Cops: Missing Vt. Girl's Body Found

Witness Says Girl Last Seen At Uncle's Home For Alleged Initiation Into Child Sex Ring

(CBS/ AP)  Vermont State Police say they have found a body believed to be that of a missing 12-year-old girl.

Col. James Baker says Brooke Bennett's body was found in Randolph shortly before 5 p.m. and her family has been notified.

According to an affidavit, a 14-year-old witness has told investigators that Brooke's uncle brought Brooke to his home to initiate her into a child sex ring the day she disappeared.

She was last seen alive with the uncle, Michael Jacques, at a convenience store a week ago.

The 14-year-old told authorities she helped Michael Jacques take Brooke to Jacques' Randolph home on June 25 to be initiated into the ring. The 12-year-old has not been seen since then.

The 14-year-old girl, a relative of Jacques, said she understood that as part of the initiation, the 12-year-old "would have sex with adult males," according to the affidavit in U.S. District Court.

The girl said she and the 12-year-old watched television for a while before Jacques told her to leave and took the girl upstairs. The witness said she left the house with her boyfriend and did not see the girl again.

The 14-year-old said she herself had been sexually assaulted by Jacques, 42, since she was 9.

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.

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.

Earlier this week, the former stepfather of Brooke Bennet 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 Brooke Bennett's disappearance or unrelated sexual assault accusations against him.

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.

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."

[shippg-2009]

Death penalty please!

[smurfcrusher]

What a despicable situation.

[smurfcrusher]

Sorry, this Conservative Supreme Court rejected the death penalty for child rapists, only days ago.

You know, a little before she was kidnapped and apparently murdered.

[smurfcrusher]

Sorry diatreme, this Supreme Court is conservative, NOT liberal.

You can thank George W. Bush for the conservative justices he nominated, for that.

[jjarden]

There is ONLY ONE Punishment for this...a Public Beheading with a Rusty Axe on the town common...TOMMORROW!

[q_jordon]

It is about how the law reads. Many on here think the Supreme Court can just wave a magic wand and a new law will exist.

They have to base their decision on how the law that is before them is written. They cannot create a new law out of it, they interpret it.

And yes, it is a shame to see how an Uncle and a stepfather can betray a child.

[mkbjon]

One thing you must remember; SEVEN OF NINE. Don''t blame the liberals for being soft on pedophiles, the Supreme Court is stacked with justices appointed by Republicans.

[godofredo29]

I volunteer to do the job.

[dowjones20k]

This Supreme Court is conservative, NOT liberal.
You can thank George W. Bush for the conservative justices he nominated, for that.

Posted by Smurfcrusher at 06:57 PM


Uhhh Did we not just have a decision last week in a 5-4 vote (Liberal) in that the Supreme Court in its infinite wisdom (Kennedy, Ginsberg, Souter, Breyer, Stevens) decided not to allow the death penalty for child rapists ... saying the crime although hienous did not warrant the death penalty ..

So one might do a little research before one alleges the Sumpreme Court is conservative ... NOT !!

[u-r-right]

And where are the 14 year old''s parents? Assaulted since she was nine and she still hangs around with him. Why didn''t she tell somebody sooner?

This pig shouldn''t have been let out of jail the first time.

[Syndicate]

You don''t have to worry about this guy getting off they found her body. He will hang one way or another. As for executing child rapist who do not kill their victims they would have a much better chance of avoiding the death penalty if they killed the witness. They don''t really have anything to loose you were going to execute them anyway.

[Syndicate]

This guy looks like a Meth addict to me. Which may be why the 14 year old hangs around.

[nssherlock1]

Well, saddle-up taxpayers, it''s going to be a long ride. Vermont does not have a death penalty.

[ggm1957]

Unfortunately, Vermont does not have a death penalty.

[o2bewealthy]

That poor girl didn''t stand a chance with a family like that. The outcome was sadly, predictable. With so much research out that that says pedophiles can not be reformed, any convicted child *** offender should receive an automatic life sentence with no chance for parole.

[shippg-2009]

dowjones20k, thank you for pointing out who the five justices were who said "no" to the death penalty: Kennedy, Ginsberg, Souter, Breyer, and Stevens.

[rosered60]

How many of our children must die before our legal system stops playing with their lives? Forget the one strike, two strike, three strikes your out. We work out butts off to do what? Support *** like this guy while he''s doing 60 years in jail. Criminals no longer fear our laws. The laws protect THEM NOT OUR CHILDREN!!! NEW LAW: ONE sexual offense against a child results in execution. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!

[shippg-2009]

The 14 yr old had been abused by him/them since she was 9. She thought the *** games were perfectly normal, and seemed happy to initiate someone else. I guess she thought it was safe, too, since she personally is still alive. I hope the courts see her as a victim and not a criminal.

[medmom04]

Broken marriages are not to blaim for scenarios like this one! There are halfwits out there who refuse to learn from others'' mistakes: do NOT expose your children to your loser boyfriends and significant others! where are the good men and women out there??? why do we continue to allow men to rape and kill children, and why do women continue to allow their children to mingle with these gutter types??

[medmom04]

rosered60:

yes! I agree 100%! *** offenders can NOT be rehabb''ed! this is not a mystery! No second chances: you hurt a child, you pay dearly.

[medmom04]

fervan:

not true. do your research. I do mine. her parents together would not have changed their parenting behavior. they took what little their parents taught them, and applied that little to their own kids. patterns are set. without a *** good education, you repeat the patterns. You presume alot. A bad marriage does not save the children involved. but thank you for your uneducated response.

[medmom04]

fervan:

not true. do your research. I do mine. her parents together would not have changed their parenting behavior. they took what little their parents taught them, and applied that little to their own kids. patterns are set. without a *** good education, you repeat the patterns. You presume alot. A bad marriage does not save the children involved. but thank you for your uneducated response.

[medmom04]

fervan:

you imply that every abducted child comes from divorced parents. silly implication.

[sociald63]

sick pervert - deserves the death penalty

[miamimama3]

This story is disgusting on so many levels. May she rest in peace. I hope that uncle never sees the light of day again. The only solace is that another child *** ring has been broken up, and hopefully they will pay dearly!

[raven1622]

It upsets me that our country is so screwed up when it come to children being abused and the slap on the wrist that the criminal gets. I have children and it scares me to let them out of my site. But I always know where they are going and what they are doing. Having an open and understanding relationship with your children helps. I am sorry for the people who couldn''t make their marriage work but they should be the ones who are paying more attention to their kids despite the fact they can''t get along with their ex and communicate in an adult fashion. I can blame the sickos all I want but in part the parents need to take care of their kids and be just that "parents" As for *** offenders no second chances whether it is adults or exspecially children, this is what the death penalty was made for.

[formrusmcsgt]

...and our **** poor judges want to ''''save'''' these pieces of S H I T? Give me a break, and give THEM death!!!!

Posted by rusty9j at 08:40 PM : Jul 02, 2008

If he is found guilty of murder, bank on it.

[o2bewealthy]

Posted by willyhenail at 08:20 PM

What? And let him off that easily? Pedophiles are on the lowest rung of the prison hierarchy - I can''t think of a more suitable punishment than to let one loose among the general prison population.

[formrusmcsgt]

I can blame the sickos all I want but in part the parents need to take care of their kids and be just that "parents"
Posted by Raven1622 at 08:45 PM : Jul 02, 2008

Fortunately, for predators, the country is filled with parents who abdicate their responsibilities because they are too lazy or self-absorbed to be real parents.

[formrusmcsgt]

Children are to be taken care of until they can care for themselves.

Every time you read this type of story, it points up a failure by the parents.

[downsteamjim]

Where are all the people who thought it was terrible to execute the man who brutally raped a 5 year old. Their main argument was that if the man knew he would get the death penalty, he would kill the victim. Being a liberal means never having to say your sorry.

[formrusmcsgt]

Where are all the people who thought it was terrible to execute the man who brutally raped a 5 year old. Their main argument was that if the man knew he would get the death penalty, he would kill the victim. Being a liberal means never having to say your sorry.

Posted by downsteamjim at 08:57 PM : Jul 02, 2008

And being a neocon means that you''ll show your ignorance at every opportunity.

The Supreme Court, which now has 5 conservatives and 4 libs, voted on disallowing the death penalty for rape.

Inform yourself and you won''t show your ignorance in public...

[downsteamjim]

formrusgt: Since you are so brilliant. Name the 4 most liberal judges on the supreme court. Name the 5 who voted against killing the slime. See who is on both lists.

[latrocinor-2009]

It''s hard not to hate who did this.

[latrocinor-2009]

*** slave ring in Vermont.

[downsteamjim]

To Latrocinor: Why would you not want to hate this trash?

[retmilspouse]

Here we go again. More women leaving their children to sicko sexual monsters just for the sake of a roll in the sack. What is happening to us? Even a dog or cat will bite if trouble sticks its hand into the bed where their offspring are laying. These women just hand them over like an offering. All for a sexual relationship for themselves. And please I dont want to hear from all the liberal do gooders with all your abuse allegations and how these women are so put upon by these men. They are allowing this and they are essentially killing their own. I think they should get the same fate as these sick a** individuals.

[guadalcanal3]

retmilspouse...Where in this article does it say that it was the mothers fault????..REREAD THE ARTICLE.

[stevex47]

"And please I dont want to hear from all the liberal do gooders "

I''m one of those liberal do gooders pal and believe me my form of victim justice is much more severe than yours.

We don''t even use the death penalty. (at least consistently) If used equally by all states, maybe then it would be a deterrant.

This guy should have probably been executed long ago for the kidnapping and sexual assault.

[pollroller1]

These are the kind of people that should be lynched. Going to jail is too good for them. No punishment would be too cruel for people like this.

[chyenna-2009]

Broke, I''m so,so sorry your life ended at the hands of a monster. My first prayer for you is that you are with the Lord, where no one will ever be able to hurt you again. My second prayer is that parents will do better jobs educating their children about predators and the many ways these monsters go about abducting children. Your job is to love your children and keep them safe. I was threaten repeatedly not "to tell" or harm would come to my mother. It wasn''t until 10 years after the abuse began I was able to tell my mom. From that day forward I never had to see that monster again. Even though I was afraid to tell anyone I gave my family all kinds of clues and hints and no one did a thing. 40 Years later I, at times, still get angry at my mother and family for not seeing what was right before their eyes.

[downsteamjim]

To dartngrease: You keep posting the same thing. It was bizarre the first time, now it''s just b o r i n g.

[beeeeeeeball]

I pray GOD sends tornados ,fires , flood,hurricanes and total destruction even more so than He has to this nation until the people who are cowards wake up.These men should be put to death and not taken care of by this nation with evil lawyer Dogs.So called christians think this is a GODLY nation and God loves this nation ...you are fooled!The destruction that comeing will cause many to have heart attacks just from shock.I would say this unless i knew its on the way.This evil has gone to far.

[flreason]

Liberals don''t condone crime. We don''t think that child molesters should get a slap on the wrist. We are as protective of our children as neocons. We are no more universally absentee parents than conservatives.

Why can''t we agree to deplore all violence against innocents? Why politicize this horrible crime? Some of you folks seem to have been so indoctrinated by the professional political media hate-mongers that everything bad that happens somehow has to be attributed to liberals--or conservatives. Murder is as old as the human race. It pre-dates politics. Let''s work together to help protect all children instead of spewing hate and prejudice.

[cyberus-2009]

-----
Liberals don''''t condone crime. We don''''t think that child molesters should get a slap on the wrist. We are as protective of our children as neocons. We are no more universally absentee parents than conservatives.

Why can''''t we agree to deplore all violence against innocents? Why politicize this horrible crime? Some of you folks seem to have been so indoctrinated by the professional political media hate-mongers that everything bad that happens somehow has to be attributed to liberals--or conservatives. Murder is as old as the human race. It pre-dates politics. Let''''s work together to help protect all children instead of spewing hate and prejudice.

Posted by flreason
----

Well said.
Doesn''t matter which side you are on murder is as old as humanity whether you want to point to skeletal primal man with stone axe marks on his skull or Cain and Abel in the Bible.

[chyenna-2009]

Downstreamjim, my GOD NEVER raped any babies. Where did come up with that ***. There are alot of things about my country i am not proud of. But there is no other country I would want to live in. I''m proud to be a christian and being a christian does not make me weak. I donate funds to third world counties, through Samaritans Purse, all for the children. One donation of $50.00 rescues one child from sexual slave abuse. This money houses that child for one month while safe, permanent housing is located. These children are never handed back over to the abusers. What have you done, Jim, to save a child?

[cat54mom]

I agree with guadalcanal3. It doesn''t say anything in this article (or any other one I''ve read) that implies it''s the mother''s fault. She may be a lousy parent or a devoted one, but there''s no information here to conclude either position. Child predators are frequently very good at procuring victims without arousing suspicion, and can come across as being very caring and concerned about children.

[blackyowe]

I am a liberal and a Christian and I think these creeps should get life behind bars with no perks. That is no TV, now weight lifting room, no library just HARD time.

[iceroadtrkr]

WAKE UP VERMONT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is this state so far behind the times that they actually hope hugging these sick, disguisting people actually rehabilitate them. Come on folks and wake up before your child or a relative is the next to be victimized by your so called justice system. If anyone is to blame for all this is the lawmakers themselves for not passing Megan''s law. So don''t point fingers at the parents, liberals etc. Point them at the lawmakers who get big fat paychecks for doing absolutley nothing for protecting children.

[iceroadtrkr]

Hopefully they will let these sick individuals be in the public sector in prision. Have mercy on them when fellow inmates get wind of their crimes. Thats what I call the death penalty inhouse style.