The Powell family put twin sisters to rest on Saturday afternoon at the God’s Shining Light Church in east Tulsa.
The family is hurting, but also upset with the way Tulsa city leaders have allowed a crime infested area to grow and become the location where the women, Rebeika Lynn Powell and Kayetie Beth Powell Melchor, lost their lives.
“They murdered two young women by tying them up,” said the sister’s uncle, Peter Cypert. “I just want them not to pass without something being done to clean up 61st and Peoria.”
That neighborhood is a breeding ground for crime. In 2012 alone there were more than 600 crimes committed there, including four homicides. There are home in the area for low-income housing, including Section 8 housing. The Powell sisters were living in an apartment at the Fairmont Terrace Apartments on Monday.
“I’m hurt,” said Cypert. “I am angry. I am angry that they lived there, and we have so many people who know that is happening there and it consistently keeps happening.”
Cypert and the Powell sister’s mother, Charon Powell , plan to fix the crime infestation of 61st and Peoria.
“I don’t know who to talk to; I don’t know what to say but I think until when this city realizes what a problem we have down there it will be resolved, “ said Cypert. “It needs to be resolved. We need more cameras on gates, all that stuff, I don’t know,. There is a solution to this problem. It’s a shame we have to live in the greatest city and we have got that stuff going on and people letting it go.”
The pastor, Dixie Pebworth, at the sisters’ funeral said this was one of the hardest funerals he has ever has to minister because it was a double funeral and he is close with Mrs. Powell. She has been a member of the church since 2007. The pastor has this message for the killer or killers:
“My heart goes out to them because they were deranged as well. They were possessed by the devil himself to do something like this; they need to turn themselves in.”
Tulsa police are not revealing any leads in the case until they have more information to give the media.
