A 39-year-old Missouri doctor, Dr. Sarah Sweeney, was found dead on Saturday in the suburban St. Louis home of local fire chief Robert Daus.
This marks the second instance in three years where a woman has been discovered dead in Daus' residence, intensifying the ongoing legal battle and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding both deaths.
Missouri Doctor's Unexpected Death
DELLWOOD, MO - MARCH 13: Crime scene tape remains in the rubble of a business that was destroyed during November rioting on March 13, 2015 in Dellwood, Missouri. The rioting broke out after residents learned that the police officer responsible for the killing of Michael Brown would not be charged with any crime. Few of the businesses destroyed in the rioting in Dellwood and nearby Ferguson have reopened. Two police officers were shot Wednesday while standing outside the Ferguson police station observing a protest. Ferguson has faced many violent protests since the August death of Michael Brown.
Dr. Sweeney, originally from West Virginia, recently launched her own podiatry practice in St. Louis, as detailed in an online obituary posted by her funeral home. Frontenac Police are currently investigating the incident, categorizing her death as sudden and pending further evaluation by the medical examiner. No apparent signs of a struggle were reported.
The unsettling discovery unfolds amid a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Daus by the family of his previous fiancée, Grace Holland, who died from a single gunshot wound in July 2020 at Daus' former residence. The lawsuit contends that Daus is responsible for Holland's death, either through direct action or by creating an environment that led to her tragic end.
While police initially ruled Holland's death a suicide, her family expressed concerns about the integrity of the investigation, citing Daus' connections with the fire department and local law enforcement. In light of Dr. Sweeney's unexpected demise, an attorney representing Holland's family emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation, hoping for a thorough examination that was allegedly lacking in previous cases.
Both Dr. Sweeney and Grace Holland were discovered deceased in the early morning hours, prompting 911 calls from Daus in both instances. Dr. Sweeney, who relocated from West Virginia to establish her practice in Creve Coeur, is remembered by her mother, Teresa Sweeney Light, as a vibrant and outgoing person who loved animals.
Despite discovering the troubling details of Holland's case, Dr. Sweeney's family refrained from speculating on the circumstances of her death, leaving the investigation to authorities. Daus and Dr. Sweeney reportedly met during her emergency room shifts shortly after she moved to St. Louis. Her mother shared that Dr. Sweeney, diagnosed with Perthes Disease at a young age, had endured physical pain throughout her life, according to Daily Mail.
Missouri Firefighter Under Scrutiny in Wrongful Death
Robert Daus, a captain at Maryland Heights Fire District and Vice President of Liberty Art Works, is now facing increased scrutiny due to the past few days. The death by negligence action filed by Holland's family describes a turbulent four-year relationship that included situations of abuse, financial manipulation, and coercion for Holland to work for Daus' family business.
The lawsuit contends that Daus, by controlling the finances, exerted control over Grace Holland. Holland's family claims that the relationship was fraught with violent episodes, leading to physical harm and emotional distress. Public records indicate the purchase of Daus' home on Conway Road, where both deaths occurred, for $740,000 in 2020.
The lawsuit also asserts that Daus offered financial incentives to Holland to abort their child, allegations Daus has denied. The text messages presented in the legal filing portray a tumultuous relationship, swinging between abusive language and mundane conversations about household matters.
The circumstances surrounding the night of Holland's death remain contentious, with the family highlighting discrepancies in Daus' narrative. The recent revelations of Dr. Sweeney's death echoed the tragic pattern observed in the previous case, prompting further scrutiny into the events surrounding both women's demise.
As the investigations happen and the court proceedings persist, the families affected are in search of closure, justice, and an honest narrative of the terrible happenings that took place in the homes of Robert Daus. The findings of the medical examiner are expected to be pivotal in uncovering the unknowns surrounding these unfortunate deaths, New York Post reported.
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