Posted: 8/19/2008 10:06:51 AM EDT
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www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=12&articleID=20080819_12_A1_hAgent424864 40 guns tested in girls' deaths INVESTIGATION STEPPED UP Skyla Jade Whitaker and Taylor Paschal-Placker: The best friends were found shot to death in ditch. By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer 8/19/2008 Last Modified: 8/19/2008 2:35 AM Agents test fire weapons to narrow leads in the June 8 killing of the girls near Weleetka. WELEETKA — More than three dozen guns from the Weleetka area were test fired over the weekend as authorities worked to narrow their leads into the June 8 slayings of two girls. Jessica Brown, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said more than 60 letters were sent out to registered owners of .40-caliber handguns, asking them to voluntarily submit their weapons for testing on Saturday and Sunday at the Okfuskee County Courthouse at Okemah. Brown said about 40 of those owners showed up with their guns, which were test fired outside the courthouse. She said about five owners contacted the OSBI to say they no longer owned the weapons, although they did provide the names of the new owners. "We'll be checking on them," Brown said, as well as the 15 or so registered gun owners who did not volunteer for the test firings. The fact that the OSBI is looking for a .40-cailber handgun is the newest revelation into the murders of Skyla Jade Whitaker, 11, and Taylor Paschal-Placker, 13. Both were shot several times and left for dead about four miles northeast of Weleetka. Two guns were used in the killings, although authorities never would identify either one of the calibers used — until now. Brown would not identify the other caliber of bullet used in the slayings. She said OSBI agents have yet to analyze the bullets from those test firings to see if they match the bullet used in the slayings of the girls. Also, Brown noted, agents know the make of the .40-caliber gun used in the slayings, although she would not divulge that information. OSBI agents have also tracked the sales of .40-caliber ammunition sold in the area, "and there's been plenty," Brown said. State agents are still working on the theory that two shooters were involved, and that they are from the Weleetka area. Agents have already noted that given the remote location of the crime scene, the killers would have to be familiar with the area. The nearest highway is U.S. 75, about three miles away. The girls were shot a total of 13 times. The youngest, Skyla, was shot eight times, according to the state medical examiner. Of the two, Skyla was shot the most with the .40-caliber weapon, according to Brown. Autopsy reports released a week ago said spent bullets were recovered from both bodies. The medical examiner noted two different sizes of bullets, which were described as small- and medium caliber. Skyla and Taylor were described as best friends. On that Sunday afternoon, Skyla was visiting Taylor at her home when they decided to go for a walk to the Bad Creek bridge, about a half-mile north of the Placker home. Authorities said the two had made it to the bridge and were returning to Taylor's home when they were ambushed. Their bodies were found by Taylor's father around 5:30 p.m. that day in a shallow roadside ditch, fewer than 1,000 feet from the Placker home. A makeshift memorial of stuffed animals, flowers and crosses still marks the crime scene. From the outset, OSBI agents have been mum on the findings of their investigation. What was known was that they recovered spent bullet casings from the scene, along with a tire track. They've also located some witnesses who were in the general area around the time of the killings. They are still looking for an elusive person of interest who also was seen in that area. That person was described as a Native American male, wearing a long ponytail. He was described as in his mid-30s with a slender build. He was seen driving a white Ford or Chevy pickup truck. Since June 8, OSBI agents, aided by the Okfuskee County Sheriff's Office, plus other state and federal officers, have been working to solve the crime. Several weeks ago, the OSBI released part of the recording of the 911 call made by Taylor's mother in the hopes someone withholding information into the killings would come forward after hearing the tape. The killings shocked the nation and drew international attention. Brown would not say when or if test firings will be conducted for the other caliber gun used in the slayings. She said anyone with information about a .40-caliber weapon should call the OSBI at (800) 522-8017  |
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Nope, I wouldn't do it. I'm innocent untill proven guilty not the other way around. Prove you have a legal reason to test it and I will comply if my lawyer agrees, that's how I'd play it ETA: you don't have to register them here. They must have been going off of purchase records or something. |
But it's for the children... |
Glock, but it could have been a G20 with a drop in barrel. I don't know, small town, word gets around you're not cooperating, don't run for office. |
Oh that's even fucking better! There's no registration, but somehow the state came up with a list of people who own .40 S&W handguns. Well, now we know that there is a secret gun registry being kept somewhere. Supposedly the BATFE is the only ones that are allowed to look at 4473s. The article says that federal agencies were involved in the investigation. Is anyone else putting 2 and 2 together, or are you gonna start saying my tin foil is too tight? |
The premise is that when each barrel is machined it has slightly different grooves that leave a different pattern or scratches on he bullet when it's fired. Supposedly this pattern will not match on a different barrel and it's like a firearm fingerprint. That's what they say on TV anyways. |
So you mean to tell me that they went to every gun store in Oklahoma, went through every 4473 to find .40 caliber handguns, then cross referenced them with the addresses of people who lived in the area of the killings and sent them letters? It would take forever to gather that info and it would take a ton of man power to do it. Come on. The BATFE is obviously keeping a database from 4473s that they're collecting through their annual inspections on FFLs. |
They must of pulled 4473s from a few local dealers. Chances are there are ALOT more .40 cal handguns owned in the area then they have records for. |
Also, if there is no registry, then why did the OSBI say that these were registered owners? ETA - I am somewhat alarmed by all of this, and then again not at all surprised. |
wow, did you edit that pic? that commie officer looks a lot like a certain female presidential candidate I never noticed that. eta: oh, I see the file name now... 
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I got flamed the last time I discussed this issue. |
What you've said doesn't contradict what I've said. We've had reports here of the ATF scanning 4473s during "inspections". Add in a little OCR and some interns and you've got a database. Hasn't anyone wondered WHY you have to write YES or NO instead of Y or N on the form? It gives the OCR more id points to latch onto. |
I can't claim credit for it, but it's my favorite version of it. |
Uh - I get 4. No Tin Foil was used. |
THIS, and I'm rather pissed at the idea. 
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It's happened before. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601154.html
A federal prosecutor was murdered with what investigators figured to be a suppressed Makarov. Instead of doing real police work, they decided it would be easier to go to the company that sells threaded Makarov barrels and demand a list of people who bought them. Then they started showing up at those people's homes and demanding that they "voluntarily" surrender their Makarovs for testing. www.gunweek.com/2003/fbi0720.html |
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This is the disturbing part to me-- Brown said about 40 of those owners showed up with their guns, which were test fired outside the courthouse. She said about five owners contacted the OSBI to say they no longer owned the weapons, although they did provide the names of the new owners. "We'll be checking on them," Brown said, as well as the 15 or so registered gun owners who did not volunteer for the test firings. So if you don't submit your gun for testing they are now going to be "checking on" you.
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You have got to be f**king kidding me. I hope they tested all the .40 caliber handguns they issue to police, too! After all, that makes about as much sense as the rest of that messed up plan.
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It's a poorly kept secret that the BATFE has been keeping a registry of purchases for a long time. John Ashcroft actually had to FORCE the BATFE to comply with a law passed by congress that required disposal of instant check records after 24 hours. Janet Reno basically told Congress to go f**k themselves on that issue. You want to talk about politicization of the DOJ? Let's start by examining the BATFE's lovely history.... |