Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Thursday, August 07, 2008

Park murder trial continues

LUVERNE, Minn. (AP) — Witnesses said cigarettes and a wristwatch found near a slain park worker's body near Luverne did not belong to the victim.

The testimony came Tuesday in the murder trial of Randy Swaney of Sioux Falls, S.D.

A colleague of Carrie Nelson, who was killed in a 2001 robbery of the Blue Mounds State Park office, told jurors that the woman did not smoke.

Prosecutors said the cigarettes and watch belonged to Swaney.

Patricia Vandekamp, a park worker, testified she was the only one who smoked at work and the cigarettes were not hers.

It's believed Nelson was killed by blows to the head with a rock.

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