Near Weleetka, a sad reminder awaits students returning to class

 
By Johnny Johnson | Modified: August 7, 2008 at 12:23 am | Published: August 7, 2008   

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Skyla Whitaker
/> Mankin said the school wanted to do something to honor the memory of the girls, and they decided to order the memorial wristbands, which were made in the girls' favorite colors — green for Taylor, purple for Skyla.

And while parents may be reassured by the presence of uniformed officers at the school, the patrol cars parked outside the school might also serve as a reminder to students that all is not well.

Okfuskee County Undersheriff Darrell Summers said his office met with school officials on Tuesday to discuss safety issues at the school and at bus stops.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation also asked teachers to eavesdrop on student conversations in the hallways and in the cafeteria, Mankin said.

While it is not the school's job to interrogate students, she said, "kids do talk,” and something that might seem insignificant could actually provide the lead that helps solve the case.

500 leads investigated
Jessica Brown, OSBI spokeswoman, said she wished that two months after the two girls were shot to death she had some better news. Unfortunately, that was not the case this week.

"We're doing everything we can do,” she said. "It just hasn't gotten us to the place we need to be.”

The OSBI spokeswoman said agents have tracked down more than 500 leads and are continuing to pursue "some really good leads.”

"Unfortunately, we've run really good leads before and they just kind of fizzled out, because people had alibis and that sort of thing,” she said.

One new development in the case is that the medical examiner's office indicates they are "getting close” to finishing autopsies on both girls.

The results may be available later this week.

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