Wednesday, June 11, 2008

WELEETKA, OK: TWO GIRLS SHOT WITH 2 DIFFERENT GUNS

Weleetka is a amall town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. The name is derived from Creek Indians term for "running water." The latitude of Weleetka is 35.335N. The longitude is -96.136W. It is in the Central Standard time zone. Elevation is 725 feet. Estimated population in July 2006: approximately 947.

Taylor Dawn Paschal-Placker, 13, left, and Skyla Jade Whitaker, 11, were killed Sunday.

Police look for multiple suspects in girls' shootings
By Emanuella Grinberg/ CNN
June 10, 2008

(CNN) -- Two Oklahoma schoolgirls were killed with two guns, leading investigators to believe that more than one person was involved in their deaths, authorities said Wednesday.

Taylor Dawn Paschal-Placker, 13, of Weleetka and Skyla Jade Whitaker, 11, of Henryetta, were shot multiple times Sunday on a rural road about a quarter-mile from Taylor's home.

Investigators don't have any suspects or motives, but a forensic examination of the bodies indicated that two guns had been used, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations Agent Ben Rosser said Wednesday.

"This leads us to believe that we're probably looking for two shooters," Rosser said at a news conference Wednesday, where he also announced that authorities had raised the reward to $25,000.


With two shooters, Rosser said he was hopeful that one would turn on the other and come forward.


Rosser said investigators were considering a variety of motives as they searched for suspects, including the possibility of a "random thrill kill."

Because of the girls' ages, Rosser said investigators were looking at computer evidence and questioning young people in the area to develop possible leads.

Authorities said Tuesday that they believed the shooters were most likely from the area, considering the remote location where the bodies were found.

The two girls had planned a sleepover at Taylor's house the night they were killed. They left the house about 5 p.m.

Less than 30 minutes later, Taylor's grandfather discovered the girls' bodies in a ditch on the side of a road, near a bridge that is a popular gathering spot in the area.


CAN YOU HELP FIND THIS CHILD-KILLER...OR KILLERS?

Police are asking members of the public with more information about the case
to call (800) 522-8017.

________________________________________________

To make a donation to a burial fund for the victims' families,
the public can contact the Bank of Commerce in Weleetka, Rosser said.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My heart really goes out to the families of these poor little babies. I'm a grandpa myself and can't imagine finding any of them like that.
I have my opinion of what I would like to do to the gutless garbage that did that.
The fear these poor little things must of felt is hard to think about.
God help the families.
Ed M.