As prosecutors prepare for the trial of Erik Sparre, charged with the 1985 murders of Harold and Thelma Swain, a newly published book has revealed a chilling connection involving his son and a notorious Jacksonville murder case.

Harold and Thelma Swain were gunned down inside the Rising Daughter Baptist Church in Spring Bluff 40 years ago. In 2003, Dennis Perry was convicted of killing the Swains. Years later, Perry’s conviction was overturned, leading to a full exoneration.

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Prosecutors said new evidence pointed toward a different man, Sparre. Last December, Sparre was arrested and charged with murdering the couple. The case has long haunted the community, with neighbors and parishioners recalling t

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