Man Faces Trial in Deaths of Oklahoma Girls

A 27-year-old man has been ordered to stand trial on first-degree murder charges for the shooting deaths of two young Oklahoma girls that he said he thought were "monsters." A judge ruled there was enough evidence to put Kevin Sweat before a jury for the deaths of Taylor Placker, 13, and Skla Whitaker, 11.

The two best friends were shot to death in June 2008 near their hometown of Weleetka.

Sweat, however, has another court date scheduled before the Weleetka murder trial. He is facing the death penalty for the July 2011 death of his former girlfriend, Ashley Taylor.

Missing Girlfriend Reported

Taylor was reported missing by her family after she and Sweat supposedly left Henryetta on July 15, 2011 to get married in Louisiana. Taylor's family became suspicious of Sweat after she disappeared and confronted him. During their conversation, Sweat reportedly told them, "I suppose I'm going to get blamed for this like the Weleetka girls."

Family members reported the conversation to police on July 29, 2011, which led to Sweat's arrest on Aug. 3 for Taylor's murder. Ashley Taylor's bone fragments, ring and eyeglasses were found on Sweat's father's property five days later.

Approached by 'Monsters'

After he was jailed, investigators questioned Sweat about the shootings of Placker and Whitaker in Weleetka. According to evidence presented at his preliminary hearing, Sweat told detectives that he pulled over on a rural road in Okfuskee County when he was approached by "two monsters."

He said he panicked, grabbed his .40 caliber handgun and "shot the monsters." He then got a .22 handgun and fired more shots into the two girls. He then drove away, he said.

Ballistic evidence linked Sweat's .40 caliber Glock to the girls' shootings.

His trial for the murder of Ashley Taylor is scheduled to begin June 10, 2013.

See Also:
Man Ordered to Stand Trial in Deaths of 2 Okla. Girls

Earlier Article:
Reward Offered in Deaths of 2 Oklahoma Girls

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^{Photo: Family Photos}