Skyla Whitaker, 11, & Taylor Placker 13 - Found Murdered - #11

[Claycat]

I believe later interviews revealed MORE witnesses, I think they have more than a half-dozen now, based on press releases from the OSBI.

My Opinion

Hi FlowerChild! This is the video I got the info from. I believe it was dated June 23, but that may be incorrect.

http://www.koco.com/video/16602347/index.html

 

[FlowerChild]

One Shooter
State authorities determined Wednesday that two guns were used to kill the girls Sunday along a county road in Okfuskee County, and an OSBI agent added that he believes they're looking for multiple gunmen. However, Rosser said Thursday that he's still open-minded about the possibility of one shooter.
http://www.wnbc.com/news/16591224/detail.html


Not A Meth/Drug Haven
"What is probably plausible is if they saw something they shouldn't have," Jessica Brown, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, told FOX News.
But Rosser downplayed talk in the community that the girls' murder had something to do with a methamphetamine problem in the area.
"It's not a drug haven down there, and I don't have any reason to believe it was," he said. "But you never know, somebody could have stopped to shoot up on dope or something. You just never know."
Skyla's grandfather, Jimmie Farrow, had told the Associated Press that meth use had gotten bad in the area.
"You think you're safe anywhere, but you're not. All the thugs is moving out here, too," Farrow told the AP. "It's a whole new ballgame."
Rosser said his bureau and the Okfuskee County Sheriff's office were looking into past burglaries, carjackings, sexual assaults and complaints of shots fired in an effort to find a possible suspect.
"I just think that until we identify these guys and pick them up, I think anybody in that area should have some caution about their outdoor activities," Rosser told FOX News.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365902,00.html

 

[Ruflossn]

One Shooter
State authorities determined Wednesday that two guns were used to kill the girls Sunday along a county road in Okfuskee County, and an OSBI agent added that he believes they're looking for multiple gunmen. However, Rosser said Thursday that he's still open-minded about the possibility of one shooter.

IMO, there is only one killer. If there were 2 or more, I think the case would be easier to solve because there would be more evidence. (2 types of finger prints, 2 sets of DNA,) Do ya'll think my opinion is too simplistic? This case is baffling.

 

[frogjustfrog]

Thank you all so much for providing those links. most I have seen, but seems like you hear something new each time review something, huh? I am glad I asked that question about 6 witnesses.
I'm still a little confused. When Ms Brown's conference started, she said someONE had called in the report of the POI, as was stated in previous statements by Rosser, but as she got into the conference, she more and more leaned towards more than one eye witness saw the POI. Which still leaves me to wonder, then why dont we have a better description of the truck. Still no one seems to know whether it was a ford or a chevy. Weird. Makes me wonder how much they are keeping back on even THAT information?
Thanks again, everyone who helped

 

[frogjustfrog]

One Shooter
State authorities determined Wednesday that two guns were used to kill the girls Sunday along a county road in Okfuskee County, and an OSBI agent added that he believes they're looking for multiple gunmen. However, Rosser said Thursday that he's still open-minded about the possibility of one shooter.
http://www.wnbc.com/news/16591224/detail.html


Not A Meth/Drug Haven
"What is probably plausible is if they saw something they shouldn't have," Jessica Brown, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, told FOX News.
But Rosser downplayed talk in the community that the girls' murder had something to do with a methamphetamine problem in the area.
"It's not a drug haven down there, and I don't have any reason to believe it was," he said. "But you never know, somebody could have stopped to shoot up on dope or something. You just never know."
Skyla's grandfather, Jimmie Farrow, had told the Associated Press that meth use had gotten bad in the area.
"You think you're safe anywhere, but you're not. All the thugs is moving out here, too," Farrow told the AP. "It's a whole new ballgame."
Rosser said his bureau and the Okfuskee County Sheriff's office were looking into past burglaries, carjackings, sexual assaults and complaints of shots fired in an effort to find a possible suspect.
"I just think that until we identify these guys and pick them up, I think anybody in that area should have some caution about their outdoor activities," Rosser told FOX News.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365902,00.html

After looking at this last link, it only serves to confuse me more. Rosser said they interviewed "the male witness."
Still makes me wonder how other eyewitnesses of the POI didnt get a better description of him or the vehicle. I wonder if there were others with "the male witness" or what they are holding back, because they cant seem to get their stories together right. Oh well. Back to listening.

 

[Claycat]

Yes, Frog, it disturbs me that they are so unwilling to be very specific!


Here is something from The Oklahoman that is interesting.

Maybe it will yield some results in comparing DNA for the Weleetka case.

http://newsok.com/with-sweep-of-fugitives-arrests-soar/article/3269250/?tm=1215838502

"Eighty-four officers working under Roach's command in Oklahoma City and Lawton tracked down 227 fugitives June 21-27. All of them were violent offenders, gang members or sex offenders, he said."

 

[Ruflossn]

Good Night Claycat and Frog.
My brain is mush after reading all the posts tonight.

Have a Blessed Sunday.

 

[frogjustfrog]

nite nite flossy. lol sleep well

 

[frogjustfrog]

Yes, Frog, it disturbs me that they are so unwilling to be very specific!


Here is something from The Oklahoman that is interesting.

Maybe it will yield some results in comparing DNA for the Weleetka case.

http://newsok.com/with-sweep-of-fugitives-arrests-soar/article/3269250/?tm=1215838502

"Eighty-four officers working under Roach's command in Oklahoma City and Lawton tracked down 227 fugitives June 21-27. All of them were violent offenders, gang members or sex offenders, he said."

very interesting! (I sound like that little guy that was on Laugh In, in the 60's.
wouldnt it be wonderful if our savage(s) are found in there! Now, who is heading up the Eastern part of Oklahoma, I wonder? I hope somebody is!

 

[evelyn24]

wonder if there were others with "the male witness" or what they are holding back, because they cant seem to get their stories together right

You want LE to be more specific when talking about eye witnesses to the media, when the psychopath who killed these two little girls is still on the loose?
I don't think you can blame LE for being vague with the witness information.

 

[frogjustfrog]

You want LE to be more specific when talking about eye witnesses to the media, when the psychopath who killed these two little girls is still on the loose?
I don't think you can blame LE for being vague with the witness information.

no one is blaming anyone for anything. Gee, I feel this is starting to be an arguing forum too. Just what I wanted to get away from. Are some of you worried cuz a few of us came from Topix? We came to get away from that. Please understand that. I feel like I can speak for the others in saying, no one wants to argue. Golly We are all here for a purpose, because we care.:truce:

 

[evelyn24]

It doesn't matter to me where you used to post, or still post. I think the more the merrier.I like hearing all pov on cases.
I was just pointing out there is a reason for LE to be vague with the witness count and witness information in general, it's because a dangerous person or people is still on the loose.
Therefore, you might not get what you're looking for from LE, or the media, regarding how many people saw the poi. All we can do is link you to different interviews/articles where the term "witnesses" (plural) is used.
It might be one, or ten. LE is not going to give too many details on the witness/witnesses.
That's all.

PS.
Welcome to WS!

 

[frogjustfrog]

well, we apparently agree on one thing. this is something I have repeatedly stated to others, myself.
anyway, I am through with my research on the links, and am retiring to bed.
Have a good night. And thank you for the welcome to ws. I find it most refreshing, to say the least. Toxix was wearing me down.
sweet dreams all
frog

 

[Victor]

I think "BARNEY FIFE" did it. But he's just too shy to tell.

 

[GetSmart]

http://newsok.com/with-sweep-of-fugitives-arrests-soar/article/3269250/?tm=1215838502
More at link
Sat July 12, 2008

Hundreds of violent fugitives were captured last month because of the dogged efforts of federal, state and local agents involved in Operation FALCON.
The sweep led by the U.S. Marshals Service resulted in nearly 20,000 arrests nationwide in June.

Operation FALCON has yielded more than 55,000 arrests since it was launched four years ago.
“That's phenomenal,” said U.S. Marshal Michael Roach, whose Oklahoma City office is responsible for the western half of the state.
Eighty-four officers working under Roach's command in Oklahoma City and Lawton tracked down 227 fugitives June 21-27. All of them were violent offenders, gang members or sex offenders, he said.
That haul included two murder suspects and a man known in Woodward as the “Santa Claus rapist.” because of his appearance.
Roach said officers from 22 agencies participated in this year's sweep, which actually began about a month in advance as officials began assembling files — called “packages” — on nearly 500 wanted fugitives in the Oklahoma City and Lawton areas.
Roach said those packages were assigned to nine teams, which put in as many hours as necessary to bring their quarry to ground.
“We had a good run this time,” he said.
What agencies were involved?
Twenty-one federal, state and local agencies joined the Marshals Service for this year's version of Operation FALCON, which stands for Federal And Local Cops Organized Nationally.
Federal: Drug Enforcement Administration; Secret Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Attorney's office.
State: Oklahoma Highway Patrol; Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs; Department of Corrections; Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Local: Oklahoma City Police Department; Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department; Lawton Police Department; Cleveland County district attorney's office; Canadian County Sheriff's Department; Yukon Police Department; Grady County Sheriff's Department; Grady County Criminal Justice Authority; Logan County Sheriff's Department; Comanche County Detention Center; Seminole Police Department.
The Marshals Service has nearly $47,000 available to reimburse overtime costs for state and local officers who are eligible for such pay. The agency paid more than $33,000 in overtime reimbursement to officers involved in Operation FALCON last year.
When did this happen?
Each of the 94 Marshals Service districts in the country was directed to select one week in June to focus on tracking down fugitives for Operation FALCON. Marshals in Oklahoma's three districts each chose a different week.
Northern District/Tulsa (June 2-7) arrested 350 fugitives and cleared 357 warrants.
Eastern District/Muskogee (June 9-13) arrested 290 fugitives and cleared 490 warrants. Western District/Oklahoma City (June 21-27) arrested 227 fugitives and cleared 251 warrants.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

LE is going to downplay the meth in the area. They always do. However, the statements from the locals...including Skyla's grandfather tell the true story.

Skyla's grandfather, Jimmie Farrow, had told the Associated Press that meth use had gotten bad in the area.
"You think you're safe anywhere, but you're not. All the thugs is moving out here, too," Farrow told the AP. "It's a whole new ballgame."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365902,00.html

Then there was also the neighbor who spoke of his son learning to use a gun for safety and carrying a knife when he was away from the house. The neighbor was shown touting his handgun which he was wearing at the time. I can't find the link, but this goes to show that LE is incorrect on their assumption of it not being a drug/meth haven.

The people in the area have stated otherwise and I tend to believe them over LE. They live there every day and knows what goes on. Granted, they may not be turning in the people for the drugs...but the drugs are definitely there.

 

[frogjustfrog]

http://newsok.com/with-sweep-of-fugitives-arrests-soar/article/3269250/?tm=1215838502
More at link
Sat July 12, 2008

Hundreds of violent fugitives were captured last month because of the dogged efforts of federal, state and local agents involved in Operation FALCON.
The sweep led by the U.S. Marshals Service resulted in nearly 20,000 arrests nationwide in June.

Operation FALCON has yielded more than 55,000 arrests since it was launched four years ago.
“That's phenomenal,” said U.S. Marshal Michael Roach, whose Oklahoma City office is responsible for the western half of the state.
Eighty-four officers working under Roach's command in Oklahoma City and Lawton tracked down 227 fugitives June 21-27. All of them were violent offenders, gang members or sex offenders, he said.
That haul included two murder suspects and a man known in Woodward as the “Santa Claus rapist.” because of his appearance.
Roach said officers from 22 agencies participated in this year's sweep, which actually began about a month in advance as officials began assembling files — called “packages” — on nearly 500 wanted fugitives in the Oklahoma City and Lawton areas.
Roach said those packages were assigned to nine teams, which put in as many hours as necessary to bring their quarry to ground.
“We had a good run this time,” he said.
What agencies were involved?
Twenty-one federal, state and local agencies joined the Marshals Service for this year's version of Operation FALCON, which stands for Federal And Local Cops Organized Nationally.
Federal: Drug Enforcement Administration; Secret Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Attorney's office.
State: Oklahoma Highway Patrol; Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs; Department of Corrections; Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Local: Oklahoma City Police Department; Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department; Lawton Police Department; Cleveland County district attorney's office; Canadian County Sheriff's Department; Yukon Police Department; Grady County Sheriff's Department; Grady County Criminal Justice Authority; Logan County Sheriff's Department; Comanche County Detention Center; Seminole Police Department.
The Marshals Service has nearly $47,000 available to reimburse overtime costs for state and local officers who are eligible for such pay. The agency paid more than $33,000 in overtime reimbursement to officers involved in Operation FALCON last year.
When did this happen?
Each of the 94 Marshals Service districts in the country was directed to select one week in June to focus on tracking down fugitives for Operation FALCON. Marshals in Oklahoma's three districts each chose a different week.
Northern District/Tulsa (June 2-7) arrested 350 fugitives and cleared 357 warrants.
Eastern District/Muskogee (June 9-13) arrested 290 fugitives and cleared 490 warrants. Western District/Oklahoma City (June 21-27) arrested 227 fugitives and cleared 251 warrants.

So nice to learn of this Operation FALCON. Isnt it great to know that this could help in locating our killer(s). I am sure it takes time to find all these people, but at least they have warrants. Now, I hope they find them and run DNA.
I believe I saw yesterday when I was reading the topix forum, (note I said reading, I dont go there anymore) that someone said there was DNA found under one of the girls fingernails. Does anyone in here have any information on that? Or was it just hearsay?

 

[SeriouslySearching]

There is no confirmation of that to my knowledge. It was mentioned I believe on NG as a possibility by Mark Klaas, (IIRC) then briefly touched on by the officer on the phone at the time. (not sure who he was.)

 

[YellowDog]

If the POI is the shooter or one of the shooters, I'm sure he's done everything possible to change his look by now from getting rid of the hat and the ponytail to maybe even changing his hair color. If he drove up on the girls shortly after the shooting, started to investigate and was confronted by the shooter or shooters, he may have recognized them, taken off in a hurry and be in fear for his life. Or, possibly, he could have driven there to take delivery of some drugs and stumbled onto the scene. In a county that small, although it would take a lot of time, they could track down every white Ford and Chevy pickup on their computer that is registered there. They must have some idea of the age of the truck from witnessea. Males are usually pretty good at knowing what year model a vehicle is at least within a few years.

 

[FlowerChild]

The OSBI (Rosser) says meth is not a big problem in THAT AREA - I would assume he'd know and if it was, he'd be saying it might be meth/drug related. HE does NOT, in fact he plays that aspect down.

Skyla's GPA (bless his heart) seems to be the type who would have blamed long-haired hippies smoking pot for all the bad things in the world in the 60's. I am sure he believes that there is a huge drug problem - but I betcha he has never seen any evidence of it himself. What he is saying sounds like something he has concluded after talking to his buddies in the local barbershop (all men of a similar age and viewpoint)- not from data, facts or even personal experience. Local people I am in contact with do NOT agree that there are drug users lying passed out on every road and meth houses on every corner and they are certainly NOT arming their little sons with "knives" so they can protect themselves against anononymous "bad guys" roaming the area. They are NOT afraid or living in fear because of a "drug problem" and they have not noticed any increase in crime (other than the occasional petty theft) either.

One grieving GPa and one militia sounding local do not, IMO, a local drug problem make - especially when the OSBI is openly and publicly saying that is NOT IT and they are taking the investigation in a totally different direction. The people in the area are upset and angry - they are reacting in ways grieving and angry people do, looking for any "scourge of society" to blame for this horrible crime in their backyard. Sadly, this makes no sense and there is nothing specific to blame this on. I mean I'd love to blame my stocks being in the toilet right now on GW Bush, but the reality is it's not his fault personally - the real blame is far more complicated and complex than one person - even a powerful person. Finding the killer(s) (and the motive) in this case are way more complicated and complex than Skyla's GPA's perceived "meth/drug problem" in Okfuskee County.

My Opinion