A man in southeast Georgia has been arrested and charged in connection with the 1985 killing of a couple at a Black church.

Erik Kristensen Sparre, 61, is now facing charges of felony murder and aggravated assault for the deaths of Harold and Thelma Swain in Camden County.

The original suspect, Dennis Perry, was exonerated on DNA evidence after spending 20 years in prison for the crime.

The new suspect, Sparre, was identified through DNA testing and the case against Perry was dropped in 2021.

Sparre has denied involvement in the killings.

Perry, now free, expressed relief after being cleared of the charges.

A 61-year-old man, Erik Kristensen Sparre, has been arrested and charged with the 1985 murders of Harold and Thelma Swain in Camden County, Ga.

This arrest comes after the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of Dennis Perry, who was exonerated in 2021.

The Swains were killed during a Bible study class at Rising Daughter Baptist Church in Waverly, Ga.

DNA evidence linked Sparre to the crime scene, leading to his arrest in 2020.

Perry, who spent two decades behind bars, was cleared of all charges.

The investigation into the Swain murders is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI.

Thirty years have passed since 29-year-old Deborah Perry was found shot dead on a rural cul-de-sac near Columbia, South Carolina, with her killer never caught. As cold case investigators explore new leads, Deborah’s daughter believes flowered pants and men’s underwear may hold the key.