GREENVILLE, PA. Brother of victim opposesparole

Michael Swiger has served 12 years of a 21-to-53-year sentence.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Michael Pratt will be sitting on a bench in Central Park at noon Monday, but he won't be there to enjoy the summer breeze.
Pratt, who works as a dispatcher for the police department in Warren, Ohio, will be looking for signatures on a petition opposing the parole of one of the people found guilty in the murder of his brother 14 years ago.
Michael Swiger, 34, of Tiltonsville, Ohio, was convicted in Summit County Common Pleas Court in 1990 on charges of kidnapping with a gun specification and involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 21 to 53 years in prison in the slaying of Roger Pratt, also known as Butch.
The Ohio Parole Board has determined Swiger will be eligible for a parole hearing in September, and Pratt and his mother, Rose, of Munhall, Pa., plan to oppose his release.
Pratt is soliciting support from the Greenville community to keep Swiger in jail.
Greenville is where much of the drama unfolded.
Roger Pratt was a student at Thiel College, and it was his roommate, Edward Swiger, now 38, of Tiltonsville, who killed him to prevent him from telling authorities what he knew about some burglaries and a furniture store arson in Greenville.
Edward Swiger was convicted in 1990 of aggravated murder with death specifications, a gun specification and kidnapping. He is serving 40 years to life and won't be eligible for parole until 2033.
He's the older brother of Michael Swiger.
Testimony showed that Roger Pratt was lured from his home in Munhall to Akron shortly after he and Edward Swiger graduated in June 1988. Pratt was brutally beaten by Edward Swiger, who then brought his body back to Pennsylvania, burying it in a shallow grave in southern Crawford County near Pymatuning State Park. Michael Swiger was involved in the plot to lure the victim to where he was murdered and was present at the killing.
A third conspirator
A third person involved in the case, Linda J. Karlen, 49, of Greenville and Sharon, was convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and is serving seven to 15 years in state prison.
Trial testimony showed she was the elder Swiger's girlfriend and accompanied him when he brought Pratt's body back to Pennsylvania.
The Pratts have twice successfully fought her efforts to gain parole.
Karlen and both Swigers were implicated in the store fire and all pleaded guilty to that charge. When Ohio is done with them, they will be returned to Pennsylvania to face five to 10 years for arson.
Michael Pratt said that in addition to signatures on a petition, he will accept letters from those opposed to Michael Swiger's parole, and he and his mother will carry all of that information to the Ohio Parole Board in Columbus in late August.
They also plan to attend the parole hearing, although the specific date hasn't been set yet, he said.
He said he's spent time in Central Park before seeking support for his opposition to Karlen's parole and the 0community backing has been overwhelming.
People line up to sign the petitions against parole for those responsible for his brother's death, he said.
All petitions and letters regarding Michael Swiger's parole hearing must carry his prisoner identification number, 222156, Pratt said.