Hearing set for Kevin Sweat in death of Okmulgee woman

OKEMAH, Okla. - A man accused of three murders appeared before a judge Monday morning.

Kevin Sweat faces first-degree murder charges in two separate cases, he's accused of murdering his fiancé Ashley Taylor last August and the two Weleetka girls in 2008.

Family and friends of all the victims filled the Okfuskee County courtroom to face Sweat, but were met with disappointment as the scheduled preliminary hearing was postponed.

"I'm just upset because I was wanting to get it going," said Ashley Taylor's mother, Patricia Taylor.

Kevin Sweat was brought into the courthouse wearing a bulletproof vest and an orange jumpsuit.

Dozens of family members of both his fiancee, Ashley Taylor, and two Weleetka girls, Skyla Whitacker and Taylor Pachel-Placker, were hoping to get answers about what happened to their loved ones.

"Obviously we don't know everything, so we're going to listen carefully and maybe we can find out exactly why, because we were never even given that information yet," said Ashley's father, Michael Taylor.

Monday's hearing was supposed to be the preliminary hearing in Ashley Taylor's case.

Her mother is scheduled to testify.

"I miss her a lot," Patricia Taylor said.

Patricia says her daughter and Kevin Sweat were together for four years and she never would have suspected he was capable of murder.

"When he was at home with us and they were together, he was just lovey and hugging on her and calling her sweetie and kissing on her -- you know, he just loved her to death,"  said Patricia Taylor.

Now she wants justice.

"That's all I can say, I'd like for him not be on this earth anymore," Patricia Taylor said.

Michael Taylor said he's worked to put aside his hatred of Sweat.
    
"It's not about him anymore, this is about my daughter," he said, "The only way to survive is to lay the hate down and that's what I did."

Defense attorney's for Sweat unexpectedly asked for more time to review a discovery report, pushing back the scheduled hearing.

"We're just going to have to buckle down and try to be as patient as we can," said Michael Taylor.

Kevin Sweat is scheduled to be back in court May 22 for the Ashley Taylor case as well as a status hearing for the murder of the two Weleetka girls.