Parents Seeking Justice In Son's Death

The parents of a Broken Arrow teenager found dead two years ago have been given a second chance at justice.  The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports 18-year-old Jarret Clark's body was found in a lake days after his high school graduation.

A grand jury convened last year did not bring any indictments.  Now a judge has ruled that another grand jury can be convened in Wagoner County, but his family must first hit the streets before they have their day in court.

It's been two years since Tammy Slater lost her son.  Jarret Clark drowned at an overnight party at Fort Gibson Lake.  Clark's friends told Slater her son had been in a fist fight with two other boys.

"I think there was foul play involved because for one, there's just been so many stories floating around, so we just need for the truth to come out," said Tammy Slater.

Investigators couldn't find any facts to back up the story and a multi-county grand jury last year didn't produce any indictments. Jarret's parents say it was incomplete.

"There was some people that should have testified, myself for one, my wife for another," said Jarret's father, Eric Slater.

Now the case has new life.  A judge has ruled that a grand jury can be convened in Wagoner County but it will take a citizen's petition.

"At least I feel like I'm doing something in memory and in honor of my son's name," said Tammy Slater.

In order for a grand jury to be heard in Wagoner County, the family has to collect at least 3,000 signatures by the end of May.

Tammy Slater believes there was a fight and it had something to do with her son's drowning.  Now she hopes a grand jury can bring closure.

"What is my purpose now? Our purpose is to take care of your kids and watch your grandkids grow up. Well that's not going to happen for me and my family now," said Tammy Slater.

The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office hasn't made any arrests.  They've maintained that there's not enough evidence to say foul play was involved.

Jarret's family says they'll still be gathering signatures every weekend along Highway 51 in Coweta until the end of May.