Dad of Henderson teen who died by suicide says tragedy ‘could have been easily avoided’

The father of a Henderson teen who died by suicide said his daughter’s death could have been “easily avoided.”

Hina Hin, the father of 17-year-old Jennaleah Hin, who was found dead in a desert area of Henderson Sunday after her disappearance sparked a large search effort and appeals from her distraught mother and stepfather, shared a Henderson Police Department report from the night Jennaleah disappeared.

According to the documents shared with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, dated Dec. 30, Corey Swanson, Hin’s stepfather, believed that Jennaleah had taken his gray Glock 43 handgun because “he saw it this morning and noticed Jennaleah was gone and so was his firearm.”

That day, Jennaleah left her home in Henderson after a family dispute. On her way out, she said something to the effect of “You don’t have to worry about me anymore,” according to Mark Speer, a commander with Red Rock Search &Rescue. Nearly a week later, a hiker found her body in a remote area east of Desert Sunflower Circle and Spanish Needle Street, according to authorities.

The Clark County coroner’s office said Tuesday that Jennaleah Hin’s death was a suicide with a firearm.

‘They should have secured their guns’

In an interview Tuesday, Hin said his daughter was distressed by an argument between her mother, Jennifer Swanson, and Corey Swanson, who he said had taken her cellphone and car keys. The police report said the argument was about a relationship with her boyfriend.

The police documents and Transparent Nevada also list Corey Swanson as an employee at “NLVPD,” or the North Las Vegas Police Department.

In an email to the Review-Journal on Tuesday night, the Henderson Police Department confirmed that the department generated — but did not “disseminate” — the documents Hin provided.

Hin alleged that the Swansons improperly stored firearms in the home. He said he didn’t know whether a service weapon was involved in Jennaleah’s death.

“This is a death that could have been easily avoided,” Hin said. “They should have secured their guns better.”

The Swanson family did not respond to interview requests from the Review-Journal, but Phil Karas, a family friend of the Swansons who is with the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, spoke on the family’s behalf on Tuesday night. He said the family planned to issue a statement soon.

In an email response, the North Las Vegas Police Department declined to comment, asking that any questions about the case be referred to the Henderson Police Department.

Left a note behind

Hin, who lives in San Jose, California, said that he had infrequent visits with his two daughters — Jennaleah and Hazeljoy, 15 — after he separated from their mother and she and the girls had moved to the Las Vegas area. He said he had not seen Jennaleah in about a year, citing disagreements with her mother about visitation.

Hin said he initially found out the teen was missing through a text exchange with her mother. Given that it was New Year’s Eve, he thought she would return the next day after a night out. It was not until days later, Hin said, that Jennifer told him that Jennaleah had left a note behind.

According to the police report, Jennaleah’s mother shared a note with officers after the teen disappeared. “Jennifer had a suicide letter that Jennaleah left behind,” stated the report.

When Hin arrived in Las Vegas on Friday, he said he joined the search team to help find Jennaleah.

“It is awful that these are the circumstances that I get to see my daughter again,” Hin said. “I wish I could have done more.”

In an emailed statement Tuesday night, Henderson police declined to comment on the case, or Hin’s comments, and said the investigation was still open and “sensitive.” The department also said that “due to the sensitive nature of the matter and the fact that a juvenile is involved,” it was “carefully reviewing” requests for the police report associated with Jennaleah’s disappearance.

“We understand that this situation has raised many questions within our community, and we want to assure you that the Henderson Police Department is committed to transparency,” the statement said.

On Wednesday, the department also denied the Review-Journal’s requests to interview its chief, Hollie Chadwick, about the circumstances of Jennaleah’s death. Instead, a public information officer said the department was “committed to providing necessary information” and would work on “getting a statement.”

Henderson Councilman Jim Seebock, who represents the district where Hin lived, expressed his condolences in an interview Wednesday.

“It is tragic all around,” Seebok said. “My children go to Foothill, and I live nearby. My heart goes out to her friends and family.”

A candlelight vigil to remember the teen will take place on Saturday, according to a Facebook post. A flyer for the event invited students and families of Foothill High School, where Hin was a senior, asking that they bring flowers to honor her.

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org.

Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.