Schweickardt was a German citizen living in the US since 2001. A missing persons report was taken in 2003 after her friends were unable to reach her for several weeks. Schweickardt had been renting a room in her house to a male who she was trying to evict. A search of the home revealed large areas of blood clean-up, and Schweickardt's purse and passport were still inside. Her vehicle was found in possession of her former tenent.