Auction to Raise Reward Money in Weleekta Deaths

A Henryetta bar plans to hold an auction to raise money to increase the reward fund for information that leads to a conviction in the mysterious killing of two Weleetka-area girls two years ago.

Wednesday, June 2nd 2010, 10:38 am

By: News 9


Staff and Wire Reports

HENRYETTA, Oklahoma -- A Henryetta bar plans to hold an auction to raise money to increase the reward fund for information that leads to a conviction in the mysterious killing of two Weleetka-area girls two years ago.

It was a double murder that shocked the state and the nation that remains unsolved.

Both 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker and 13-year-old Taylor Paschal-Placker were found shot to death two years ago next week. Now their friends and neighbors are doing what they can to find the killer.

The girls were murdered on an Okmulgee County road. The failure to solve their murders frustrates everybody, including the patrons at Marvin's Place.

"This comes up all the time, we hear about it all the time and you know, we need to solve this case," said Henryetta resident Donnie McKay. "I mean, it's really frustrating. This case has continued. You know, we don't know what happened. Nobody knows. Somebody's going to say something."

On Sunday, for the second straight year, Marvin's will be the site of a cookout and auction to raise money for the reward fund. Owner Marvin White had the idea, and people responded. A saddle will be one of the high-dollar items auctioned off. Cathy Wright will bake pies. The auction is personal for her.

"I know the grandparent of one of the little girls, I worked with her a long time ago," Henryetta resident Cathy Wright said.

The reason for the benefit is saddening. But the mood Sunday will be upbeat.

"We'll have this place full," said McKay. "They'll be 200, 250 people here on the land area. They're going to be in this area and we'll cook a lot of good food."

In the past two years the auction has raised almost $17,000, pushing the total reward fund past $160,000.

Those hosting the event say the auction will keep going, and the fund will keep rising, until someone comes forward to tell the truth.

The Sunday auction will start at 1 p.m. at Marvin's Place in Henryetta.

Extended Coverage: Tragedy in Weleetka

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