transferred to McHenry County.)

Swift is set to appear in Yorkville for a final pre-trial conference on April 11.

Thursday’s trial setting means La Salle County prosecutors have two (possibly three) murder suspects to try in 2022.

First up is Donald Fredres, of Sandwich, who stands trial April 25 for allegedly killing his former in-laws in their Sheridan home. Also pending is the re-trial of Bradley French for the 2015 bow-and-arrow killing at IVCC; French will appear for status on April 28.