Emily Chan
Nichols shot and killed Goldstein as Schwalbe sprinted away. Dan had also accidentally fired at Swenson, leaving her with a chest wound. The Nichols packed up their camp and left Swenson for dead.
She lay bleeding on the ground next to Goldstein’s dead body for four hours. Finally, a helicopter arrived to rescue her.
At the hospital, doctors found that the bullet had struck the area just below her collarbone, exited by her shoulder blade, and punctured her lung.
The Nichols were arrested five months later after they were cornered in the mountains of southwestern Montana. Everyone wondered what drove them to commit such a horrible crime.
It turned out that Nichols kidnapped Swenson as a bride for his son. He was sentenced to 85 years in prison, while his son Dan was sentenced to 10 years.
Six years ago, Nichols was released on parole. He showed remorse for his actions and maintained a clean record throughout his 32 years in prison. He completed several educational programs, including anger management and life skills.
Dan was released from prison in 1991. Since then, he had been in and out of trouble with the law. In 2012, he was arrested for drug charges.
After experiencing such an ordeal, Swenson spent many years in therapy and still had shrapnel in her chest, which was a constant reminder of the trauma and the end of her athletic career.
