NEW ORLEANS — The man charged is the slayings of two young girls told an investigator that he shot them because he feared "two monsters" were coming at him, according to a videotaped interview played Tuesday at his preliminary hearing.
Kevin Sweat's statement, which was recorded in September 2011, was played in Okfuskee County District Court during the second day of a preliminary hearing on two counts of first-degree murder in the June 2008 shooting deaths of Taylor Placker, 13, and Skyla Whitaker, 11.
The videotape was played before Associate District Judge David Martin after Martin denied a defense motion to suppress it from evidence on the grounds that it violates Sweat's constitutional rights against self-incrimination and that an attorney was not present when he made the statements.
"I was scared," Sweat told Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent Kurt Titsworth. "They were still coming at me, so I shot them."
Whitaker was visiting Placker and the two had gone for a walk. Their bodies were found by Placker's grandfather, who went searching for them when they failed to return.
Sweat said on the tape that he had stopped his vehicle on a rural Okfuskee County road when he saw the two girls. He said he "just panicked" and opened fire with a .40-caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol — then shot them again with a .22-caliber pistol.
"I'm guessing they were monsters," he said.
Sweat also acknowledged using drugs but said he had not done so the day the girls were killed.
"I was not hallucinating, I was not on anything," Sweat said.
Authorities have not recovered the weapons used in the shooting. Sweat told Titsworth that he discarded them but would not reveal their location, saying that he doesn't know where he tossed them.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation firearms expert Terrance Higgs has testified that markings on .40-caliber shell casings recovered from the scene matched those recovered from Sweat's father's property.
Sweat was charged in the girls' deaths after being arrested in connection to the death of his girlfriend, Ashley Taylor.
Prosecutors suggested a possible connection as they questioned Sweat's mother and her cousin about statements Sweat made about his relationship with Ashley Taylor and his desire to break up with her. Assistant District Attorney Maxey Reilly asked if Sweat had told them Taylor would spread lies about him if he broke off the relationship, including blaming him for the girls' deaths.
But Sweat's mother, Deborah Sweat, and cousin, James McClellan, said they didn't remember Sweat saying Taylor had threatened to tell authorities he shot the two girls.
The hearing will determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to try Sweat, who has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Robert Pattinson Moves Out
RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air
Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone"
Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics
Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window
RAW: Brad Paisley Forgets Lyrics To His Own Song
Justin Bieber Gets Booed
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
New 'Anchorman 2' Trailer, Drake Joins List of Rumored Cameos
Eva Longoria's Wardrobe Malfunction
Heat Star Dwyane Wade Surprises Coral Gables Teen At Prom
Steak n' Shake waitress scores huge tip
Singer Miguel Accidentally Lands on Fan At Billboard Music Awards
Celebs Celebrate the Rise of the Side Butt
Grizzly bear gets up close and personal with camera
Justin Bieber Gets Booed After Winning at the Billboard Awards
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
