In Brooklyn Heights, A Burglary Reveals Stories Of Two Different Families In Turmoil

When cops nabbed career criminal Ronald Swindell and his nephew Steffon red handed after robbing the home of actress Keri Russell and another down the block, two stories about two very different families became public.

As the news of Russell’s brush with crime broke, questions about where her husband, contractor Shane Deary, and two childern were while she was home alone in her Hicks Street rental. Reports earlier this year claimed the actress and family had temporarily relocated to Brooklyn Heights while their Boerum Hill home underwent some renovation. They couple looked quite happy in last year’s Elle Decor spread about that home.

This week, after thanking the NYPD for their help in nabbing the Swindells, Russell and Deary announced that they have separated. On Thursday paparazzi were on hand to catch Russell and Deary, together for the first time in public since news of their breakup, taking their kids to school.

While Russell and her family tried to get back to their regular routine, another family drama was unfolding nearby at Brooklyn Criminal Court. Ronald Swindell was being charged with burglary and criminal possession of stolen property. His nephew, Steffon, received only the latter charge.

NYDN: Steffon Swindell’s mom, Tannen, blamed her brother for teaching her son how to be a cat burglar. She said her son is on probation for a burglary over the summer, but seemed to be straightening out his life before his uncle got out of prison.
“At Thanksgiving he showed me he’d finished high school,” said the mother, whose son attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. “He’s been doing well. He showed me a college application.”
Loretta Swindell said her brother, Ronald, has been institutionalized since he was 10, going from foster home to prison.
“Steffon is just a boy, but he’s following in the footsteps of my brother,” Loretta Swindell said. “He doesn’t know what he’s in for.”

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  • petercow

    Sweet Jesus, Homer. Questions about Kerri Russel’s family life?

    You should be ashamed.

  • brooklynheightsblog

    Oh stop it. The post is about the fact that these two stories came out of a report of burglary. Tale of two cities stuff.

  • petercow

    Disagree. What does the state of Russell’s marital status have to do with anything?

  • brooklynheightsblog

    That’s not even remotely the point of this post. You’re just straight up trolling now.

  • Heightsman

    I wouldn’t say he’s trolling. I agree. Leave that stuff to TMZ.

  • brooklynheightsblog

    Stop trying to make fetch happen. The Russell story was reported everywhere. THIS is a post about the TWO NEW YORKS — one well to do family in turmoil intersecting with another not-so-well to do family in turmoil.

  • petercow

    The fact that the alleged thieves are father/son makes family stuff germane.

    Who resides in house, or not, and why, is nobody’s business.

  • Heightsman

    Sorry not buying it.

  • brooklynheightsblog

    There’s nothing to buy. If you don’t understand, agree with, “get why”, are flabbergasted, appalled etc by this post don’t read it.

  • Boerum Bill

    Nothing wrong with a little spice in the blog to offset the posts about the bland restaurant scene. Thanks for breaking this story, Homer. As shocking and saddening as it is, I’m sincerely glad I read it here first.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    Yeah but now we know Kerry is single. Valuable info, I’d say ;)

  • Martin L Schneider

    I am interested in the details of just the break-in was achieved. Up a stoop? In an apt. bldg? First floor? Knowing what actually happened would be helpful to all of us. Please tell.

  • HenrySt

    Glad they were apprehended. We live a few blocks away and had a break-in with the exact same MO a couple months ago. I suspect it was the same duo.

  • TeddyNYC

    Not necessarily.

  • Mickey Rooney

    Yum. yum.

  • John

    Does anyone know what block of Remsen St. the 2nd burglary occured on?

  • Mini_Cooper

    1. Keri Russell’s personal life has nothing to do with the burglary.
    2. Who cares about the Swindells. Just another low-life family of criminals.