A Haywood County grand jury returned the felony indictment for first degree murder against 24-year-old Michael Swayngim, who is accused of beating his 4-year-old son, Jake Russell, to death last August.

He was initially charged with possession of a firearm by a felon after detectives found several weapons in the home, but he was released on bond later that night.

Detectives arrested him again for felony child abuse and he was jailed under $90,000 bond.

After further investigation, detectives charged him with murder and he was placed under an additional $200,000 bond.

At a hearing Tuesday, Swayngim's attorney, John T. Barrett, requested his bond be set at $100,000.

However, Assistant District Attorney Rachael Groffsky, said that based on his prior history for failing to appear in court, the ...