Lead in Weleetka child murders - FBI releases murder weapon serial number

[BBatesokc]

From News9.com;

OKLAHOMA CITY – Agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are now looking for a handgun that was used in the Weleetka girls' homicides in 2008.

According to the OSBI, they are offering up to a $5,000 reward for the gun, identified as the Glock .40 model 22 handgun. They have determined the serial number to be EKG463US.

According to the OSBI, on June 8, 2008, 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker and 13-year-old Taylor Paschal Placker were gunned down about 100 yards from Taylor's rural home just outside Weleetka in Okfuskee County. An autopsy performed by the state medical examiner's office revealed Skyla was shot eight times, and Taylor was shot five times.

Investigators said whoever has this gun is not suspected in any crimes. OSBI urges the current owner to contact the OSBI at (800)-522-8017.



Ooops - title should read OSBI not FBI.

[HewenttoJared]

Not suspected? So are they assuming it has been sold?

[BBatesokc]

Regardless, they would try to reassure whomever has it to come forward. They probably think it has been sold or possibly discarded and then found by an unsuspecting 3rd party.

[Achilleslastand]

These were the two girls that were gunned down while just walking along the road right?

[BBatesokc]

yep

[BBatesokc]

I'm assuming if they have a serial number but no gun, then the ballistics from the murder must have matched the ballistics in another shooting/crime?

[BBatesokc]

Or, does Glock do Ballistics finger printing on all their guns?

[Achilleslastand]

What are the odds of this ever being solved given the circumstances in which it happened?

[BBatesokc]

Knowing the specific gun is a huge lead though. Just depends how much of a trial the serial number left and if the gun was permanently lost after the killing.

[BBatesokc]

Of course another possibility is they have a suspect and know he owned this gun at one time.

[HewenttoJared]

I'm assuming if they have a serial number but no gun, then the ballistics from the murder must have matched the ballistics in another shooting/crime?

Metallurgical, based on my extensive watching of csi!

[Bill Robertson]

Of course another possibility is they have a suspect and know he owned this gun at one time.

That would be my guess.
If the gun had ever been proven by ballistics to have been used in another crime it should be in the hands of that authority or been destroyed. I have owned and own a number of Glocks and spend a bit of time on a couple of Glock boards. I've never heard of the factory doing ballistic tests except for performance.

[kevinpate]

What are the odds of this ever being solved given the circumstances in which it happened?

Cold cases don't get solved every day, but it does happen, and it happens in cases far older than this.