Not Guilty Plea Entered Tuesday In Weleetka Murders

An Okfuskee County judge entered a not guilty plea for the man charged in the deaths of two young Weleetka girls.<br />

Tuesday, December 13th 2011, 9:47 am

By: News On 6

Not Guilty Plea Entered Tuesday In Weleetka Murders

An Okfuskee County judge entered a not guilty plea for the man charged in the deaths of two young Weleetka girls.

The plea was entered during Kevin Sweat's initial appearance at the Okfuskee County courthouse in Okemah Tuesday afternoon. His next court appearance will be in February.

Security was very tight at the Okfuskee County Courthouse Tuesday, and there was a sense from family members that this was the first step to closure

Helicopters circled above and heavily armed sheriff's deputies patrolled the parking lot of the Courthouse. Sweat arrived with a police caravan and walked inside wearing a bullet proof vest.

Sweat is accused of killing his fiancée Ashley Taylor and the two Weleetka girls Skyla Whitaker and Taylor Paschal Placker.

"My emotions have been all over the place since this happened," said Michael Taylor, Ashley's father. "Today I feel like things have been lifted off my shoulder a little bit. I'm glad he will be standing before the courts to answer for what he has done."

The preliminary hearing in the case for the murder of Ashley Taylor was delayed while Sweat's attorneys wait for forensic evidence. A plea of not guilty was entered in the case of the two Waleetka girls. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

Michael Taylor had hoped today would help the families heal. He's confident Sweat is responsible for all three deaths.

"He did it. I have no doubt," he said.

Ashley grandparents were also at the courthouse. They say this turn of events has them shocked and feel tremendous sorrow for the families of the Waleetka girls. They say Kevin Sweat seemed nice when they first met him.

"When I met her they seemed like a couple, but when this other stuff came out then you see him as a monster that he is," said Ashley's grandmother.

Sweat's defense attorneys declined to comment today on the merits of the case, but issued a statement emphasizing Sweat is innocent until proven guilty.