The charges against 22-year-old Cody Garman have changed after investigators found out what happened.
WNDU reports Garman was originally arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery after former Goshen City Councilman David Swartley died from head injuries.
Tuesday, Garman’s charge was changed to murder.
Court documents say Garman and Swartley met online. Reportedly Garman saw a personal ad Swartley posted for a “casual encounter.”
After responding to the ad, the two texted. Police say they found a “significant amount of contact” between the two of them on Swartley’s phone.
WNDU reports Garman and Swartley planned on meeting up for sex on the morning of Thursday, May 25. Swartley drove to Garman’s house where Garman got into his car.
Garman told police they got in an argument, and that’s where things started going wrong. Charging documents say Garman claims to have punched Swartley at least two times in the head before leaving Swartley in the back, naked and injured.
Garman allegedly drove about 5 minutes to Ne Ce Dah Avenue. During the drive, WNDU reports Garman says Swartley asked where he was being taken.
Police say Garman got out of the car, took the keys, and left Swartley in the car where police found him later that morning after a concerned neighbor called about an an abandoned car.
Police rushed him to the hospital, but he died from severe brain injuries later that night.
Garman’s next court date is June 1.
