Dominique Swopes Indicted For Murder Of Mayfield Heights Mom

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OH — Dominique Swopes has been indicted for the murder of Rebecca Pletnewski and her daughter Olivia Schneider. Swopes could face the death penalty, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley announced.

A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted Swopes for aggravated murder. In total, he faces 14 counts, including aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated arson, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property, murder, and felonious assault.

The indictment also reserves the right to seek the death penalty at a later date. “We are evaluating this crime as a potential death penalty case for the senseless killing of Ms. Pletnewski and her young daughter," O'Malley said on Friday.

Bond was set at $5 million for Swopes on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Law enforcement announced Monday they would seek an indictment for murder and arson.

Pletnewski's home on Longwood Road caught fire on November 20. She was found dead inside the house by firefighters. Her 8-year-old daughter, Olivia, was rushed to Hillcrest Hospital where she later died from smoke inhalation.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner later ruled that Pletnewski was dead before the fire was set. The cause of her death was "cervical compression with sharp force injuries." That effectively means the 41-year-old was stabbed in the spine.

Mayfield Heights Police Chief Fred Bittner told Fox 8 that Pletnewski's family said Swopes had been potentially stalking the woman. "He became our primary suspect at the time after talking to family," Bittner said.

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Photo from Mayfield Heights Police