Skyla Whitaker, 11, & Taylor Placker 13 - Found Murdered - #12

[DeltaDawn]

Great Sleuthing FlowerChild! And your posts are always very, very informative.

Early on in the investigation there was an 18 year old girl that lived on a farm, and thought she had seen the person of interest around the farm both in the days prior to and after the shooting. Is this by any chance the Chauncey farm where LE was looking for the POI before?

I don't remember if a name was given at that time of who the girl was or the family that lived there.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

If you want this case solved FlowerChild, I think you are going to have to light some fires.

I have now upped this case to four odds.

1. Odd murders.
2. Odd investigation.
3. Odd families.
4. Odd locals.

I live a long ways from Weleetka so I realize it is difficult to get an accurate picture of what is going on, especially since Weleetka doesn't have any local media, but my impression is that the local reaction is what I would expect if the girls had been killed in an automobile accident. When somebody guns down two of your children on a Sunday afternoon, they are throwing down a gauntlet. Why do I see moping, but no fight. Even Skyla's dad, a lot of moping around but no fight, no defiance. I don't understand that. I really don't understand that.

These people aren't Harvard grads but they should be as tough as nails. Why don't I see any evidence of that?

I am not sure what the families can do Albert in order to solve this case. Maybe it is their laid back style which is found in many rural country areas? Maybe they have faith in the law enforcement agencies that they will solve this crime. Maybe they are given updates that we aren't privy to.....I am sure the families speak often with LE to see what is happening. From each and every article I have read about the area people are very afraid for the safety of their children.

Sheza, another poster here, who is from that area, said that local LE and OSBI are still in the area investigating it 24/7. She said she knows because she sees them.

imo

 

[Tom'sGirl]

It appears that the principal of the Graham High School is Mr. Dusty Chancey, unless the site is outdated. I think the girls must still have been in elementary school though? Although by the time I was 13 I was in 9th grade.

http://www.city-data.com/school/graham-hs-ok.html

This was posted elsewhere, don't know how accurate the poster is.
http://www.topix.net/forum/city/weleetka-ok/TOJFJV92HAR4RS395/p302#c6566

 

[SailorMoon]

Good points. I can see being in shock...but I'd also be peeved. I'd be on every media outlet or something ....but then again, easy for me to say...but what would I really do?? You're right though...this is a brutal killing. Why don't we hear any more than what we do about it??

Very eloquently worded post-Albert.

If you want this case solved FlowerChild, I think you are going to have to light some fires.

I have now upped this case to four odds.

1. Odd murders.
2. Odd investigation.
3. Odd families.
4. Odd locals.

I live a long ways from Weleetka so I realize it is difficult to get an accurate picture of what is going on, especially since Weleetka doesn't have any local media, but my impression is that the local reaction is what I would expect if the girls had been killed in an automobile accident. When somebody guns down two of your children on a Sunday afternoon, they are throwing down a gauntlet. Why do I see moping, but no fight. Even Skyla's dad, a lot of moping around but no fight, no defiance. I don't understand that. I really don't understand that.

These people aren't Harvard grads but they should be as tough as nails. Why don't I see any evidence of that?

 

[hannahsnana]

Tom's Girl, the forum you directed us to speaks about the Chancey son (don't remember the name) being the Superintendent of Schools. The Dusty Chancey I posted the link to is the Principal of Graham High School.
Also, I still wonder what grades the girls were in.

 

[FlowerChild]

It appears that the principal of the Graham High School is Mr. Dusty Chancey, unless the site is outdated. I think the girls must still have been in elementary school though? Although by the time I was 13 I was in 9th grade.

http://www.city-data.com/school/graham-hs-ok.html

Dusty Chancey​

High School Principal and Superintendent
Wanda Mankin
Elementary Principal and Counselor​

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica]2007-2008 TEACHERS[/FONT]
​

Barbara Neal - Pre-K & Kindergarten​

Chris Rippy - 1st & 2nd​

Debra Fisher - 3rd & 4th​

Beverly Mantooth - 5th & 6th​

Trina Shackelford - Special Education​

Brian Bunyard - 7th-12th Math, 7th-8th Computers, Computers II​

Marie Shackelford - H.S. English/Humanities/Creative Writing​

Jake Fenley - Boys' & Girls Basketball & Track Coach/Elementary P.E./Oklahoma, Modern, & World History​

Debbie Wallace - Computers/Careers/Librarian​

Ida Lawson - 7th-12th Science/American History​

Wanda Mankin - Yearbook/Newspaper/7th-8th Life Mgmt. & Teenocology​

Dusty Chancey - Government/Driver's Ed./7th-8th Social Studies

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica]SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS[/FONT]
​

President - Rick Pippin​

Vice President - Ken Kelsey​

Clerk - Sheryl Angel​

Member - Charles Taylor​

Member - Stanley Page

http://www.graham.k12.ok.us/
​

 

[hannahsnana]

Oh, I see, FlowerChild. I guess I didn't go far enough down the page. Thanks.

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Tom's Girl, the forum you directed us to speaks about the Chancey son (don't remember the name) being the Superintendent of Schools. The Dusty Chancey I posted the link to is the Principal of Graham High School.
Also, I still wonder what grades the girls were in.

The girsl were in the 5th & 6th grades, their Principal was a woman as seen in many photos.

 

[FlowerChild]

Tom's Girl, the forum you directed us to speaks about the Chancey son (don't remember the name) being the Superintendent of Schools. The Dusty Chancey I posted the link to is the Principal of Graham High School.
Also, I still wonder what grades the girls were in.

Skyla was in the 5th Grade in the 2007-2008 school year
Taylor was in the 6th grade in the 2007-2008 school year
There were 11 kids in their combined 5th and 6th grade class
Taylor was the only girl in 6th grade, but there were 5 girls in the 5th grade - Class was 6 girls, 5 boys.
In the 2008-2009 school year, Taylor and Skyla would NOT have been in the same class anymore.
Taylor had just turned 13 and Skyla 11 - Taylor was a year older than most 6th graders - maybe due to her home schooling.

My Opinion

 

[hannahsnana]

I also see they doubled up classes with just one teacher in the elementary school. My parochial school did that when I was still in elementary. Therefore, do you think Taylor and Skyla could have been in one classroom together, even though there is a two-year difference in their ages?

 

[hannahsnana]

Sorry, Tom's Girl. I think we were posting at the same time.

 

[hannahsnana]

Sorry, Tom's Girl and FlowerChild. I think we were posting at the same time.

 

[FlowerChild]

I am not sure what the families can do Albert in order to solve this case. Maybe it is their laid back style which is found in many rural country areas? Maybe they have faith in the law enforcement agencies that they will solve this crime. Maybe they are given updates that we aren't privy to.....I am sure the families speak often with LE to see what is happening. From each and every article I have read about the area people are very afraid for the safety of their children.

Sheza, another poster here, who is from that area, said that local LE and OSBI are still in the area investigating it 24/7. She said she knows because she sees them.

imo

My contact says the same thing - helicopters, unmarked cars, uniformed, plainclothes, all over the area. Still questioning/meeting with the families, witnesses - investigating - everything.

I think Skyla's family is overwhelmed and perhaps embarrassed by the attention paid to Rose's mother and stepfather (the Farrows) and all the stuff THEY said and did. We have seen this before, all the stuff people kept private and did not want the world to know comes out into the light and now EVERYONE knows. Her son is going to prison, the family has some black sheep and some secrets that are now very public. And it doesn't help that Jimmy Farrow (Rose's stepdad) said all that lovely stuff about the community being crime ridden and filled with drugs and druggies - he PO'd most of the locals with that interview. And maybe they are scared?

The Plackers have also suffered some embarrassing things being revealed about their family - lots of less than law-abiding folks in that family and close to it, all of whom LE has probaly hauled in and questioned at least once. Both families are not exactly pillars of the community - and that's hard to face after already losing your child.

The Plackers and the Whitakers are NOT well educated and they are obviously struggling with many things - the ongoing investigation, the media, the loss of their kids, financial worries - so much to cope with. None of them feels comfortable in the spotlight and sadly they have not come together and chosen a spokesperson for the families to deal with the media. And we do not know what OSBI has instructed them to do or say. Maybe they would like to speak out and the OSBI say NO? Evidently there is a LOT of info the OSBI does NOT want public at this time.

My Opinion

 

[kahskye]

Great job, FC, on getting this information.

Thanks for this info!

 

[Albert18]

...Evidently there is a LOT of info the OSBI does NOT want public at this time...

That was an excellent summation of the family situations.


I try not to get anxious but this case really bothers me. I don't know why but it does. I grew up poor like these girls and I know all too well how the poor can be treated. It is the most striking memory of my childhood.

What seems to bother me the most isn't the crime itself, the families, or the community, it's LE. I don't know why but there is just something that doesn't sit right with me.

Let me explain it this way.

I am sure you have heard of marriages where one of the spouses, usually the husband, handles most of the important matters. If the wife asks about something, the husband just pats her on the head and tells her not to concern herself with such matters. He does this for a reason and this is never a good situation. Power is an incredible drug.

You have just explained the family situations very well. These families are not dealing from a postion of strength because of their past histories. So is all this secrecy by LE going on because it is good for the investigation or because of what LE thinks of the families. Your treatment of people tends to reflect what you think of them.

City governments, county governments, and school boards are always fighting against the constraint of required open meetings. They don't do this because they are thinking of you.

 

[little726]

FC, just stay safe!!! You have given out so much information that you need to be careful.
Same with your contact.

God be with you and thank you.

 

[LifeSaver]

Topix, I'll avoid that room. Its all lies, and desperate people tossing accusations that are sickening. Repeatedly, people have attacked the parents of Taylor.Its a forum that thrives on gossip. What a horrific ordeal for those parents, and Topix posters show no compassion.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

My contact says the same thing - helicopters, unmarked cars, uniformed, plainclothes, all over the area. Still questioning/meeting with the families, witnesses - investigating - everything.

I think Skyla's family is overwhelmed and perhaps embarrassed by the attention paid to Rose's mother and stepfather (the Farrows) and all the stuff THEY said and did. We have seen this before, all the stuff people kept private and did not want the world to know comes out into the light and now EVERYONE knows. Her son is going to prison, the family has some black sheep and some secrets that are now very public. And it doesn't help that Jimmy Farrow (Rose's stepdad) said all that lovely stuff about the community being crime ridden and filled with drugs and druggies - he PO'd most of the locals with that interview. And maybe they are scared?

The Plackers have also suffered some embarrassing things being revealed about their family - lots of less than law-abiding folks in that family and close to it, all of whom LE has probably hauled in and questioned at least once. Both families are not exactly pillars of the community - and that's hard to face after already losing your child.

The Plackers and the Whitakers are NOT well educated and they are obviously struggling with many things - the ongoing investigation, the media, the loss of their kids, financial worries - so much to cope with. None of them feels comfortable in the spotlight and sadly they have not come together and chosen a spokesperson for the families to deal with the media. And we do not know what OSBI has instructed them to do or say. Maybe they would like to speak out and the OSBI say NO? Evidently there is a LOT of info the OSBI does NOT want public at this time.

My Opinion

I do wonder what the perception was before this happened concerning the Whitakers and Plackers. They both had only lived there for about three years, right? I think it is doubtful that Ed Gordon ever lived in Weleetka. He most likely stayed with his dad in KS. So I wonder if the buzz about the murder case he was connected to was even known.

And Joe Placker and Joe Jr. seem to be the black sheep in the Placker family but they were from Oklahoma City, so I wonder if the community even knew about their illegal doings.

As far as Peter from what posters have searched he has no criminal record at all. I cant remember if it was ever revealed that Skyla's stepfather has a record. I don't remember it but I could have forgotten it.

I do think that some may look down on these families because they are poor families struggling to make ends meet. Even in a community of a 1000 there are the haves and have nots.

I agree, they aren't eloquent speakers like Sharon Rocha or even Ron Grantski. I think they are just dismayed and really don't know what they should do other than trust in OSBI and the local police.

But since the families have said they have been given a lot of support in their community it does leave me hopeful that they have been treated with kindness and compassion.

imoo

 

[little726]

There is a news story about the investigation at NewsOK.com. It's on the front of today's paper. I tried to post the link, but it wouldn't work.

 

[Tom'sGirl]

There is a news story about the investigation at NewsOK.com. It's on the front of today's paper. I tried to post the link, but it wouldn't work.

Is it at this link?, there are several there
http://newsok.com/news/weleetkaslayings