Seven bodies were found on a property in Henryetta, a small town in rural Oklahoma, during the search for two missing teenagers. Police said they believe the two girls they were looking for, Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16, were among those killed.
The body of Jesse McFadden, a registered sex offender and who police says the girls were with, was also found. Police did not specify a cause of death.
Local officials have not released the identities of the other four bodies, but Janette Mayo, 59, of Westville, Oklahoma, told AP News the other victims were her daughter, Holly Guess, 35, and other victims. grandchildren, Rylee Elizabeth Allen, 17, Michael James Mayo, 15, and Tiffany Dore Guess, 13.
Ms Mayo said the sheriff’s office notified her. She told the AP that her family only learned about McFadden’s criminal record a few months ago. “He lied to my daughter and convinced her that it was all a big mistake,” she told the news agency.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol issued a missing person notice on Ivy Webster and Brittany Brewer on Monday.
They are said to be friends of Holly Guess and spent the weekend with their family. Authorities executed a search warrant at McFadden’s home after he failed to appear in court Monday morning.
He was to appeared in court on charges of soliciting a minor and possessing child pornography in 2017.
Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said he believes Ivy and Brittany were found during the search, but said the state medical examiner should confirm their identities.
“Our thoughts are with family and friends, classmates and others,” Rice said.
Brittany’s father, Nathan Brewer, told local media he was shocked. “I’m lost. I’m really lost. It’s almost over, she won’t be here. I mean she’s gone,” he said. “I have five kids but she’s like my companion.” “Brittany is an extrovert.
She has actually been chosen as Miss Henryetta…which will take place in July for the Miss National pageant in Tulsa. And now she won’t make it because she’s dead.” During a vigil on Monday night, Mr Brewer told the crowd ‘this is just a parent’s worst nightmare’.
Henryetta Public Schools posted on Facebook that they are mourning the passing of several students. It canceled Monday’s graduation for kindergarten students until further notice and said it would be counseling students about the bereavement and reaching out to mental health professionals for help
“Our hearts hurt,” the post read. “Please continue to keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.”
Two fundraisers named Ivy and Brittany have been set up to pay for funeral expenses and support families.
