Published: June 20, 2008 05:54 pm      

Officials continue search for suspect in Weleetka murders

Weleetka — Investigators with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are still searching for a suspect or suspects in the brutal murders of 11-year-old Skyla Whitiker and Taylor Paschal-Placker, 13.

On June 8, the two girls were found dead in a roadside ditch a few hundred yards from Paschal-Placker’s residence.

They had been shot multiple times.

Last Friday, investigators released a sketch of a man they are calling a “person of interest.” A witness reported seeing the man sitting outside of a pickup shortly before, near where the girls were killed.

Investigators do not think this man is necessarily involved in the murder, but because he was in the area, he may have key information that could help solve this case.

OSBI Public Information Officer Jessica Brown said the television show America’s Most Wanted aired a short synopsis about the crime Saturday. There will be another airing this Saturday if no suspect or suspects are found by then.

Officers have recently reinterviewed people in an attempt to solve the 12-day-old case.

Brown said they are following up on tips received since releasing the sketch.

A reward in excess of $30,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these murders.

If anyone has information, they should phone either the OSBI hotline at 800-635-8477 or the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Office.