Missing Girl's Former Stepfather Arrested

FBI Takes Over Case Of Ray Gagnon; Feds Say He'll Be Charged With Destroying Evidence

(CBS/AP)  The former stepfather of a missing Vermont girl was arrested and authorities said Tuesday he would be charged with obstructing justice for destroying evidence.

Neither the FBI nor the head of state police discussed what evidence Ray Gagnon is alleged to have destroyed or whether that evidence was part of the investigation into 12-year-old Brooke Bennett's disappearance or unrelated sexual assault accusations against him.

But Gagnon, 40, is set to appear Wednesday in federal court to answer the obstruction charge. His home phone number in San Antonio was unlisted, and information on an attorney was not available until his court appearance.

Gagnon had been scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on a sexual assault charge involving a minor but the arraignment was canceled as federal authorities took over. At an afternoon news conference, state police head Col. James Baker said that case was still being investigated and the charge could be refiled.

Baker said authorities were making progress in the search for Brooke, who was last seen June 25, but he gave few details.

"I think we're eliminating possibilities where she may be," Baker said. "Our efforts right now, our unfettered efforts, are to locate Brooke and bring her home to her family."

Baker reiterated that Michael Jacques, Brooke's uncle and the person with whom she was last seen, remains a "person of interest" in her disappearance. He declined to say if the same is true of Gagnon.

Authorities said Gagnon was on a regular visit to Vermont from Texas when he was arrested Monday. He was being held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield.

Police continued Tuesday to scour Jacques' property, including with search dogs.

On Monday, Jacques, 42, was arraigned on an aggravated sexual assault charge involving a different girl, who is quoted in court papers as saying Jacques told her he would be her trainer in a "program for sex."

The girl said she had met three men in the program, including Jacques, and that she was told two other girls also were in the program. "The first who does it lives and the second gets her throat cut," she told police, according to an affidavit filed in court Monday.

Jacques dropped Brooke off at a convenience store on June 25, and surveillance video shows they left in separate directions. She had told family members she was going to meet a friend and visit a hospitalized relative of the friend but police believe that was a lie.

Brooke's father, James Bennett, who identified Gagnon as Brooke's stepfather, told CBS Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith on Tuesday, "I don't know what to think. There's been so much information out there, so many stories. All I can hope is that she's okay."

Bennett, who appeared via satellite link on The Early Show along side Brooke's emotional mother and sister, said the police were not giving them any more information than they were releasing to the media. "It's frustrating, but I understand why they can't give us the details."

In the sex assault case, Jacques pleaded not guilty and was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail. His attorney called the evidence in the case "very sparse."

Jacques has 1993 convictions for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault. Prosecutors argued against bail, saying he posed a threat to the accuser and had violated probation.

James Bennett, Brooke's father, said Gagnon had been married to Brooke's mother, Cassandra Gagnon. He said they separated about four years ago and may have divorced.

[smurfcrusher]

I wish I had more time to reply to faith_inW''s delusional posts!

[credibility2]

The Supreme Court needs to amend its recent decision and definitely include child molesters and those operating predatory rings like this against children as justified for the death penalty.

[ici2i]

What a loving & classy family! Two members now associated with s*x crimes and probably more to be announced. This kid had no chance from the start. I think I''d lock them all up including the mother who is either terribly naive and ignorant, complicit, or at least negligent. Anybody remember the press saying that she suspected or implicated the uncle & step dad scum bags or did she just let the police figure that out on their own? I can''t believe she didn''t know something. Now matter how this turns out, the entire extended and dirty family will have some responsibility and explaining to do.

[drputt45]

Her step father and uncle both arrested for sexual charges. How sad is that?

[bobnjersey]

[This is the fault of liberalism. If there were no easy divorces, the girl would be alive today.]
[Posted by FAITH_IN_W at 11:14 AM : Jul 02, 2008]

how can this be? isn''t it ''free love'' for liberals? don''t get married ... don''t commit ... live w/ your lover ... pleasure yourself and pleasure your partner.

it''s those uptight conservatives that are to blame ... needing a legal document for love ... needing the approval of god for your sacred ''union'' ... then needing attorneys to re-state your love (or lack of it) ... using the kids as leverage ... pit them against the spouse ... and it''s all about money when it comes undone.

with no need to get married ... there would be no divorce ... isn''t that right f_in_w?

[last121868]

This is the fault of liberalism. If there were no easy divorces, the girl would be alive today.


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Posted by FAITH_IN_W at 11:14 AM : Jul 02, 2008
+ report abuse

Bless your itsy bitsy heart, faith. I pity you and your aboslutely ludicrous views on the world. Good luck to you, dear. I hope you get the help that you need very soon. Have a great day!! : )

[wolfear1]

I agree lilturkey it is fun. But I guess what irritates me is the hypocracy. The very people Jesus hung out w/ (Beggers, ******, theives) and the very people she condems. Fact is if he were to come back today, based on his teachings; Faith_in_w would be one of the first people in line to crucify him for his beleifs and teachings. So I think it is best to just pat her on the head and smile at her, kind of liek you have to do w/ a "slow" child when they don''t understand something.

[wolfear1]

Isn''''t everyone glad to see that faith_in_w has chimed in with her "religious" opinion so early this morning?
Posted by lilturkey at 11:23 AM : Jul 02, 2008
_____________________________________________________
Stupidity knows no time. You have to understand that Faith_in_w is one of those lonely shut ins that really just needs to hav e some attention even negative attention. Perhaps mommy and daddy didn''t hug her enough as a child. Not sure and really don''t care either way. As a rule; much like a child throwing a tantrum, if you ignore them long enough they eventually shut up or go away. Unfortunately we all indulge her so she continues. And "no" nobody could be that stupid or jaded.

[mediamomma]

FAITH_IN_W, divorce easy? are you serious? no divorce is easy. ever.

[ccdsswrkr08]

FAITH_IN_W

Oh yeah, it''s all the fault of divorce. You really cant be that much of an idiot.

[faith_in_w]

This is the fault of liberalism. If there were no easy divorces, the girl would be alive today.

[sgtrds-e4]

This whole case sounds like a bad redneck movie plot. I hope the lot of them end up in prison.

[triplet-man]

A spade is a spade. Gotta call it like ya see it.

I''m truly concerned for this girl and her family. Clearly this man is VERY suspicious and I can''t believe this girl was alone with him in a vehicle.

[newsreader57]

The first who does it lives and the second gets her throat cut," she told police, according to an affidavit filed in court Monday.
I hope Brooke wasn''t the "second".

[docpeter-2009]

On another side note, this is a good reason for not picking up your future spouse(s) in the bars ladies.

[docpeter-2009]

From the above article (in quoats), ""I think we''re eliminating possibilities where she may be," Baker said."

IOW: She ain''t where we have looked so far. This statement is sort of like finding your keys in the last place you look.

"The former stepfather of a missing Vermont girl was arrested..."

Ok, so this "mom" has had at least three different husbands, if she is currently married, in the past 12 years, assuming she was married when Brooke was born.

"Gagnon had been scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on a sexual assault charge involving a minor...", "Jacques, 42, was arraigned on an aggravated sexual assault charge involving a different girl...Jacques has 1993 convictions for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault"

Geez mom, you really pick the losers to be around your family don''t you.

[wolfear1]

NEVER, EVER TRUST ANY MAN AROUND YOUR DAUGHTERS OR YOUNG SONS. I don''''t care if they are the dad, grandfathers, uncles, counsins, your best friend''''s hubby, or lover, etc--all men have d1cks and d1cks have NO CONSCIENCE. Posted by toldyouso12
______________________________________________________
Ok, that is possibly one of the dumbest things I have ever heard here on this board, and trust me I have seen and heard some really dumb things. To stereotype and lump all men together is not only a kneejerk reaction but completely prejudicial. I am the father of 4 daughters and I have never had any urge to touch my children inappropriately nor would I. My pe#i$ has nothing to do w/ this. It''s ignorant mindless people like you that cause panic when there isn''t any need. yes there are monsters out there and I tell my children that all the time but there are good human beings out there as well. See this is why you are probably a very sad lonelty woman who owns a lot of "D" cell batteries. And I am sorry that daddy touched you.

[mediamomma]

toldyouso - i agree. i made the mistake of trusting my ex''s nephew to babysit my daughter and 10 years later we r still paying the price. i have never trusted her to be alone w/anyone anymore. male or female. i have been protective of her since and she thinks i''m too protective but when something happens and it brings back what happened to her, she understands why i''m so protective now. she knows i don''t want it to happen ever again. that family in randoplh is screwed up. maybe the mom didn''t know because the kid has to say something. if enough fear is instilled in a kid they aren''t going to say anything. all it takes to keep a child silent is "i''m gonna kill your mother if you tell". simple as that. i hope they find her soon, whether dead or alive.

[slim1h2o]

This family is a prime example of why some families should not reproduce.

Somebody forgot to get their brain off that tree up there. LOL

[lambofgoth]

Uh OneWorldUSA... that "anyone" got charged with a lot more than neglect...