Witness In Carina Saunders' Murder Says She Fears For Her Life

Jamie Oberg, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- We're learning more about the witness who police say came forward with information in Carina Saunders' murder.

Blindfolded and forced to watch the killing of a teenage girl, that's what a witness told her attorney and police. The attorney talked to News 9 about what his key witness saw and her safety.

12/20/2011 Related Story: Bethany Police Arrest Man, Seek Person Of Interest In Carina Saunders Murder

After recognizing this face on TV, a woman told Attorney David Slane and police what she knew about Carina Saunders' death.

"Fearful, scared, didn't know who to trust," Slane said.

The woman says she was in the room when Carina Saunders was tortured and killed.

"When you've just watched someone be murdered and dismemberment of her body in front of you, the message is clear," Slane said.

Now, Slane says his client is afraid for her life.

"She's a victim of a kidnapping too," Slane said.

While sex and drug traffickers with possible ties to this case are still on the loose, Slane fears for his client's safety too.

"We know one attempt was made on her life already," Slane said.

Slane says when the witness came forward isn't important, just that she did. He hopes to keep his client's identity concealed.

"She very much knows these people are capable of murder. She saw it herself," Slane said.

One life taken too soon, Slane says it's important to protect his key witness and seek justice in the courtroom.

According to court documents, the witness says while being forced to watch the torture and death, she was given a message to relay to her associates that this is what happens to people who don't cooperate.

Investigators believe the suspects randomly chose Carina to send a message to the kidnapping victim.