Skyla Whitaker, 11, & Taylor Placker 13 - Found Murdered - #6

[oceanblueeyes]

If Edward Gordon is the brother of Skyla then I find it very interesting that he plead to 2nd Degree Murder and may have to testify in an upcoming trial in July when one of the co-defendants trial is to begin.

The first co-defendant got life +68 years.

imoo

 

[gaia227]

And who are these witnesses? Do they have any connection to the boys? Are the boys included in those witnesses?

I'm not saying this is necessarily what I believe happened. I don't really have a strong theory, but it's something I've been thinking about.

It seems the boys were cleared almost immediately.

Dalai - I feel the same way. A truckload of boys with adrenaline and new levels of testosterone pumping through their bodies with guns makes me very nervous. I proposed way back on thread one that perhaps one of the girls were shot by accident and then it an attempt to cover it was made by shooting the other girl (witness) and then by decision or simply by adrenaline they shot them both several times(this was quickly dismissed) but I still think it could be a possibility - anything is at this point. OR they came across the girls and shot them for the hell of it. Young boys when they get into groups will do things they would not normally do. If this is a random crime (the 10,000 question)The overkill on the girls makes me think of a young males, probably on a drug like meth.
We have to have faith (hard to do) in LE that they have good reason to have cleared these boys so quickly and didn't overlook them as suspects because they go wrapped up in the witness sightings of the NA man.

 

[Dalaipardon]

From what Brown has said these witnesses seem to be outside of the family and have no connection. Very well could be neighbors or regular people that travel the road often to and from their own community.

Exactly! They could be related to some of the boys, for all we know.

I will assume for now that LE is checking out all of these angles.

I have to logout now so any non-response is nothing other than I need to go.

 

[MsBashterd]

Good Morning Guy's :blowkiss:

This is a little off track from the sleuthing that is going on in these threads but I thought a little something to lighten your hearts as it did mine might be in order this morning.

This tragedy has weighed heavily on my mind and heart since the beginning my therapy is my flower garden so to the garden I went. As I was pulling weeds I stepped back and noticed that two of my daisy plants had come back strong this year and very large the front on being a Black-eyed Susan and the back one being a very large very bright yellow both getting ready for full bloom. Then all of the sudden into my mind popped the diagram of the angels and how they fell on the side of the road (sorry I don't know who posted it to give credit) and I realized my daisy's were in almost the exact same position in my garden, a wave of sadness took over. I shook my head and decided I had to get away so to the garden shop I went, there I found the cutest large ceramic turtle with two girl angels sitting on his back. Well for one I began to cry then I picked it up and payed and made my way back home. I put it in my garden in between the two daisy's. I said a prayer for the angels and their families and vowed I would never forget EVER. I went back to pulling weeds as I stood up I looked to the turtle and two very large and very beautiful butterflies one was blue and gold the other bright yellow were sitting on the tops of the angels on the turtle. I stood and stared and the feeling came over me that those two angels are with us and will stay with us till the end and their murderous animals are brought to justice. The feeling of joy and happiness filled me in a time were I have felt alot of sadness. Ever since that day whenever I come and go from my home I say good morning and good night to the memory of those little angels that live on in my garden.

I hope that I could give you all a little smile this morning maybe lighten your hearts a little as it did mine.

 

[Garnan]

One of the theories that I have seen posted several times is that the girls were shot to send a message to the parents/relatives of one of the girls to entice them not to testify regarding some criminal element.

If something like this happened in my family, it would give me even more incentive to testify. Once your child is dead, what would happen to your will to live? I think I would feel more like, I'm going to testify, go ahead and kill me, I don't care, I've nothing left to loose.

Threatening to kill a family member would carry more weight that actually committing the act, imo.

 

[T-Rex]

What a beautiful story, MsB!

 

[Claycat]

What a lovely tribute, MsB! :blowkiss:

 

[RoseRed]

If the family just moved recently to be "safer" and then these girls are murdered in cold blood...it just doesn't seem like coincidence to me. It wouldn't surprise me if the family (or someone in the family) had received a threat of some kind or felt some kind of danger, enough to move. I just don't see this as a random killing. What could be worse to do to somebody than kill their child? Although I can't imagine them being in something so deep as to bring it to that level, I guess it doesn't take much these days. I really am leaning toward this being planned out.

But they did not just move recently. One of Taylors school photo says 2006 so that can't be recently. or at least I would not consider that recently.

 

[RoseRed]

From what Brown has said these witnesses seem to be outside of the family and have no connection. Very well could be neighbors or regular people that travel the road often to and from their own community.

imoo

The witnesses have no connection to the families BUT do they have a connection to the boys in the pickup?

On topix/Weleetka forum some are saying one of those boys had problems with one of the girls and had even threatened to kill her.
Are these rumors deserve less suspicion that the Placker family? I feel all need to be investigated not just Taylors family. Why dismiss these boys so easily and keep plowing away at Taylors family?

 

[MissHolmes]

I find it odd that the Oklahoma Dept of Corrections website has been down since at least last night.

 

[MeoW333]

The witnesses have no connection to the families BUT do they have a connection to the boys in the pickup?

On topix/Weleetka forum some are saying one of those boys had problems with one of the girls and had even threatened to kill her.
Are these rumors deserve less suspicion that the Placker family? I feel all need to be investigated not just Taylors family. Why dismiss these boys so easily and keep plowing away at Taylors family?

I've been wondering this as well, since the first time the boys in the pickup were mentioned. There was 5 boys in the pickup? Correct me if i am wrong. So how many in the community may be related to these boys and could possibly cover for them.

Also there was an article that mentioned that Taylor's grandparents had left there house as there was a prowler or someone outside so they had called LE. It could be someone local or (at least familiar with the area) trying to create a diversion from who the real killer is or to scare the grandparents into not talking if they think they may know something. I would like to hear more about this, if the grandparents heard someone outside, did they hear a car drive away as well, or no?

Also someone brought up about learning more on Skylar's family, which i think is an excellent idea, as then more angles will be covered for these angels.

 

[FlowerChild]

Teenaged boys doing "target" shooting usually do so with rifles, not handguns. People living out in the "country" do often have guns in their homes, but not normally a bunch of HAND guns - usually a gun rack filled with hunting type firearms - rifles, shotguns etc.

I think the boys were cleared because they were still "target shooting" when the girls were killed and hadn't left that location - target shooting in the company of other unrelated people who could testify that they could NOT have killed the girls. We have no idea what the boys testified to (if anything) - but my thought is that they testified to seeing the girls at the bridge and who was there - not to seeing the POI in the location where the girls were killed.

If this was the work of a teenaged boy I think he was alone - not riding around in a truck full of kids. Too many co-conspirators (all of them young) to keep something like this a secret for long. And the handgun thing just says "adult" to me. Not common for a teenaged boy (or boys) to have not one, but TWO handguns in the vehicle - one a semi-auotmatic. If the girls had been shot with a rifle (or two) I would lean more toward a local and perhaps a teenager - but the handgun thing doesn't mesh with that theory. Every third truck in OK has a gun rack with a shotgun or rifle on it - being shot with a rifle or shotgun says local, impulsive, mistake, accident, pissed off etc. But this is two HANDGUNS - to me that says something different.

And do teenaged boys often know about "kill shots" - and would a teenager or teenagers have had the stones to get out of the car and shoot two bleeding, gasping, spasming dying girls at point blank range while standing or kneeling OVER their bodies, looking at their faces as they died? That's pretty hardcore and it ain't no pretty video game graphic. A scene like this makes hardened LE officers sick (literally) - and a teenager? Hmmm, I am just not feeling that. I am feeling adult male not new to killing/shooting - at least for the 9mm shots or the kill shots to the head.

But who knows, It's just my take on the scene and evidence and my "gut feeling".

My Opinion

 

[TeeOne]

Mrs B, That did make me smile, what a great story!

Getting back to the boys; I agree it seemed as they were dismissed too quickly. I remember thinking, why would they not suspect them...they were shooting guns and it was a gang of boys.

 

[MeoW333]

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b777db52-d923-42f6-bc6f-8b25f149eda6

"FOX23 crews experienced another unsettling situation near Taylor’s home last night.

As our crew was leaving, they saw three sheriff's deputies and a state trooper speeding down the road.

They parked in front of the house, searching the woods around the home and down the road with flashlights and patrol cars. During the search the family left the home for the night.

Deputies say the family called 911 after hearing someone sneaking around the home. Someone even says they saw a shadow outside. Deputies did not find anyone, but say they might have gotten away before they arrived."

 

[MeoW333]

If Edward Gordon is the brother of Skyla then I find it very interesting that he plead to 2nd Degree Murder and may have to testify in an upcoming trial in July when one of the co-defendants trial is to begin.

The first co-defendant got life +68 years.

imoo

Ocean, do you know where we could find more info on this?

 

[sweetheart29]

In the state of Oklahoma you have to be 21 to own a handgun. Yes teen age boys that grew up hunting would know where and how to shoot to kill. I would think if it was a hit there would have been only one shot to the chest or head. Why so many shots ? The more you shoot the more noise you make. If you dont want to get caught you don't make a bunch of noisy. . I know when my husband outside target praticing that I can tell which gun he shot by the sound of it. Handgun are going to sound diffrent that a rifle being shot. I missed where it said they where shot with handguns. What type of guns were they shot.

 

[MeoW333]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Becker sentenced to life plus 68 months Mar 15, 2008
Also on Friday, Becker's codefendant, Edward Gordon who accepted a plea deal in exchange for his cooperation against Graham and Becker pled no contest to second degree murder and was found guilty. He will be sentenced in late July. (SunOnline)
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http://www.joplinglobe.com/neo_sek/local_story_317223338.html

"Edward Gordon, 20, of Baxter Springs, agreed to plead no contest to an amended charge of second-degree murder. The plea agreement was filed Tuesday in Cherokee County District Court."

Is this the same Edward that may be Skylar's brother in this article?
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT][/FONT]

 

[KR2tonenow]

BUT the Bandidos dudes someone in here suggested makes PERFECT sense. It seems more likely pay back for a witness - gang related. If true, SURE they are going to say it was an American Indian and General Custard was with him[/b]![/B]

If the mob just killed my family-and I could be next, I sure would not be talking Italy-I would be talking Alaska or Siberia. Fear is what will probably keep this case from being solved. Really, how many Indians own a white Ford or chevy Truck in even an hour radius. Either just a few, or they are right near reservation-so plenty. That Federal come down on a Placker just sounds like it has sooo much to do with this. Another person here rightly mentioned Taylor lived around some dangerous people. I saw no Bikers at Shyla's funeral. And I am NOT saying Bikers are bad people-but you can bet they will handle this. Another reason the police probably are going to be led all around on this one. After days of thinking about the WHY? It seems real clear with the Fed set up thing, someone may have sang, and someone may have wanted to prove a cold point. Notice no one went and just did the old man in? That was for "pain" and effect-and to show perverted example.

Welcome and I agree! Lips will kept quite tight in regards to protecting their own. This case will go cold. The NA was probably just that, "a witness", and the only outsider on that road, on a lazy Sunday.

It still doesn't sit right with me that Peter (GrPA) went "looking" for the girls. Give me a break, why the urgency to "find" them unless, as you said someone tipped him off.

Thanks!

 

[gardenmom]

MsB, that is very sweet. It's funny how we can get therapy out of our gardens. I have a lily that one of our fellow websleuthers gave me, that is in honor of Danielle VanDam, who was murdered awhile back. This is the first year for it in my garden, and she hasn't bloomed yet, but everytime I see it I think of her. The other thing is ladybugs remind me of Laci Peterson. I believe I read it in a book about her, but someone else associated ladybugs with her. Now everytime I see one I call it a "lacibug". I would love to see a pic of your garden turtle if you know how to post it.

 

[Dalaipardon]

If this was the work of a teenaged boy I think he was alone - not riding around in a truck full of kids. Too many co-conspirators (all of them young) to keep something like this a secret for long. And the handgun thing just says "adult" to me. Not common for a teenaged boy (or boys) to have not one, but TWO handguns in the vehicle - one a semi-auotmatic. If the girls had been shot with a rifle (or two) I would lean more toward a local and perhaps a teenager - but the handgun thing doesn't mesh with that theory. Every third truck in OK has a gun rack with a shotgun or rifle on it - being shot with a rifle or shotgun says local, impulsive, mistake, accident, pissed off etc. But this is two HANDGUNS - to me that says something different.

I agree about the too many co-conspirators to keep it quiet for long (unless they are all extremely close-knit, like brothers). I do know there are handguns in the area. I have seen them and there are people who bring them to events like the Boley and Clearview rodeos (really not trying to scare anyone off of these two events, which are loads of fun, but there is some gang-banging involved). Handguns are everywhere, IMO.
My cousin is an okie bred and spread, bona fide, southern-fried good ol' boy and he has been known to shoot snakes with a handgun.
I thought at least one of the guns was a shotgun? Didn't they talk about finding shell casings? Are there other guns that produce shell casings? I am the non-gun person in my family.

Anyway, OSBI agents are saying they believe the witness at this point, so I defer to them since they certainly have more info. than us.

It's still worth considering, though.