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August 6, 2008

Suspected killer of OKC exotic dancer linked to another murder

One of two men charged with murder in the shooting death of an exotic dancer on a busy Oklahoma City street is now suspected of killing a man hours earlier about 10 miles away in Del City, police said Wednesday.

Nicco Barnett, 18, and Laverie Franklin, 21, are in the Oklahoma County jail after being charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Vanessa Swaissi on the afternoon of July 31 in northeast Oklahoma City.

He is also believed responsible for the killing of Anthony Parks in Del City earlier that same day, Del City police Capt. Jody Suit said Wednesday.

"We have enough information and enough evidence to charge him with first-degree murder and armed robbery," Suit said. He declined to discuss evidence. Police were working with the district attorney's office to bring formal charges.

Parks, 20, and a woman were in a parked car in the driveway of a vacant house about 12:05 a.m. on July 31 when two young males approached, Suit said.

The two men, who were armed with a gun, forced the woman to take off her clothes during the robbery, then shot Parks and ran from the scene.

The woman escaped. Her name has not been released.

About 4:30 p.m. on July 31, Swaissi, 25, and a female friend met with two men to discuss selling stereo equipment and Swaissi agreed to give the two a ride, according to police.

The two men then attempted to rob the women and shot Swaissi after her friend grabbed a knife, police said.

Swaissi was found lying dead in the street beside her car.

Swaissi's friend escaped and her name has not been released.

Franklin is not a suspect in Parks' death, Suit said.

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