Suspect search continues in sheriff's slaying

Monday, October 22nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PAWNEE, Okla. (AP) _ The hunt for Pawnee County Sheriff Dwight Woodrell's killer took investigators to local bars this weekend but brought them no closer to a suspect, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Investigators talked with patrons at Pawnee County drinking spots in the search for a man named Robert Weller, said Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Kym Koch.

Woodrell told deputies he planned to talk to a man by that name just before he was shot early Oct. 13.

``It's looking more and more like the individual gave a false name'' or it was a case of mistaken identity, she said.

Investigators also said they are not certain a pickup truck seen leaving the area near the scene was red as reported earlier. Koch said it's possible the truck was a different color.

Woodrell, 36, was shot while investigating suspicious activity at Spess Drilling Co., a business along U.S. 64 west of Cleveland.

Several people have been questioned in the case, Koch said.

One man questioned remained under arrest Monday on an unrelated weapons charge, she said.

``There's some information (about him),'' she said. ``How good it is, we just don't know.''