Man sentenced to 30 years for Lehigh Acres stabbing

A Lehigh Acres man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to a fatal stabbing.

Michael Swisher, 29, was charged with one count of each second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and resisting an officer without violence.

Just over three years ago, in mid-April of 2018, Swisher was staying with a couple in their Lehigh Acres home on the 1800 block of Acacia Avenue. After leaving the doors open and letting the couple’s dogs out, Swisher was confronted by both the man and woman homeowners.

During the confrontation, Swisher stabbed both people; the man survived, but Tara Binkley, 47, died at the hospital.

The name of the male victim was withheld.

After the stabbings, Swisher left the scene and jumped into a nearby canal.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was called and used deputies on the ground and helicopter with heat-seeking technology to locate Swisher.

He was soon found in a wooded area near Clark Avenue.

Swisher was also sentenced to five years for possession of cocaine and five years for possession of marijuana over 20 grams. These sentences will run concurrent to those related to the stabbings.

He pled guilty to all charges.