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Uncle of missing Vermont girl arrested
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by CJaye | June 30, 2008 at 03:51 am
555 views | 14 Recommendations | 11 comments
Investigators in Vermont charged the uncle of a missing 12-year-old girl Sunday with sexually assaulting a minor -- but they said the charge does not involve his niece.
Brooke Bennett of Vermont has been missing since Wednesday. Police said their investigation into the disappearance of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett uncovered evidence that her uncle had sexually assaulted someone else. They charged Michael Jacques, 42, with aggravated sexual assault against a minor, which carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Brooke remains missing
She was communicating with someone on MySpace.com, the online social networking site, before she disappeared, police said. Investigators have been reviewing a computer she used for clues to her whereabouts.
Her disappearance triggered the first Amber Alert ever issued in Vermont, authorities said.
On Sunday afternoon, the case took a strange turn when authorities arrested her uncle.
"The details that led to Jacques' arrest were uncovered by investigators assigned to investigate the disappearance of Brooke Bennett," according to a statement the Vermont State Police released Sunday.
Brooke disappeared on Wednesday, investigators said, after visiting a convenience store in Randolph, Vermont. A few days later, police said they found articles of clothing that they believe belonged to her.
Her father, James Bennett, has pleaded for information about his daughter.
"Obviously I'm upset," he told WCAX-TV, a CNN affiliate. "We just want her home. We want her back."
Police have said they do not know whether Brooke left voluntarily with someone. They have scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon to discuss the case.
Jacques, meanwhile, is scheduled to appear in Orange County District Court in Chelsea, Vermont, at 1 p.m. Monday
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (11)
at 04:04 on June 30th, 2008
Cjaye, thanks for the story! We apparently posted at about the same time. Please see related coverage here http://www.nowpublic.com/world/vanished-brooke-bennett Thanks again!
at 04:27 on June 30th, 2008
Your welcome, I see we did. That you for the link as well.
at 04:56 on June 30th, 2008
CJaye, you are very welcome!
at 07:15 on June 30th, 2008
CJaye, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:16 on June 30th, 2008
One thing I was wondering...Is the uncle that was charged the same uncle that dropped her off at that store or was it a different uncle? Glendene.
at 07:22 on June 30th, 2008
CJaye, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 10:34 on June 30th, 2008
CJaye, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 11:52 on June 30th, 2008
I'm not sure Glendene I checked the story it didn't state . Thank you for the comments. Is there some way we can upload the last video onto NP? I've tried and can't do it for some reason let me know k:)
at 11:54 on June 30th, 2008
Thank you very much Azzayindia I really appreciate it.
at 11:58 on June 30th, 2008
Thank you as well politisite, things come in three's sad.
at 19:42 on June 30th, 2008
Here is something that Greta had on Fox, The clothing that was found that belonded to the girl was turned in to police by the uncle. The uncle may have been trying to deflect attention away from himself by helping police. Now that he has been arrested on an unrelated charge, he is the lead suspect.
at 05:14 on July 1st, 2008
I thought the samething yesterday. Child molesters don't care who they molest. Family to a predator is safer than going on the street. It would not suprise me that he did and something went wrong. This would be very sad. Half of convicted child molesters, molest a family member. Speaking as a survivor of child sexual abuse and by a family member this problem needs to be addressed. Children have to be educated on child abuse and they must tell if someone touches them where they shouldn't. I bet the uncle has been molesting her for sometime now. As I said before something just went wrong. We hear too much of children's deaths today.
at 16:06 on July 2nd, 2008
I just heard they found Brooke's body near the uncles home. She was buried and he is charged with her murder. $%^&* asshole.
at 18:09 on July 2nd, 2008
I was going back and forth with the sex ring or things got out of control with the uncle and he killed her. This makes me sick, he should have never been let out of the system the first time. Thanks for informing me Glendene.