Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announces clearing of Peggy Sweeten Cold Case

Sheriff James Beck is announcing that the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit has cleared the cold case of Peggy Sweeten.

Peggy’s husband James Sweeten is the suspect in her January 1998 disappearance and presumed death.

As the investigation progressed Delaware County Cold Case Investigator Mark Wall learned of a missing burn barrel at their residence and an inaccuracy in his original statement of where he was at the time of her disappearance.

In May 2023 a search was conducted of the lake area behind the house where Peggy and James resided at the time of her disappearance. A barrel was located but no human remains.

James committed suicide at his home in Texas a few days after the search at his former residence. A case summary of findings in the case was presented to the 13th District Attorney’s Office which agreed the suspect in the case is deceased.

Any leads received on the location of Peggy will remain a top priority to locate her for the family. Sheriff Beck made a commitment to investigate cold cases in Delaware County. He believes law enforcement must be the voice for victims and their families in the pursuit of justice.