Community Gathers to Celebrate Life of Gabbiee Swainson

Family, friends and community members gathered Sunday to remember the life of Gabrielle "Gabbiee" Chole Swainson — a 16-year-old who was kidnapped from her Northeast Columbia home and murdered exactly one year ago.

"We're here to celebrate the life of that angel God gave us," Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a memorial service Sunday.

Hundreds of people attended the service which was held Sunday evening for two and a half hours at Right Direction Church International.  

A dozen of those attending the service  — both children and adults — spoke about the impact Gabbiee had on their lives and shared stories of the teen many described as talented, compassionate, confident, ambitious and at times mischievous. The service also featured several musical selections including one from Chris Kelly, Gabbiee's guitar teacher. Images of Gabbiee were shown on big screens.

"Every day that she was with us, she touched us," Lott said. "She touched every single one of  us. Gabbiee was a child of God and lived her life as such." 

"No light has ever shined as bright as Gabbiee's and it will continue to shine," he said. 

Rev. Herbert Bailey, senior pastor at Right Direction Church, urged those attending the service either in person or watching a live stream to hold on to their faith in this time of sorrow. 

"God still deserves praise no matter what happened to Gabbiee," Bailey said. "Make the devil mad."

Bailey encouraged those to trust God and not worry about vengeance "even if you don't believe someone was prosecuted enough." 

"God says 'Don't be mad, don't be vengeful," Bailey said. "'You don't have to seek revenge. I got you.'"

The Ridge View High School cheerleader disappeared from her home on August 18, 2012. For a year, local law enforcement and community members searched for Gabbiee. 

On Aug. 8, Lott announced the suspect in her case, Freddie Grant, had agreed to show authorities where he buried Swainson.

Authorities say Grant entered the Swainson home after Elvia Swainson, Gabbiee's mother, left for work around 3:45 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2012.

Grant forced Gabbiee from the home against her will and took her to his home, Fifth Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson said during a hearing last week. 

During that time, Grant bound Gabbiee's hands and face, and he 'ultimately suffocated her." Duct tape with Gabbiee's DNA was found at Grant's Elgin home last November. 

Both Lott and Johnson said they made a "deal with the devil" in order to bring Gabbiee back home to her family. 

Grant was sentenced days after he led authorities to an area between Elgin and Lugoff where he buried Swainson's body. He was sentenced to 30 years for each charge of kidnapping and murder, which will be served concurrently. 

Grant made the deal in exchange for the release of his 27-year-old daughter, Dominique Grant, who was charged with accessory after the fact in connection with Swainson's disappearance.