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

[sheza]

The Weleetkan (a local newspaper) July 18,2008 >
The person of interest is an American Indian male, possibly part Caucasian.
He is approximately 35 with a slender build. He wears his hair in a pony tail and may be wearing a BLUE GRAY LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT, FADED JEANS AND A BLACK BASEBALL CAP.
Officials said the man was driving a Ford or Chevrolet white single cab pickup with an Oklahoma tag.

(I was told The Weleetkan has stayed in contact with the families)

 

[evelyn24]

Monday can't come soon enough. (Can't believe I said that!) While you guys could be right and it is just from the pressure being put on OSBI to give the public "something" to show they are working on it, I guess I am hoping it is much more.

I have seen in several other cases, when they schedule a presser so far in advance...it is usually to allow the media (including national media) to be able to get people in place to report it. If they were just asking for help, I think they would simply issue a press release instead of doing it this way...but that is just me. I still think we are going to learn a lot from the presser.

I hope we learn a lot too, but I still don't get the feeling there will be some big announcement (like they have someone in custody).
Wait!! You think they have a name to go along with the poi??
That would be a good piece of information, and certainly worth holding a press conference.
Maybe they wanted to keep it private while they searched for him, now they can't find him so they are releasing his name?

That would be good new information.


PS.

FC..Thanks for the information, but I'm not sure it means anything as far as I can tell.
It keeps the timeline tight, that's about it.

 

[SeekingJana]

"I can't describe coming up on it," Peter Placker said, sobbing uncontrollably, as he tried to remember walking up on the scene, only about one-quarter mile from his house. "I done it once and I can't do it again."

I don't know about anyone else, but this statement by P. Placker, has stuck in my head since day "1". I realize it must have been an awful thing for him to see, but you don't forget something like this.

And WHY dosen't he want to do it again, even though he said he couldn't? A few nights later he was talking to Greta, on; ON THE RECORD.

I still have my suspicions about P.Placker.

JMO, but I think that he has told exactly what he found to the people who need to know, LE. He had to have been hysterical and engulfed in grief at that moment. Once the focus was on finding the perp. and his grand-daughter had been laid to rest, he would have greater emotional control to describe the horror. We don't know for certain, but it's my belief and certainly my hope that Mr. Placker has told everything he knows, exactly the way it happened.

Respectfully,
Maria

 

[SeekingJana]

little,
I said the same thing when the girls were murdered.
I think there is a change a family member killed the girls. IMO, a stranger caught doing 'something' by the girls would have shot them once and ran or drove off.
These girls were shot numerous times, with vengeance.

My problem with this theory is that I can see ONE family possibly having a psycho among them who would kill the girl related to them. But to kill a second, unrelated girl? Unless both girls knew something that would send another family member to prison or back to prison, it's hard to understand why the targeted girl would be killed while she was with an innocent friend, instead of a single murder made to look like an accident or abduction, perhaps.

The amount of overkill, the use of 2 guns, the number of shots, does point to rage, but it also caused the case to receive national attention which a planned " accident" probably wouldn't have.
Do you think it's possible that the girls experienced something incriminating to the shooter during the sleepover that weekend? If so, what do you think they might have had knowledge regarding?

Thanks,
Maria

 

[YellowDog]

With both bodies found face down, I would like to think they were shot from behind and never knew who shot them. Possibly a shot to each head and then more shots into the torso to make sure they were dead. Skyla may have been the last one to be shot and was trying to get away after hearing the first shot since she was further off the road than Taylor.

Are there any known teen gangs in that area? This seems more like an execution or a payback by someone for something done to them.

Could it be that the phone call to Skyla was later than the time the grandfather said he tried to call Taylor?

 

[SeekingJana]

I got this from my contact in Weleetka - he says it is 2nd hand info but that he got it directly from a close friend of Rose Whitaker (Skyla's Mom)

Rose spoke to SKYLA shortly before she was killed on SKYLA's CELL PHONE. She told Skyla to get her things ready, she was on her way to get her.

This brings up more questions

What time was the call when Rose spoke with Skyla? (we know they were still alive at that time)

Did Rose tell Skyla a TIME when she would arrive? Like 5:30PM

Where was Skyla when Rose called her? At the Plackers or walking?

Was this call at around 4:30 when Skyla and Taylor went for their walk - because they knew they had some "free time" before Rose arrived? Did the girls plan to walk to where Rose was (up the road past the bridge) or hope to meet Rose on the road - because we know Rose was at the Farm past the bridge where the Farrows worked when she called the Plackers.

Did Rose then call the Plackers at around 5PM when she couldn't reach Skyla to tell her she was leaving in a few minutes and make sure was she ready to go? Is that when Peter called Taylor's cell phone at about 5:10 and couldn't reach her either and then went to find the girls? Was it Rose who first sounded the alarm that the girls weren't answering their phones? Did Peter Placker THINK something was wrong when he left the house...two girls not answering their phones = problem (accident, hurt, fell, drowning)?

Did Rose actually arrive at the crime scene (from the other direction) about the same time as Peter? Did she see the POI on the road? Was she also "looking" for the girls on the road?

Was Claudia Farrow with Rose when she arrived? Did she arrive BEFORE Rose? Did Jimmy Farrow arrive later and Claudia says she arrived with him, when in fact, she was there earlier? Did Claudia actually SEE the bodies BEFORE LE and EMT's arrived? She said she saw the bodies, but LE says she was NOT allowed inside the "tape" - all I can think is that she was there BEFORE LE arrived on scene and saw the bodies - and then left or pretended to arrive later after LE was there. Her story about seeing Skyla's body does not match what LE is saying about the crime scene and that only Peter Placker saw the girl's bodies up close because he found them - and that he kept Rose away from the bodies. According to her story Claudia did not arrive until after Rose called her from the scene, and LE was already there.

So now we know that both Skyla and Taylor had cell phones - and both probably had those phones with them when they were killed. And yet they sounded no alarm, or called to say they "saw something" etc. It sure sounds to me like the girls were NOT afraid and were just walking along when they were killed. I am still bothered by the fact that they were FACING the killer(s) and didn't even turn away. Not even a 1/4 turn in reaction to seeing the gun? Not even a pivot away to move away? No hesitation to approach a person with a gun standing outside his/her vehicle? Either the killer drove up with guns blazing, (which I doubt because Skyla was NOT on the road when she fell, she was back into the brush at least 5 feet) or the killer(s) didn't frighten the girls when walking/driving toward them. Taylor especially must have been just a couple of feet away....and at that point they girls were trapped into the ditch along the road by the killer(s) vehicle - and yet they didn't run or even turn away from the killer(s). They were boxed in and yet they were still facing this person? WHY?

Just more to think about...

My Opinion

FC,
This makes me seriously wonder if Skyla told her mother something which concerned Rose during her conversation with Skyla, and she told her to leave the Placker house. That she would be right there to pick her up.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
Thank you for your great posts!
Maria

 

[YellowDog]

One possible reason for both girls to be killed at the same time could be they had both been sexually abused by the same person the night of the sleepover and had left the house to go report the abuser. We don't know that they just casually walked out of the house that day. They could have run out of the house in fear. This, in turn, would enrage the abuser.

I don't like to think that's what happened but anything is possible.

 

[FlowerChild]

With both bodies found face down, I would like to think they were shot from behind and never knew who shot them. Possibly a shot to each head and then more shots into the torso to make sure they were dead. Skyla may have been the last one to be shot and was trying to get away after hearing the first shot since she was further off the road than Taylor.

Are there any known teen gangs in that area? This seems more like an execution or a payback by someone for something done to them.

Could it be that the phone call to Skyla was later than the time the grandfather said he tried to call Taylor?

All I know is that when Rose called the 1st time, Skyla answered her phone.

The girls were shot (per the ME) in the chest and face. That was the original statement - chest and face (later reports said chest and head) and that says they were facing the shooter when the 1st shots were fired. And the media did report originally that be bodies were face down when Peter found them.

Look at it logically - chest shots, face shots - the girls were facing the shooter. How can we be sure they were the 1st shots fired? Why would the killer take the time to turn the bodies face up, shoot them in the chest and face, and then turn them back over face down AFTER shooting them in the back of the head? A head shot and there would have been no question they were dead and no risk of his DNA on the bodies.

The only way this could go down IMO, is the killer(s) approached or drove up alongside the girls and blocked them into the ditch/brush They turned to face him, the 1st shots were to the face and chest (the girls facing the shooter) - chest shots 1st and the girls would have bent forward instinctively clutching the wounds and they would have fallen face down - and if the killer did shoot them in the back of the head or under the chin, those shots were done AFTER the other shots to the chest and face. The killer(s) used TWO guns on each girl, meaning he/they emptied at least one - that's 5 or 6 shots while facing the killer, then (according to witnesses) there was a short break and then a second gun was used - maybe 2 or 4 shots from that gun. Timing wise I think the second gun was the one used for the head shot(s) after the girls were already down.

Either way, the shooter(s) would never have to touch the girls - even an under chin shot can be done with the body lying face down, if you are willing to kneel down and get very close to the body. But I will be interested to hear if there were shots under the chins of both girls - all we know about now is the one supposed under-chin shot reported by Skyla's GMa Claudia. if only Skyla had a wound under the chin, it might have been a shot to the head/face/neck that caused that wound. GMa was not a bullet wound expert and exit wounds sometimes look like entrance wounds. Since we do not have the full autopsy report, we just don't know at this time.

My Opinion

 

[ArizonaGiGi]

Here is the sketch Harvey Pratt did of the killer of Tammy Harjo:

http://www.ok.gov/osbi/Press_Room/2..._Sketch_Released_in_Okmulgee_Murder_Case.html

Compare it to the actual killer they caught because of his sketch:

http://www.ok.gov/osbi/Press_Room/2008_Press_Releases/PR-2008-05-09_Okmulgee_Murder_Arrest.html

The face is the right width. Everything is in proportion. The lips are perfect. HP is the best in the biz and I trust that when we find finally see the POI...it will look almost exactly like him.

Byrd's face is rounded and much wider. So many things just don't match up to the sketch. The length, the width, and other things. Not him and is the reason they are not holding him. (Do you guys honestly believe everything you read on Topix? Who verified this Steve who proclaims to be LE?)

I'm so glad we are all open to having our own opinions because in mine the sketch and the perp don;t even look like the same race, much less even resemble. Mr Byrd may not be the POI/killer in the OK case but he sure looks very much like the sketch to IMO.

 

[ArizonaGiGi]

Ok don't beat me.. What do we really know about Uncle Joe ??
------------------
You mean shotgun shell casings and bullet casings are the same?
Well as in being expelled from weapon in away yes. But not the casing itself.

I'm just catching up on the posts here, but I have always gotten a funny feeling about Uncle Joe. And not in a haha kinda way

 

[frogjustfrog]

All I know is that when Rose called the 1st time, Skyla answered her phone.

The girls were shot (per the ME) in the chest and face. That was the original statement - chest and face (later reports said chest and head) and that says they were facing the shooter when the 1st shots were fired. And the media did report originally that be bodies were face down when Peter found them.

Look at it logically - chest shots, face shots - the girls were facing the shooter. How can we be sure they were the 1st shots fired? Why would the killer take the time to turn the bodies face up, shoot them in the chest and face, and then turn them back over face down AFTER shooting them in the back of the head? A head shot and there would have been no question they were dead and no risk of his DNA on the bodies.

The only way this could go down IMO, is the killer(s) approached or drove up alongside the girls and blocked them into the ditch/brush They turned to face him, the 1st shots were to the face and chest (the girls facing the shooter) - chest shots 1st and the girls would have bent forward instinctively clutching the wounds and they would have fallen face down - and if the killer did shoot them in the back of the head or under the chin, those shots were done AFTER the other shots to the chest and face. The killer(s) used TWO guns on each girl, meaning he/they emptied at least one - that's 5 or 6 shots while facing the killer, then (according to witnesses) there was a short break and then a second gun was used - maybe 2 or 4 shots from that gun. Timing wise I think the second gun was the one used for the head shot(s) after the girls were already down.

Either way, the shooter(s) would never have to touch the girls - even an under chin shot can be done with the body lying face down, if you are willing to kneel down and get very close to the body. But I will be interested to hear if there were shots under the chins of both girls - all we know about now is the one supposed under-chin shot reported by Skyla's GMa Claudia. if only Skyla had a wound under the chin, it might have been a shot to the head/face/neck that caused that wound. GMa was not a bullet wound expert and exit wounds sometimes look like entrance wounds. Since we do not have the full autopsy report, we just don't know at this time.

My Opinion

My husband watches all these tv shows about crimes/murders, that are true stories. And when we first heard they were face down, he said that usually if someone knows the victims, they cover their faces after the crime. Maybe the perp knew them, turned them over so as to not see their faces, and did the final shots to the head? I hate to think of this, but we have always thought this could be the reason they were face down.

 

[ArizonaGiGi]

Thanks, Susan and Frog! I am just dumbfounded.

It gives me chills actually. I think it sounds like Peter may be responsible. I do hope I am wrong, but why release even part of his call?! Did he make an incriminating statement during that call? What other reasons could there be?! I can't think of any off hand. Anyone else?

SS, like you I am playing catch-up, I have a question; did Skyla's Mom make a 911 call or anyone else beside Peter? I just can't remember that anyone BUT Peter Placker made a 911 call. So I guess it's gonna be his call released.?

 

[LifeSaver]

:waitasec:Yeah, but it was announcement yesterday. Its just a stall tactic, because I doubt they have any GOOD news, or they wouldn't be forced to release the 911 tape, or segment of it.

 

[FlowerChild]

More From My Weleetka Contact

The Keloughs (ear witnesses) live about a mile from the Plackers
Eldon Kelough was a local COP for many years worked for the Tribal Police - Creek Nation.
He is reportedly a womanizer, and a jerk, very "controlling" and the kids were brought up that way as well.
Eldon called the County Sheriff's office after the murders and offered help in finding the killer(s) - OSBI & Sheriff said thanks. but no thanks.
The Kelough's are a pretty violent and rough around the edges family. Locals believe that Eldon covered up or "fixed" many of his family's problems with LE thru the years.

My Opinion

 

[Albert18]

FlowerChild that is some interesting info about the cell phone and call.

I have always wondered who exactly had cell phones. Did Rose Whitaker have a cell phone? If so and if she arrived on the scene before Peter called 911, why wasn't her cell phone used?

It is little things like you mentioned that can be huge and I think a lot of times LE just heads straight for the DNA and fingerprints and doesn't bother with the details.

Because the girls weren't scattered, I do question a failed abduction. Although they could have stayed together to try to protect each other. But if so, there should have been tracks that showed any sudden movements by the girls.

With all the info they should have gleaned from the crime scene I am surprised they haven't narrowed the motive down.

 

[LifeSaver]

I was told Skyla was heading towards the fence, and her head towards the west, and Taylors head was opposite towards the east. Have you heard that. The fence is higher, a slope to the bar ditch

 

[GetSmart]

Thanks FC for all the info. That is quite a story & would explain alot..
last nite I did alot of research on Uncle J.. I think it is on the 4-5 page. he is one busy fellow. He also had a business in Okl City & it sounded like a bike shop kinda.. Renagade something & there were several law suits related to that business.. anyway this is getting deeper by the minute.
Not to add that that is a pretty close group of folks all of the above coulc be involved. Taylor was surrounded by people that were SERIOUS criminals, including neighbors. It is like a hornets nest !! jmo

 

[Albert18]

... Maybe the perp knew them, turned them over so as to not see their faces, and did the final shots to the head? I hate to think of this, but we have always thought this could be the reason they were face down.

You are thinking tonight Frog.

That is an interesting thought. It would be interesting to know the angle of the shots. I think the body shots were from the front but I don't know about the execution shots. I think LE is deliberately misleading on some of their info.

 

[Albert18]

I was told Skyla was heading towards the fence, and her head towards the west, and Taylors head was opposite towards the east. Have you heard that. The fence is higher, a slope to the bar ditch

So there is a fence along that side of the road? A barbed wire fence? Is it just a few feet from the memorial?

From that description and where Skyla was found it sure looks like Skyla was starting to book. Poor thing.

 

[LifeSaver]

Yes, there is a barbed wire fence to the west of the memorial. The entire memorial is made at a downward slope. The rocks were put there to keep everything from washing away.