Muskogee Police Divers Search Local Lake for Missing Woman

Tuesday, February 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

18-year-old Elisha Walker said she really couldn't believe what she was watching Monday as police divers searched a local lake for the body of her mother, Carol Stallings Granite. The woman disappeared from Muskogee last March.

Muskogee police lieutenant Kenny Long has worked non-stop trying to find out what happened to Granite. He has even worked the case on his days off. He received a tip, which led officers to a lake. Cadaver dogs led authorities to a particular spot. "I don't understand how someone could know where she is or do something to her when she has four babies," Walker said. "She's missed Christmas, missed Mother's Day, missed her birthday, missed our birthdays, it's hard to be without a Mom."

The Tulsa police dive team brought its expertise and high-tech equipment to the job. They put a microphone on the diver, so he could communicate to the officers standing on shore, telling then what he was seeing underwater. The diver said he had about 3 to 4 feet of visibility.

The dive team says conditions were ideal. Good visibility for a small lake and about a 6-inch mud base. Of course, looking for a body is never easy. Investigators say what they really need is information. "We really need citizens to come forward and to help us with these type cases," said Muskogee police department corporal Reggie Cotton.

Elisha kept saying she didn't believe her mother was buried in a watery grave. However, she does need answers. "All we're asking for is to know what happened," she said. "Where is she? We miss her."

The police dive team did not find the missing woman Monday. Investigators say they will keep searching for clues to her whereabouts.