34 years later, two black men arrested and accused in the murder of a white pregnant woman receive a formal and public apology

It was the case that damn-near ripped the city of Boston apart back in 1989.

34 years ago, Charles Stewart called 911 saying he and his wife were shot. His wife Carol Stewart, who was 7 months pregnant at the time died from her injuries. When investigators questioned him, he said a black man shot them during an attempted carjacking.

The lives of Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett were changed forever. Both were arrested as suspects for the murder of Carol Stewart. The court of public opinion in Boston was split largely along racial lines. Without evidence and despite alibis that placed both of them elsewhere at the time of the murder, most White locals assumed it was them simply because they were black and they were arrested. Most Black locals were understandably alarmed by the speed and force with which the men were arrested and charged despite airtight alibis that placed each of them elsewhere during the time of the incident.

As a reminder, this happened back in 1989. DNA Forensics wouldn’t start to become what it is now for at least another 5 to 7 years. Thankfully, neither man was convicted for the murder. When investigators realized the injuries Charles Stewart sustained were self-inflicted, he panicked and died by suicide by jumping off the Tobin Bridge. It was later discovered he didn’t want to be a father and she refused to have an abortion.

The bigger issue that was largely swept under the rug is the fact he claimed a black man did it his words were taken at face value. Charges against Swanson and Bennett were quickly dropped but the damage had already been done to both them and their families. The Stewart case was a black eye to the Boston Police Department as it confirmed long suspected racial biases. The timing really sucked because as youth and gang crime waves would grip the city for half of the 1990s. BPD had the difficult task of both dealing with that and rebuilding trust with Boston’s Black Community which is still is trying to do to this day.

“The mayor’s office, city officials and the Boston Police Department took actions that directly harmed these families and continue to impact the larger community, reopening a wound that has gone untended for decades,” Current Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said as part of her remarks. Although she didn’t say his name, she was referring to former mayor Ray Flynn who is still alive right now.

This formal apology should have come from him, not Michelle Wu. Many might say the late Tom Menino–mayor of Boston for 22 years–Marty Walsh or Kim Janey could have done this and you’re right to say that. The thing is, this happened during Ray Flynn’s time as Mayor and he IS still alive. He should have been there to look them and their families in the eye or recorded a video message in advance. The thought alone would’ve meant a lot.

Swanson was present to received the apology in person. Bennett, who still lives in Boston was not present but his family was there on his behalf. His family passed on a message from him to local media: he and Swanson should get financially compensated. Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Swanson said he would also like some kind of financial compensation, adding that he was currently broke. While Wu said she would commit to doing everything she can to help both men and their families, she would not rule in or out financial compensation.

I was 5 years old when that incident happened but there isn’t a single person in Boston who was over the age of four in 1989 who hasn’t at least heard of the Stewart Murder. For Black Bostonians, it was the exclaimation point of a very trying era of racial profiling in the city by BPD that continued for at least another decade and a half.

While everyone recognizes things are much better than they were when the Stewart Murder happened, the wounds that incident inflicted on Boston ran deep and festered for quite some time. More so given there was no acknowledgement from City Hall, BPD or City Officials of the injustice done to Swanson, Bennett and their families for 34 years.

Fortunately, both men were alive to personally receive this LONG overdue public acknowledgement and apology from all three. Their familes also recognize what they went through 34 years deeply impacted not just them but left a festering wound that only now can begin to heal. It starts with acknowledgement.

The Stewart Murder got a lot of media attention 34 years ago and in the three decades since in the form of movies, podcasts, interviews and TV Shows. It has been used in case studies at various Law Schools. The disappearance and murder of Lacey Peterson about 20 years ago brought back memories of that incident due to a few similarities though in that case her husband was charged and convicted.

As for weather or not Swanson and Bennett should be financially compensated, that’s a question for attorneys to look into. I do know all the docudramas and TV Shows about the case do not mention them specifically but their names will forever be linked to that case. It’s something for attorneys to look into like I said though.

 

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