Skyla Whitaker, 11, & Taylor Placker 13 - Found Murdered - #16

DeltaDawn said:

I think the shot in the mouth to Taylor maybe very telling..to silence her perhaps?

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I think the shots to Taylor are very telling. Can you imagine shooting a young girl right in the face.

The groin shot also raises a red flag. This was the other gun so if there were two shooters then one was angry enough to shoot her in the face and the other was nasty enough to do the groin shot. That groin shot shouldn't be overlooked. In order to do that shot he would have had to bend down and was apparently trying to shoot up you know where. The entrance wound abrasions are vey elongated so the bullet was traveling almost parallel to her leg and so it came in at a very low angle to her leg. That is stunning.

They are dealing with some very nasty dudes. Sure seems like they would be younger, 20's or younger so what is the deal with the POI.

Thank you, TG, for the information on the Keloughs. I think it will come in handy down the road....

Robin

little726 said:

Thank you, TG, for the information on the Keloughs. I think it will come in handy down the road....

Robin

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You're very welcome!

Very good info, TomsGirl! TY!

So, Harris and the Southerns and the Keloughs are all connected! Very interesting!

Claycat said:

Very good info, TomsGirl! TY!

So, Harris and the Southerns and the Keloughs are all connected! Very interesting!

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You're welcome CC!

Yeah, just a big intertwined web isn't it?

I'm not sure whether the groin shot is significant or not. It may be, but it may also circumstantial. After being shot a couple of times, at one point she fell backwards. The shooter could still be shooting at that point and shot just as she was falling. Just another theory...

Because of the shots to the face, I don't believe this was the work of "otherwise-innocent" local kids. To look a young girl in the face and pull the trigger? Coldhearted. I think another kid would likely have shot to the chest, foot, arm - whatever. And maybe in their amateur-like experience with murder may not have even killed them - one of them probably would've survived. OTOH, it would only take a professional killer one shot each with a larger calibre weapon. No need to waste shots that take longer, are more likely to draw attention from someone nearby, and stay at the scene longer than necessary.

So there! I'm totally confused... :crazy: ... Sure sounds more like a professional with an agenda - to kill and to send a message - rather than the girls stumbling across something.

It could be an inexperienced shooter/shooters who just let the bullets fly and hit wherever they may. After the first shot, they were shooting at two moving targets.

belimom said:

I'm not sure whether the groin shot is significant or not. It may be, but it may also circumstantial. After being shot a couple of times, at one point she fell backwards. The shooter could still be shooting at that point and shot just as she was falling. Just another theory...

Because of the shots to the face, I don't believe this was the work of "otherwise-innocent" local kids. To look a young girl in the face and pull the trigger? Coldhearted. I think another kid would likely have shot to the chest, foot, arm - whatever. And maybe in their amateur-like experience with murder may not have even killed them - one of them probably would've survived. OTOH, it would only take a professional killer one shot each with a larger calibre weapon. No need to waste shots that take longer, are more likely to draw attention from someone nearby, and stay at the scene longer than necessary.

So there! I'm totally confused... :crazy: ... Sure sounds more like a professional with an agenda - to kill and to send a message - rather than the girls stumbling across something.

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Speaking of Taylor's facial shots, it appears she was shot with two different size bullets as per: Page 3, below VI, last paragraph it states:

Two damaged copper coated lead bullets, small in size and one medium size copper jacketed bullet recovered.
​

The gunshot wound of the right cheek and right hand could have been inflicted by a single bullet.​

​

c2cd208 said:

Just wanted to update you all, our trip is being delayed. The load were taking out West is a load of chicken. The load is not loaded yet and when it is loaded it will take the first driver of it 4 hours to get it to us. So were far behind. But we still have our flyers and have the plan to stop in the area we just will not be making it there tonight. It is 4:30 here and it takes us about 9 hours to make it to that stop, and were not even on the road yet. We will still make the stop, just not at the time we expected. I wanted to let you all know so you wont be expecting any news from us tonight or in the AM.

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Thanks! Can't wait to hear your "report" .

belimom said:

I'm not sure whether the groin shot is significant or not. It may be, but it may also circumstantial. After being shot a couple of times, at one point she fell backwards. The shooter could still be shooting at that point and shot just as she was falling. Just another theory...

Because of the shots to the face, I don't believe this was the work of "otherwise-innocent" local kids. To look a young girl in the face and pull the trigger? Coldhearted. I think another kid would likely have shot to the chest, foot, arm - whatever. And maybe in their amateur-like experience with murder may not have even killed them - one of them probably would've survived. OTOH, it would only take a professional killer one shot each with a larger calibre weapon. No need to waste shots that take longer, are more likely to draw attention from someone nearby, and stay at the scene longer than necessary.

So there! I'm totally confused... :crazy: ... Sure sounds more like a professional with an agenda - to kill and to send a message - rather than the girls stumbling across something.

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I have been away since July 21st and have read the autopsy reports for the first time. I will go back and read them more closely once I try to catch up.

I am convinced now though that it makes sense that there are two shooters. I see one of them as more methodical and cold. The other shooter I see as not as sure of himself or not enraged or cunning as much...he may be younger than the first shooter. He may not be the one that was the mastermind but the follower, instead.

This looks nothing like a professional hit, imo. It is way to chaotic and haphazard. Too many risks taken for a professional hit, imo.

The shots to the face shows someone very capable of murder. They would know that those shots most likely would be lethal such as the chest shots. The other injuries to Skyla either could mean the killer or killers were toying with her before they murdered her. Feasting off the fact that she had to be terrified beyond words especially if Taylor was shot and killed first which I believe she was. I have wondered if Taylor may have stepped forward toward the killers vehicle making herself further away from Skyla. With her purse still over her shoulder it seems she was shot immediately. I don't see the groin shot as having some message. I think Taylor was shot in the groin to help render her helpless and for them to gain control of the situation quickly.

I do believe that teenagers could have done this easily. I have seen some of them at arcades, where they fire what looks like real weapons at human figures on a screen. I have been amazed at how fast and accurate they are when hitting their "target".

The repetitive shots on an open country road reminds me of someone who is extremely immature and more focused on what they came to do rather than the chances they were taking but I have always believed that murderers are the highest risk takers of all, excluding hit men who are always cautious and methodical. The typical murderer does not look at the overall view and logic but has tunnel vision when carrying out what they have planned to do.



imoo

belimom said:

I'm not sure whether the groin shot is significant or not. It may be, but it may also circumstantial. After being shot a couple of times, at one point she fell backwards. The shooter could still be shooting at that point and shot just as she was falling. Just another theory...

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The groin shot was with a different gun.

The angle of the shot is such that if Taylor was standing straight up the gun would have to be fired upward from just off the end of her toes.

Albert18 said:

The groin shot was with a different gun.

The angle of the shot is such that if Taylor was standing straight up the gun would have to be fired upward from just off the end of her toes.

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Violation with a bullet!

:cry:

oceanblueeyes said:

I have been away since July 21st and have read the autopsy reports for the first time. I will go back and read them more closely once I try to catch up.

I am convinced now though that it makes sense that there are two shooters. I see one of them as more methodical and cold. The other shooter I see as not as sure of himself or not enraged or cunning as much...he may be younger than the first shooter. He may not be the one that was the mastermind but the follower, instead.

This looks nothing like a professional hit, imo. It is way to chaotic and haphazard. Too many risks taken for a professional hit, imo.

The shots to the face shows someone very capable of murder. They would know that those shots most likely would be lethal such as the chest shots. The other injuries to Skyla either could mean the killer or killers were toying with her before they murdered her. Feasting off the fact that she had to be terrified beyond words especially if Taylor was shot and killed first which I believe she was. I have wondered if Taylor may have stepped forward toward the killers vehicle making herself further away from Skyla. With her purse still over her shoulder it seems she was shot immediately. I don't see the groin shot as having some message. I think Taylor was shot in the groin to help render her helpless and for them to gain control of the situation quickly.

I do believe that teenagers could have done this easily. I have seen some of them at arcades, where they fire what looks like real weapons at human figures on a screen. I have been amazed at how fast and accurate they are when hitting their "target".

The repetitive shots on an open country road reminds me of someone who is extremely immature and more focused on what they came to do rather than the chances they were taking but I have always believed that murderers are the highest risk takers of all, excluding hit men who are always cautious and methodical. The typical murderer does not look at the overall view and logic but has tunnel vision when carrying out what they have planned to do.



imoo

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I agree OBE that there were two shooters. But I really go back and forth on the amateur versus professsional point. I just don't know what to think! According to what we do know, there was a very short window of time here. I may be mistaken, but I do not believe we know for sure if these girls made it to the bridge. Hopefully, LE has had contact with another kid or kids who were there and saw them. That will help to narrow down the time factor - if we can believe what time they left the home. What nags at me is how many unsavory people were in and around both of the girl's lives. Even with that, why target these children? Just doesn't make any sense!

Claycat said:

Violation with a bullet!

:cry:

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Oftentimes, when there is a shot such as the groin shot, the shot is committed post mortum. Personally, the groin shot really bothered me. I hope for her sake that it was administered post mortem so that she didn't have to suffer anymore than she already had. Either way, it is awful.

Hi, I'm mainly a lurker with an occasional post, I was catching up this evening and saw you were discussing the Zs. I grew up a military brat (all over the word). A lot of countries put a line or hash mark through their Zs as they do their 7s. I picked the habit up as a pre-teen because I thought it made me seem more worldly and knowledgeable. lol Perhaps they had seen this somewhere and did the same.

oceanblueeyes said:

I have been away since July 21st and have read the autopsy reports for the first time. I will go back and read them more closely once I try to catch up.

I am convinced now though that it makes sense that there are two shooters. I see one of them as more methodical and cold. The other shooter I see as not as sure of himself or not enraged or cunning as much...he may be younger than the first shooter. He may not be the one that was the mastermind but the follower, instead.

This looks nothing like a professional hit, imo. It is way to chaotic and haphazard. Too many risks taken for a professional hit, imo.

The shots to the face shows someone very capable of murder. They would know that those shots most likely would be lethal such as the chest shots. The other injuries to Skyla either could mean the killer or killers were toying with her before they murdered her. Feasting off the fact that she had to be terrified beyond words especially if Taylor was shot and killed first which I believe she was. I have wondered if Taylor may have stepped forward toward the killers vehicle making herself further away from Skyla. With her purse still over her shoulder it seems she was shot immediately. I don't see the groin shot as having some message. I think Taylor was shot in the groin to help render her helpless and for them to gain control of the situation quickly.

I do believe that teenagers could have done this easily. I have seen some of them at arcades, where they fire what looks like real weapons at human figures on a screen. I have been amazed at how fast and accurate they are when hitting their "target".

The repetitive shots on an open country road reminds me of someone who is extremely immature and more focused on what they came to do rather than the chances they were taking but I have always believed that murderers are the highest risk takers of all, excluding hit men who are always cautious and methodical. The typical murderer does not look at the overall view and logic but has tunnel vision when carrying out what they have planned to do.



imoo

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Could be, or it's possible one of the girls was the target and the other just collateral damage. Therefore the coldness and rage directed at one would not be there for the other.

I do agree that this is noway a professional or hired hit. My initial opinion when I heard about this case was a thrill kill by teenage boys, and I'm starting to drift back that way a little. I still would not rule out one shooter though. The POI was seen by a few different people, and as far as I know he was one person..unless another person (younger) was crouched down in the truck.

Glad to have ya' back and always glad to read your opinion on cases.

I just re-read the report. Taylor shows abrasions, with there being a bullet hole in her right hand and abrasions on her left side it seems to me that she put her right hand up in defence mode and fell on her left side. I believe that one of the shots to the face is one of the shots that went through her hand. The face shots were first IMO then the others. The bullet wound to the abdomin to me seems like it was made after she fell and was on the ground, like the attacker(s) were standing at her feet or close to her feet when that shot was fired.

GannyP said:

Hi, I'm mainly a lurker with an occasional post, I was catching up this evening and saw you were discussing the Zs. I grew up a military brat (all over the word). A lot of countries put a line or hash mark through their Zs as they do their 7s. I picked the habit up as a pre-teen because I thought it made me seem more worldly and knowledgeable. lol Perhaps they had seen this somewhere and did the same.

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GannyP~
I do the same thing w/ my 7's and Z's. I also started when I was young because I thought I was cool to do something that was different. Now my daughter has picked up my habit!!! LOL.

I said it then http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2294303&postcount=382 and stand by it now. I think this is the work of two young men. I personally do not see this as a pro hit, I think Taylor was the target as others have said and I think Skyla was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Ruflossn,aren't we cool!