'Caitlin's Law' heads to state House floor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill to tighten state bail requirements that is named for an Ada girl murdered last September passes a state House panel.<br/><br/>Representative Gus Blackwell says that although

Wednesday, April 12th 2006, 5:44 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill to tighten state bail requirements that is named for an Ada girl murdered last September passes a state House panel.

Representative Gus Blackwell says that although "Caitlin's Law" is too late to save the life of 16-year-old Catilin Wooten that it might help save others.

The Guymon Republican joined in the bill's unanimous passage Tuesday from the House Corrections and Criminal Justice Committee. It now goes to the state House floor for a vote. It's already passed in the state Senate.

Caitlin was a sophomore at Ada High School who was murdered by her mother's former boyfriend, 47-year-old Jerry Don Savage. Police say Savage abducted her after school and shot her and himself to death in a murder-suicide.

Savage had posted bond after being arrested in August for kidnapping Caitlin's mother at gunpoit. "Caitlin's Law" would strengthen bail laws by requiring persons charged with kidnapping to prove they are not a public danger before they post bail.