12-yr old Brooke Bennett missing from Vermont.

[SoUncool]

Residents shaken by missing child

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs....NEWS/507767194

RANDOLPH — The reality of Brooke Bennett's disappearance really hit Jennifer Emmons when detectives stopped by the Randolph Village Laundromat to ask questions.

The North Main Street business is one of the last locations that witnesses saw Bennett, 12, sometime between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, state police reported on Friday.

"It's not my kid, but I still feel for these parents," said Emmons whose son was in Bennett's seventh-grade class at Randolph High School. "My mother always said, 'there's got to be two of you.'"

Standing in front of a flier of Bennett with "Missing" written across the top, Emmons said the search for the girl, who has not been seen since she was dropped off in Randolph Wednesday, has been the talk of the town. She and other parents had been talking, fighting disbelief and admitting that there is no such thing as being too smothering.

From Bethel to Randolph and throughout central Vermont, talk of the young girl having vanished was on the tongues of everyone, even those without children. Most asked how anyone could be capable of an abduction, though no one is clear on what has happened to Bennett.

Those closest to Bennett's age are especially leery about her disappearance and the information that has surfaced in the last couple of days, including the fact some of her clothing was found on Route 65 in Brookfield.

State Police Col. Baker stated during a morning press conference that his hope is that the community would not be scared, but instead focus on caution and trust that the police are doing their jobs. There are 30 detectives interviewing witnesses and following up on leads, Baker said.

Fliers with Bennett's photo were posted in the windows of businesses throughout downtown and life seemed to bustle as usual, but with the occasional mention of the missing girl. Rumors – discredited by police Friday afternoon – of her body being found in Sunset Lake were flying around in the shops and restaurants.

"We are gravely concerned about the wellbeing of Brooke Bennett," said Baker. "This case is very much centered around and about social networking online."

And as long as there is access to the World Wide Web, children everywhere are vulnerable.

[Shadow]

"As long as there is access to the World Wide Web, children every where are vulnerable."


Just means parents need to monitor what their children are doing a lot more closely, instead of hitting up the gym after work, or trying to cram too many social activities into one day. When I was her age, my mother knew where I was at all times.

~ceisdsgil


these are my thoughts.. if you don't like 'em.. tough, put on your big girl panties and learn to deal with it.

[SoUncool]

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8574397&nav=4QcS

Rumors Hard On Missing Girl's Family

Randolph, Vermont - June 28, 2008

Another day of searching on Saturday, and still no sign of missing 12-year-old, Brooke Bennett. Brooke's family is holding out hope that their daughter will be found safe and alive, but the rumors around town are making the search difficult to bear.

Missing poster signs hang in the windows of storefronts in downtown Randolph, where Brooke Bennett was last seen on Wednesday morning. On many, people have added the words, 'still missing.' That's because there have been rumors that the young girl was found dead yesterday in Sunset Lake in Brookfield.

The rumor wasn't just spread by word of mouth. On the social networking Web site, Facebook, people were writing on a special "Find Brook(e) Bennett" page that the 12-year-old was dead.

As for the investigation, the Vermont State Police did not talk to the media on Saturday. In a statement, they said they are working with the FBI to analyze Brooke's computer and her clothing that was found near Sunset Lake on Thursday morning.

"It's frustrating not knowing what's going on. There are certain aspects of the investigation that they have to keep to themselves so they don't compromise the investigation, and I understand that. But it's still frustrating," Jim Bennett said.

As for the evidence the police are reviewing, they say that process will take some time, so no new information is expected for a few days.

[SoUncool]

Video of surveillance from Cumberland Farms convenience store:

http://www.wcax.com/global/video/pop...s Xtra Webcast

[SoUncool]

Not much news today on this story.

Missing Girl's Clothes, Computer Reviewed
Poor Weather Halts Aerial Search Sunday

http://www.wptz.com/news/16742501/detail.html

RANDOLPH, Vt. -- Authorities have received new leads on Sunday, the fourth day of searching for Brooke Bennett.

FBI officials said forensic work completed over the weekend on clothing and Brooke's computer.

Investigators said Sunday that they uncovered evidence that Brooke was talking to someone the social-networking Web site MySpace, and she may have planned on meeting that person.

Police said a relative found items of clothing that belong to Brooke near the floating bridge in Brookfield, a location about 10 miles from the Cumberland Farms.

Police and neighbors called the area a hangout spot for teenagers.

Police had planned an aerial search Sunday but called it off because of weather conditions.

[~Absynthe~]

I really feel for her parents, right now they are going through hell!!!

There are so many clues that point to foul play, I hope that I am wrong!

I really hope that they find her alive and well, I pray that she is not a victim..

[Lynntoast]

Police Arrest Missing Girl's Uncle

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8576141

He was arrested in what they say is an "Unrelated" sexual assult. He is a RSO and the last to be seen with Brooke. :(

[SoUncool]

Michael Jacques

Jacques is a registered sex offender; he was arrested and convicted of kidnapping and sexual assault in 1993. Police say that the new charges are not connected in any way to Bennett or her disappearance.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8576141

[Unamused Cat]

I have suspected the uncle from the get-go. Being a registered sex offender, I have to wonder why the family allowed him contact with Brooke.

[w8ng4msrgt]

After looking at his charges from last time I hope he doesn't have her buried in a pit somewhere.

SO Page

[~Absynthe~]

Watching the video earlier,I thought that it was so strange the way that she carried herself while in the store, arms crossed and all. Then when they left the store they went in different directions, I have been wondering if this was to throw off authorities.

[Unamused Cat]

Watching the video earlier,I thought that it was so strange the way that she carried herself while in the store, arms crossed and all. Then when they left the store they went in different directions, I have been wondering if this was to throw off authorities.

Exactly. I thought the same thing. Her body language (crossed arms) shows her to defensive.

[SoUncool]

Few more new details:

Who is this cousin that was supposedly with them?

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...howXAD91K68L00

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont State Police said Sunday the uncle of a missing 12-year-old girl — one of the last people to see her before she vanished — has been arrested on unrelated sex charges.

Michael Jacques, 42, of Randolph, who dropped off Brooke Bennett at a convenience store Wednesday and was seen leaving it in a different direction on a surveillance camera video, was charged with aggravated sexual assault against a minor. The alleged victim wasn't Bennett, who remained missing Sunday, despite an intensive search by state police, the FBI and other agencies.

Jacques, who is married to Bennett's mother's sister, is listed on Vermont sex offender registry. He was convicted of sexual assault and kidnapping in 1993.

The arrest came as the result of information uncovered by investigators assigned to the disappearance.

Jacques was being held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, pending an arraignment Monday. If convicted, he could get 10 years to life in prison.

Police said Jacques and a cousin of Brooke's dropped the girl at Cumberland Farms in Randolph about 9 a.m. Wednesday. On the video, which was released Friday, Jacques and Brooke are seen in the store, where Jacques makes a purchase with Brooke at his side. They walk out together, then part ways. She was seen about 45 minutes later inside a coin laundry, police said.

Her grandmother reported Bennett missing 12 hours later, and on Thursday an Amber Alert — the first in Vermont history — was issued for Brooke.

No suspects have been named in her disappearance.

[~Absynthe~]

Fox News Channel just reported that the police are looking more closely at Brooke's uncle.
They are conducting a search of his farm.

When I find out more info I will let you know...or if anyone here anything..let us know!!

[Ruby]

Fuck!

[SoUncool]

Investigation into Brooke Bennett's disappearance shifts to Randolph
1:09 p.m.
June 30, 2008

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs..../NEWS/56479780

RANDOLPH -- Vermont State Police confirmed this afternoon that the search for missing 12-year-old Brooke Bennett has shifted to the Randolph home of the girl's uncle, who was last seen with her.

Police issued a release moments ago stating: "As a result of this past weekend’s investigation into the disappearance of 12 year-old Brooke Bennett of Braintree, Vermont, the Vermont State Police and the FBI have concentrated their investigation efforts around the Jacques’ property in Randolph, Vermont. The Connecticut State Police and the Massachusetts State Police are assisting in the property search by providing a helicopter as well as additional K-9 units. The Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team have been called in as well. The search will cover an extensive area. In addition, the FBI has flown in additional resources. Anyone with information pertaining to Brooke Bennett is urged to call the Vermont State Police at (802) 234-9933."

The Times Argus is on the scene at the home of 42-year-old Michael Jacques on East Bethel Road in Randolph. At this time, police are not allowing anyone to enter the property. A police officer is stationed at the bottom of the driveway, and highway cones also block access to the home, which sits about 100 yards off the roadway.

There are at least five Vermont State Police cars at the home, with officers wearing sweatshirts marked search and rescue, as well as baseball caps. One officer was also seen with a dog.

The State Police Crime Lab van is also at the scene, although officers have not entered the home.

[Ruby]

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He's a registered sex offender. How did it take them this many days to get to him? She disappeared on Wednesday morning, he was the last one to see her. The first reports said she'd spent the night at his house. If he's registered, how did this take so long?

FUCK.

[Unamused Cat]

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He's a registered sex offender. How did it take them this many days to get to him? She disappeared on Wednesday morning, he was the last one to see her. The first reports said she'd spent the night at his house. If he's registered, how did this take so long?

FUCK.

He is registered. I looked at his page myself.

Michael Jacques

Sexual Offense Conviction(s) Date of Conviction
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT 07-12-1993
KIDNAPPING 07-12-1993

[Lizard]

Sexual Offense Conviction(s) Date of Conviction
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT 07-12-1993
KIDNAPPING 07-12-1993

"Gosh, it's been 15 years! No one will notice if I do it again...."

[Josie]

Bail?
They gave him bail?
incredible............


Missing girl's uncle charged in assault; police scour uncle's property

June 30, 2008


CHELSEA — A probe into the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl zeroed in on her uncle today, with police searching his home while he was being arraigned on sex charges in an unrelated case, authorities said.

Michael Jacques, 42, of Randolph, a registered sex offender who was one of the last people to see Brooke Bennett before she vanished, pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual assault and was being held on $250,000 bail.

The alleged victim was a girl who says Jacques assaulted her over a five-year period, beginning when she was 9 years old and ending a few weeks ago, Orange County State’s Attorney Will Porter said. The charge was filed as a result of the investigation into Bennett’s disappearance, but Bennett wasn’t the victim, police said.
Advertisement
www.wdbrownell.com

Jacques, who is married to the sister of Bennett’s mother, dropped Bennett off at a Cumberland Farms convenience store in Randolph on Wednesday after she told family members she was going to meet a friend and visit a relative of the friend’s in the hospital.

Police believe that was a lie, and that Bennett may have bound for a meeting with an unknown individual she had been communicating with through MySpace.com, the social networking site. On Friday, Vermont State Police director James Baker said the MySpace communications were the main focus of the probe.

Surveillance video from the store showed Bennett and Jacques leave the store and go in separate directions.

Bennett, who just finished seventh grade at Randolph Union High School, has not been seen since. She is the subject of Vermont’s first-ever Amber Alert, which was issued Friday.

In court today, a pallid Jacques — handcuffed and shackled at the waist — entered a not guilty plea through public defender L. Brooke Dingledine, who persuaded Judge Theresa DiMauro to grant bail over the objections of Porter.

Jacques has 1993 convictions for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault and there is “a threat of prejudicial violence to this particular juvenile complainant,” said Porter, in arguing for no bail. “Her personal safety was threatened.”

He also noted the serious nature of the crime, which could lead to a life prison term, and said Jacques had violated his probation.

“There’s no condition or series of conditions that could guarantee the safety of the juvenile complainant in this case,” said Porter.

Dingledine said Jacques has a full-time job as an operations manager for a company in West Lebanon, N.H., owns his home and a rental property next door, has strong family ties and a family that depends on his income.

DiMauro said she was considering barring Jacques from leaving the county, but Dingledine — who called the corroborating evidence on the sex charge “very sparse” — said he needed to get to work. So the judge ordered a 24-hour curfew — except for work — if he makes bail.

Relatives of Bennett watched from the gallery as Jacques made his appearance.

Vermont State Police called in state police units from Connecticut and Massachusetts and planned to use helicopters and dogs to search Jacques’ home.

Trooper Mark Magnant said police would not comment on either case pending a 4 p.m. briefing.


(bolding and italics mine)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...NTPAGECAROUSEL

[~Absynthe~]

The alleged victim, a relative of Jacques', was a girl who says Jacques assaulted her over a five-year period, beginning when she was 9 years old and ending a few weeks ago, Orange County State's Attorney Will Porter said.

In an affidavit released afterward, Vermont State Police Detective Sgt. William Jenkins said the girl told police that when she was 9 or 10, she was told — in a telephone call and in a note left under her pillow — that she had been selected for enrollment in a "program for sex" and that Jacques was to be her trainer.

[quoteThe alleged victim, identified only as "A.R." in court papers, said she was told two other girls were in the program, too.

"The first who does it lives and the second gets her throat cut," she told police, according to the affidavit.][/quote]

Whether he had anything to do with Brooke's disappearance, I don't think that they should have set a bail and a curfew for him!!!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373903,00.html

[w8ng4msrgt]

Police statement

June 30, 2008

Statement of Colonel James Baker, Director of the Vermont State Police:
June 30, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Good Afternoon. Thank you all for coming. For those of you that don’t already know me, I’m Colonel James Baker, Director of the Vermont State Police.

I would first like to start out by thanking the media and the public for their patience and understanding throughout this investigation. We have reached out to you several times for assistance, and each time you’ve pulled through for us and have assisted in any way possible. The level of professionalism that you all have displayed is a true testament to yourself and the news organizations you represent. For that, I am grateful. It is clear that the goals of the media and the public are that of the Vermont State Police and the law enforcement partners working this investigation to find Brooke Bennett.

This case remains very active, and I can say, as a result of the tireless effort and hard work of the investigators, the scope of this investigation has narrowed and we are making progress. We have eliminated several scenarios that were potential possibilities in the disappearance of Brooke. Behavioral Scientists from the FBI have played and continue to play a major role in this elimination process.

On Sunday, the investigation discovered that Michael Jacques of Randolph, Vermont sexually assaulted a minor, who was being interviewed as a result of the Brooke Bennett investigation. The State Police called in detectives of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations, which includes a Vermont State Trooper assigned to the unit, to investigate the sexual assault. Investigators are looking into the possibility there may be more victims of sexual abuse by Jacques. The State Police would like to speak with any child or teenager who may have had contact with Michael Jacques.

The focus of today’s investigation is to search the Jacques’ property in Randolph, Vermont. The Connecticut State Police and the Massachusetts State Police brought in assets to assist in the search, to include a helicopter and K-9 Units. Forensic work is continuing to be done and analyzed. We continue to search for evidence that may help explain Brooke’s disappearance.

Rest of statement

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I don't think that they should have set a bail and a curfew for him!!!

a permanent dirt nap curfew, maybe...

[Shadow]

the plot thickens

In the police affidavit, it says the victim was told the president of the United States had selected her for this sex program. The president assigns a trainer, and her trainer would be Michael Jacques. And then she was abused-- almost tortured-- on a weekly basis in many different ways for the next five years. The victim testified she had met three men as part of "Breckenridge" who had told her what types of sexual activity she needed to work on to graduate.

sauce:
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8580434

~ceisdsgil

[Dakota Valkyrie]

From the police statement w8ng linked:

Late Saturday into early Sunday morning, information was developed as a result of forensic examination of computers that helped us change the direction of the investigation. As a result of that, Michael Jacques became a person of interest into the disappearance of Brooke. This is not the only avenue we continue to pursue and we continue to explore other investigative leads. With that said, I will re-confirm my statement from before that this case is about social networking on the internet.

It makes it sound like she might have been talking to her uncle on MySpace. Maybe he had a thing set up with her also where she was selected for the "sex program" and other dudes were involved via MySpace, too??

[Ruby]

Well, the fact that he began assaulting the other girl at age nine, and that she's also a relative, and this is an ongoing thing for this guy, coupled with the fact that Brooke spent the night at his house, tells me she's most likely a victim, too.

So, a few scenarios come to mind:

1. Brooke has arranged (with or without the help of someone on the internet) to disappear, so as to get away from douchebag uncle and his friends.

2. Douchebag uncle abducted and / or killed her to keep her quiet. Perhaps she threatened to tell when she stayed at his home the night before she disappeared.

3. Douchebag uncle has bartered/sold/traded her to one of the other douchebag members of his child sex ring/cult.

All three scenarios make me shudder. I'm telling you, no matter WHAT we find out ultimately happened to Brooke Bennett, I would bet HUGE amounts of money that she was abused by her uncle, and that will play some factor in this. Mark my words.

[Nell]

I think it is #2. I am so sad about this. It prove my point that the internet may be dangerous, but you need to watch the people close to you the most.

[Dopie]

Oooh and he's got the nifty Pedo Eye to boot!!

I hate that they can't find anything at all...I'm sick...I hope it turns out OK, but its not looking good.

Stupid Fuckhead!!!!

[Unamused Cat]

the plot thickens

In the police affidavit, it says the victim was told the president of the United States had selected her for this sex program. The president assigns a trainer, and her trainer would be Michael Jacques. And then she was abused-- almost tortured-- on a weekly basis in many different ways for the next five years. The victim testified she had met three men as part of "Breckenridge" who had told her what types of sexual activity she needed to work on to graduate.

sauce:
http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8580434

~ceisdsgil

How can these girls believe something so stupid? How can the family members even let their children around a registered sex offender and/or strange men in the first place?

[SoUncool]

Michael Jacques



http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8576141

Something in this article has been bothering me A LOT. Here is something the Dad said:

Two days ago, WCAX asked Brooke's father, Jim Bennett, whether he believed a family member was involved with Brooke's disappearance. He said, "I guess there's some question about the uncle, but I don't personally know him that well, so I can't say."

I understand the parents are divorced and stuff but Dad didn't really know him??? I find that a little odd. "the uncle" Anybody else picking up something weird with that??