MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Laura Sweetman
Crime Junkie
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Laura Sweetman
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AI Summary
This Crime Junkie episode investigates the mysterious 2013 death of Dr. Laura Sweetman, a pediatric neurologist who died seven years before her husband Dave Sweetman's business partner Nick Cordova was murdered. The episode reveals a deeply troubling pattern: Laura had recently discovered Dave's secret affair and child, filed for divorce, and obtained an order of protection after he allegedly held her hostage and threatened her. Friends and colleagues describe a controlling, abusive relationship where Dave belittled Laura and created a climate of fear. Laura was stressed about money despite her successful medical career, discovering Dave had started businesses she didn't know about and that people were calling her demanding money over Dave's bad deals. The episode explores why Laura's death remains largely unknown and uninvestigated—people are afraid to talk about it, specifically afraid of Dave Sweetman. Multiple sources describe Dave as manipulative and frightening, with Laura expressing fear for her safety in the months before her death. The case draws disturbing parallels to Nick Cordova's 2020 execution-style murder, where Dave stood to gain $8 million in life insurance. The hosts present a pattern of financial impropriety, alleged abuse, and suspicious circumstances surrounding deaths connected to Dave Sweetman, though they emphasize not all evidence points to him.
Key takeaways
- 01Laura Sweetman's death in 2013 remains largely uninvestigated and unreported because people close to the case are afraid to speak about Dave Sweetman, with many believing he was somehow involved in her death
- 02Laura discovered Dave had a secret affair and preschool-aged child she never knew about in April 2013, leading her to file for divorce and obtain an order of protection after he allegedly held her hostage and threatened violence
- 03Despite being a successful pediatric neurologist, Laura struggled financially after leaving Dave, with friends noting she couldn't afford gym sessions and discovered Dave had started businesses she didn't know about, with people calling demanding money over his bad deals
- 04Dave Sweetman has a documented pattern of concerning behavior including a 2008 assault arrest, multiple lawsuits against his businesses, and allegations of financial impropriety that continued through to his business partner Nick Cordova's 2020 murder
- 05The case reveals systemic failures in domestic violence response, with charges dropped despite a one-hour audio recording of the April 2013 incident where Dave held Laura's car keys and prevented her from leaving
Timestamps
Topics
Companies mentioned
Quotes
"I'm fortunate that I didn't do anything."
— Dave Sweetman
"did not want to stay with someone who would cheat and lie"
— Laura Sweetman
"mostly verbal and mental abuse and some physical abuse, but not as much as the mental"
— Laura's friend
"no photos were taken because none to take"
— Police incident report
Transcript
Hi, Crime Junkies, it's Brit. If you're like me and you're ready to dive into even more cases, there's another podcast I think you're gonna love, Park Predators. In Park Predators, host Delia D'Ambra dives into the haunting crimes that happen in some of the most beautiful and unexpected places across the globe. Delia has helped host a couple of episodes of Crime Junkie in the past, and if you've listened to her before, you already know her investigative approach brings the facts of each case and their chilling details to life, making Park Predators the perfect mix of captivating and informative storytelling. So once you're done with this episode of Crime Junkie, go check out Park Predators. New episodes drop every week. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, Crime Junkies, I'm your host, Ashley Flowers. And I'm Brit. And welcome back. Last episode, I told you about the murder of Nick Cordova in Gilbert, Arizona. In 2020, Nick and his business partner, Dave Sweetman, were the only ones at their office when two masked men came in and shot Nick execution style in the back of the head. Dave walked away from the attack and sought out $8 million in life insurance money with quote-unquote sign-off from Nick's wife, Alicia, except she alleges that someone forged her signature. And it took years of fighting in court for her and their kids to see any share of that life insurance money. Now, Alicia told police that Nick was worried before his death, worried about things like Dave ta…