Family's Attorney Denies Malice In Misinformation

A search came one day after a Henryetta teenager reported seeing a person of interest in the murders of two Weleetka girls, only later admitting she had made it up.  News On 6 anchor Terry Hood reports the family says there's more to the story.

The family is speaking through their attorney who says it was a terrible mix-up, but insists that person of interest has been seen on their property.

Dozens of law enforcement personnel descended on the Okmulgee County countryside on Tuesday afternoon. They were looking for someone matching the description of the man investigators are calling a person of interest in the murders of Skyla Whitaker and Taylor Pashal-Placker.

The Okmulgee County Sheriff says 18-year old Brittany Stanton claimed the man broke into her home, which sets just a few miles from where the girls were killed.

Tom Stringer is the Stanton's attorney.

"I've known this family for thirty years or more," said attorney Tom Stringer.

He declined to allow Brittany or her mother to talk to The News On 6 and he would not take questions on-camera concerning Brittany's role in Tuesday's manhunt.

He did tell The News On 6 that several generations of the family have lived on their property for years and are good members of the community.

"If law enforcement finds something not credible it's not out of any malice on the part of this family," said attorney Tom Stringer.

Since the girls were killed, two and a-half weeks ago, Okmulgee County has been on edge.  Store fronts throughout downtown Henryetta show the face of a man investigators have yet to find.

But, Stringer says the Stanton family has seen the man.  He claims the family believes the man has been on their property, both before the girls died and after.

"Quite honestly I've been told things by other family members that would corroborate this child's sighting," said attorney Tom Stringer.

He says that history may be what led the 18 year old to call police and start a massive manhunt.

The case is now in the hands of the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office.  The woman could be charged with filing a failed police report and forced to pay the state restitution for the cost of Tuesday's search.

Related Story:

06/24/2008  Manhunt Conducted On False Information