Search warrants reveal new evidence in Tom Niblo death
Newly released search warrant affidavits in the investigation into the homicide of Tom Niblo, an Abilene real estate agent, reveal a sprawling evidence chain but no arrests.
Niblo was fatally shot multiple times Dec. 12 in his home in the 3700 block of Woodridge Drive.
Nilblo and his wife, Cheryl Niblo, were in their bed the morning of the shooting when she got up and went into the bathroom, taking along her smartphone, according to the search warrant affidavit.
Cheryl Niblo reportedly heard several shots fired and ran out the back door to a neighbor's house to call the police, the search warrant states. Police found her iPhone in the bathroom later, as well as Tom Niblo's smartphone on a nightstand in the bedroom.
Neither phone was used to call law enforcement.
"The investigation did not reveal evidence of why or how Cheryl McKissack Niblo removed herself from the bedroom at the exact time that Thomas Niblo was shot to death," the search warrant affidavit states.
Police seized several items from the home:
- A white prescription pill bottle in Cheryl Niblo's name
- Spent .40-caliber shell casings
- Spent bullets, one recovered from the wall
- Bloody pillow with bullet hole (on bed)
- A .40-caliber Heckler & Koch P30 pistol with a black holster and magazine
- Bloody white plastic mattress protector
- Bloody white cloth mattress pad
- Bloody pillow and pillowcase
- Bloody white comforter found in entryway
- Three computer thumb drives
- Two laptop computers
- A machete with a black handle
Police took multiple swabs from around the house and shell casings.
While processing the scene, police found marks and tracks in the mud leading to the creek behind the Niblo home, according to an affidavit.
Investigators also learned of problems among Tom Niblo, his sister Ellouise Sweetser and her husband Luke Sweetser, according to court documents. During the investigation into the homicide, Luke Sweetser was arrested Dec. 14 on a charge of theft of a firearm. Police arrested him after recovering stolen firearms from a safe while executing a search warrant at 342 Mesquite St., where Luke Sweetser kept a storage unit.
Sweetser has no alibi for the night and morning before Niblo's death, according to the search warrant affidavit.
Before Niblo was killed, the family had been fighting about executing the will of Niblo's father, who recently died. Niblo and his mother had been named executors of the will, while the Sweetsers had "specifically been excluded," the affidavit states.
Police seized Luke Sweetser's shoes Dec. 16 because they found a partial shoe print at the Niblo residence, according to the affidavit.
Additionally, investigators have obtained numerous electronic devices, including laptops, tablets and USB flash drives, from the Sweetsers.
