Brooke Bennett 12yrs old missing 6/25/08 Randolph Vermont(BODY FOUND)

[klaasend]

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8618279

Judge OKed Early Probation Release for Jacques
 
 
Burlington, Vermont - July 3, 2008

Michael Jacques will be arraigned in federal court next week on charges of kidnapping with death resulting. He is Brooke Bennett's uncle and the last person seen with her alive.

WCAX News has learned that Jacques was first charged with a sex crime 23 years ago but it was dismissed. And, we have also learned that after a 1993 rape conviction, a judge released him from probation EARLY despite the strong objections of prosecutors.

At age 42, Michael Jacques is now facing the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted of kidnapping and murdering his niece.

Court records released today show his sex crime history began in 1985 when he was 18, charged with having sex with a 15-year-old relative.

She told police he had sex with her at least 100 times starting when she was eight.

But she refused to testify against him, so the charge of lewd and lascivious conduct had to be dismissed.

Eight years later, Jacques was convicted of a kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman in Rutland.

Court records say she was gagged and handcuffed with a rope around her neck while he subjected her to depraved and humiliating sexual violence for four hours.

His sentence called for six years in prison to be followed by 14 years on probation into 2013.

But, after four years behind bars, he was released and then petitioned for early release from probation. He had the full support of his probation officer.

He and Jacques argued that Jacques was no longer a risk because he had graduated from sex offender treatment. He claimed he needed to be off probation to get an important job promotion that permitted overseas travel.

But prosecutors and the Corrections Department strenuously objected claiming Jacques was a violent offender with a high risk to re-offend.

In her November 2004 ruling, Judge Amy Davenport agreed that what the victim endured rivals the most brutal and terrifying scenes seen on television or in the movies.

Nevertheless, Judge Davenport did not agree that Jacques needed eight more years on probation.

She wrote that rehabilitation had been successfully accomplished.

She ruled that Jacques would be released from probation early, and he was, in December 2006-- seven years early.

So, from the records, we know this man has an extensive criminal sexual history. And even though he was off probation, he has been listed on Vermont Sex Offender Registry... open and easily available to anyone who may be concerned who their children might be hanging out with.

Corrections officials say the sex offender therapy program that Jacques completed in 2000 has been changed. For example, he was not subject to unannounced polygraph examinations. Today, offenders in the program are subject to unannounced polygraph testing. Corrections officials maintain they have confidence in the program despite the apparent failure in the Jacques case. Governor Douglas has ordered a complete review of the sex offender program and other Corrections programs to determine if change is needed.

[sleddogs]

"Governor Douglas has ordered a complete review of the sex offender program and other Corrections programs to determine if change is needed.'

Duh!

It's apparent it's broken badly.

[2NJSons_Mom]

Wonder what Judge Amy Davenport is thinking now after reducing his probation.  My math tells me that he was abusing Juvenile 1 before and after his probation was lifted in 2006. 

You're right, sleddogs the rehab program is very broken......'duh'...

[ldstlou]

oh Wow.
I rarely come to the missing thread..my heart really can't take it!! I rarely watch the news, ask Sunny and Snoopy...I didn't even know we had a serial killer in St Louis until he was already caught!! News just makes me too sad..I try and focus on the positive aspects in our lives knowing that bad things happen and just try and make myself ready to help when one presents itself to me. But this case...not even sure why I knew? Maybe the front page of SM in between stories on Aruba...this one really got to me.

As usual, the Monkeys read this one right away. I think it was Rob who surmised cousin set up the posts on the website to make it appear as though she was meeting a stranger. I guessed the same also. I also surmised if this guy went to the trouble of establishing an alibi via camera at the store and the website entries...Brooke was never destined to come home from this animal's house.

I try and eliminate the images in my head of Brooke's final hours but I just can't, I can't. I know that there are animals out there in our world that thrive on behaviors that in my wildest dreams I could not imagine, but though I know it exists, I will never in my life understand it, never. Brooke was 12 years old. The girl who was also a victim of this man was 9 years old when her abuse started. My son is 8. She was 1 year older. I can not even FATHOM my baby Monkey being subjected to that kind of abuse...can not even fathom it. How can you take away their innocence??!! How?? I sent you pics of my Monkey at his First Holy Communion this year and we talked about innocence. I am so struck by the fact that this animal took that away from a child one year older than my son and took away not only Brooke's innocence, but her sweet young life.

Her eyes will forever haunt me. We become immune in some sense to all the violence in our society...but there are some cases that capture your heart for one reason or another. Natalee captured my heart from day one. Another was Jennifer Moore, the teen who went clubbing in New York and was found in a dumpster days later. I know the whole case story...waiting for her murderer to go to trial...check once a month to see if it has started. And now Brooke. Who knows why we are drawn to a certain case when there are so many. There are just cases we will never forget for the rest of our lives and this is one of them for me. Maybe because she is so close in age to my son...I just don't know. I just don't understand why this happens.

I don't believe in the death penalty. I really don't. I know a lot of you disagree with me but I just can't justify the collective sanctioning of another's life with no consequences. However...I have to tell you...if anyone ever hurt my little Monkey like they hurt Brooke, I would kill them. Send me to jail...I couldn't function w/out him anyway and I understand I would be convicted of murder...I could live with that death on my own shoulders and still face my Maker and His judgement. It would be a personal decision with consequences I was willing to accept both here and in the next world and not a collective judgement with no personal consequences...does that make sense? But if I wasn't given the opportunity to issue my own judgement that I would take responsibility for...no way in hell would I want him on death row...isolated...cushioned...spending millions of our tax dollars studying law books and making appeals. I would want him smack dab in the middle of the prison population amongst other predators like himself...and let him see how long he could hold his own. Karma...not capitol punishment...that is justice, jmho.

I've told you all before, if I ever met reho...I would deck her...I really think I would!!!! lol although I am NOT a violent person. Would I like to see someone kick the shit out of joran...I am sorry...I truly would... I WOULD like him to feel physically the pain for a day or two that he has inflicted on so many people emotionally for years. Would I want him dead? No way...it's the easy way out. I say the best punishment for a narcissistic sociopath is making him live alone in a cell for the rest of his life...take away the law books, tv and "cell phone provided by daddy" and I think he would be literally living hell on earth!!!  Or worse yet, send him into the midst of his own world of evil and see how he fares.

I know if someone wanted to debate...my arguments could easily be disputed logically. I am a Christian and believe whole heartedly in redemption. But there are some in this world who know no concept of redemption and so you have to go back to the Law that says an eye for an eye. Is it not my place to oversee that justice...no...I don't believe that and would not want to be responsible for voting for a death penalty in abstract...knowing the flaws that can occur in any judicial system. However I could live with locking away culprits in jail....culprits like Brooke's perpetrators forever...and leaving the rest for God. Live or die by the hands of your peers who would also take responsibility for their actions as I would.....either would seem a more appropriate punishment than the living safe and sound on death row for decades.

[ldstlou]

Wonder what Judge Amy Davenport is thinking now after reducing his probation.  My math tells me that he was abusing Juvenile 1 before and after his probation was lifted in 2006. 

You're right, sleddogs the rehab program is very broken......'duh'...

I would quit NY...I literally would, If my decision lead to something so tragic, if my decision making and gut feelings were that off base..I really would not be able to hold that gavel again!!! If I had become so immune to the consequence of my decisions, if I could not look myself in the mirror...and how could she? I would quit. I really would

[bleachedblack]

Wonder what Judge Amy Davenport is thinking now after reducing his probation.  My math tells me that he was abusing Juvenile 1 before and after his probation was lifted in 2006. 

You're right, sleddogs the rehab program is very broken......'duh'...

Wonder what Judge Amy Davenport would have said if Jacques had wanted to move into her neighborhood?

[pdh3]

As far as I'm concerned, every one of the adults involved in this tragedy, from family members to judges, let Brook down in the worst way.
They all have blood on their hands, to one degree or another.

[ldstlou]

As far as I'm concerned, every one of the adults involved in this tragedy, from family members to judges, let Brook down in the worst way.
They all have blood on their hands, to one degree or another.

I agree. ...gosh..was going to talk about being a mother and making mistakes...but in this case, there just are no excuses. She failed beautiful Brooke in everyway and I just can't find a way to justify the mother's actions...there just is no justification.

[Blonde]

New Details of Uncle's Arrest Record Emerge in Vermont Death Case



Friday, July 04, 2008

 

BURLINGTON, Vt. —  Prosecutors on Thursday filed federal kidnapping charges that carry the death penalty against a man whose niece was found buried near his home after being missing for a week as new details emerged about the uncle's arrest record.

Officials said they've found no new evidence of a wider child sex ring beyond an underage girl's claim to them that she was in it and 12-year-old Brooke Bennett was to be initiated into it the day she disappeared.

Click here for photos.

"There's nothing from this investigation that's been turned up, nor otherwise are federal and state authorities aware of, any ongoing efforts to recruit young girls or boys here in Vermont to have sex with adults," Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell said at a joint news conference with federal prosecutors.

Depending on how Brooke died, prosecutors said her uncle, Michael Jacques, 42, could face the death penalty under the federal kidnapping law.

U.S. Attorney Tom Anderson said the 2006 Adam Walsh law — named for another abducted child — allowed federal prosecution of such crimes when they are facilitated by the Internet.
Related

    *
      Stories
          o Uncle Could Face Death on Kidnapping Charges in Case of Dead Vermont Girl
          o Focus on Uncle Intensifies After Body of 12-Year-Old Missing Vermont Girl Found
          o Feds Say Uncle of Missing Vermont Girl Took Her Home for Initiation Into Sex Ring
          o Missing Vermont Girl's Stepfather Arrested on Federal Child Molestation Charges
          o Uncle of Missing Girl Arrested on Unrelated Sex Charges
          o Vermont Police Release Surveillance Tape in Case of Missing 12-Year-Old Girl, FBI Joins Search
      Video
          o Former Step-Dad Arrested
          o Bizarre Twist
          o A Dad's Anguish
          o Father of Missing Vt. Girl Speaks Out
      Photo Essays
          o The Search for Brooke Bennett

Asked whether he will seek the death penalty, Anderson said: "That determination will be made after the investigation is completed, after the case is presented to a grand jury and ultimately that decision is made by the attorney general of the United States of America."

Jacques' lawyer, federal public defender Michael Desautels, did not return calls Thursday.

This is not the first time Jacques has been in trouble. In 1993, he was sentenced to six to 20 years in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman he supervised at a Rutland restaurant, court records show.

He successfully completed the state's sex offender treatment program in 2000 and was released from probation in 2006.

The prosecutors said they did not yet have Brooke's autopsy results, and both said much remains to be done.

The investigation began June 25 when Brooke, who lived with her mother in Braintree, disappeared after last being seen in nearby Randolph. The bucolic town of about 5,000 is the business center for rural Orange County and is about 60 miles south of Burlington.

Most of what authorities have said about the investigation is in FBI affidavits supporting the charges against Jacques and against Raymond Gagnon, 40, who is charged with obstructing justice. But the affidavits are gripping. Among the allegations within them:

The Sex Ring

— A 14-year-old girl told police that when she was 9, she was put into a "program for sex" called Breckenridge, that a male relative of hers was to be her "trainer," and that she would be killed if she didn't cooperate. Authorities say the regular assaults continued until a few weeks ago.

— She told authorities that Brooke was to be inducted into the ring on the day she disappeared. E-mails released by investigators indicated the 14-year-old said she would participate in a plan, in the works for at least several days before Brooke vanished, for "the take-down and the tie-up (that) morning."

— Gagnon had sex with the 14-year-old last year and admitted having large amounts of child pornography on his computer, including images of the 14-year-old having sex with a boyfriend. Gagnon, of San Antonio, is Brooke's former stepfather. His lawyer, John Pacht, did not return a call Friday seeking comment on the allegations.

— The affidavits detail sex acts involving bondage and spanking. Jacques is described as having ordered more than $1,000 worth of sexual aids from a Web site, including a machine designed to simulate intercourse. Authorities said Thursday they still weren't sure whether there was a sex ring or it was a ruse Jacques allegedly used to intimidate the girls.

Brooke's Death

Without autopsy results, authorities won't comment on what caused Brooke's death. It thus remains unknown what happened between June 25, when Jacques allegedly took her to his house, and when her body was moved to a shallow grave along a dirt road about a mile away. The body was found Wednesday.

Authorities expressed doubt that state murder charges would be filed anytime soon, saying that the federal prosecution for kidnapping with death resulting might suffice.

Deceiving the Girls

— Authorities said the girls were deceived in several ways. The 14-year-old was led to believe she was getting e-mails from at least three different people about her participation in Breckenridge, when all originated from computers either at Jacques' home or workplace.

— Jacques and the 14-year-old told Brooke the morning of June 25 that she was going to a party.

The Cover-Up

— Authorities say Jacques faked and altered postings to Brooke's MySpace pages in an effort to persuade investigators she had run off with someone she met through the social networking site. The tampering was discovered by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, housed at the Burlington Police Department.

— Authorities say Jacques led them to believe Brooke had lied about wanting to meet a friend and visit the friend's relative in a hospital the morning she disappeared. Investigators said that turned out to be a lie about a lie, and that instead, she ended up back at Jacques' house.

— E-mails released Thursday describe the 14-year-old helping Jacques plant false evidence. He coached her on obtaining and preserving semen from her boyfriend to be placed on a pair of Brooke's underwear to put investigators off the trail, they said. Jacques told police he had found a sneaker belonging to Brooke along a rural road in Brookfield; the panties were placed nearby, so police would find them on their own.

— Gagnon had several lengthy cell phone calls with his Texas housemate and persuaded that man to throw a safe containing child pornography and a laptop computer in a nearby Dumpster, authorities said. They said the safe has not been found.

Click here to read the Gagnon affidavit (FindLaw PDF).

Click here for more on this story from MyFOXBoston.com.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376383,00.html
Click here for more from FOX 44 in Burlington, Vt.

[Blonde]

Hmmmm

There are tons of articles/stories on these events, more will be coming out, I hope that mommy dearest, Cassandra Gagnon will be charged as well as Denise Jacques, both of these sisters knew exactly what their husbands and former husbands were capable of yet they did nothing. They actually facilitated the abuse and murder of Brooke Bennett and the sexual abuse of A.R. Brooke’s 14 year old cousin who lured Brooke to her death
<snips>
 From what I came up with, "Denise Jacques" was married previously. I came up with a previous married name, but would rather not post that name though anyone local probably knows already who she was previously married to. I say this because the first letter of the last name matches the victim (I really think it was Denise's daughter from the previous marriage) assaulted since she was 9 yrs old that was described in the affidavit. According to the affidavit, Denise encounter several "questionable" happenings in her home but accepted her husband's explanations. I blame Denise Jacques the most for being so ignorant. I hope she is charged with something or her own children removed from her home.

If this was her own daughter, how is this young lady supposed to live in that town when all will know who she is. What kind of life will this child have? God, I hope someone is smart enough to relocate the child in hopes that she can have some sort of normal life if even possible.
http://secretsfromwithin.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/parents-and-family-scarier-than-myspace/

Could this be true

[KC]

Its sooo creepy that all of the press is so cavalier about the 14 year old girl's boyfriend, and the fact that they were having sex and reporting just so casually.  Who is this boyfriend?  Does he understand the full implications of what his girlfriend did to set him up?  He could easily have been charged with Brooke's murder.  Why is Denise letting her daughter have sex with anyone, let alone her HUSBAND!!!  And her sister's former husband.  Didn't she notice ANYTHING wrong, weird, too "knowledgeable" by her daughter?  Argh, who is going to protect these children?  Is anything out there in the news about Brooke's older sister? 

[Blonde]

Brooke's family.  Mother on the left, sister in the middle, biological dad on the right.  Nobody has the same last name 



Can watch the video here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/national/main4222215.shtml

Brooke's moms maiden name is Adams
 Brooks  sisters name is Savannah Bennett?
not sure if this is her myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=90731443

[klaasend]

Brooke's family.  Mother on the left, sister in the middle, biological dad on the right.  Nobody has the same last name 



Can watch the video here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/national/main4222215.shtml

Brooke's moms maiden name is Adams
 Brooks  sisters name is Savannah Bennett?
not sure if this is her myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=90731443

Brooke's sisters name is Savanna Arness  (sp) .  The myspace above is not her, this is Savanna's:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=119388490

[Blonde]

Sorry for wrong info guys, I was a bad girl.
 I got it off the web.
I Should have done it on my own but I was short on time.
Sorry .

[sleddogs]

Bennett Case Reignites Jessica’s Law Debate


A convicted sex offender was charged this week with kidnapping a pre-teen who was later found dead, and that news has reignited the debate about how Vermont punishes those convicted of sex crimes.


http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=8621255

[KC]

Why does it take a dead child for people to take action????? 

[2NJSons_Mom]

Brooke Marie Bennett

July 5, 2008
 
WEST BRAINTREE – Brooke Marie Bennett, 12, died last week in Randolph Center.

She was born July 12, 1995, in Randolph, the daughter of James and Cassandra Bennett.

Brooke attended Braintree School and had just completed seventh grade at Randolph Union High School where she was a member of the girls basketball and lacrosse teams. She loved her pets, "Lily" the cat and "Scruffy" her dog. Brooke liked watching "Sponge Bob" and "Hannah Montana" on television and reading. She also liked to eat bagels, popcorn and spaghetti, and was known to put ketchup on everything.

She is survived by her mother, Cassandra Gagnon of West Braintree; her father and stepmother, James and Janet Bennett of Bethel; a sister, Savanna Andress of West Braintree; three brothers, Dennis Andress of West Braintree, Nickolas Bennett and Cyrus Bennett of Bethel; her maternal grandmother, Lucinda Milne of West Braintree, her paternal grandmother, Arlene St. Pierre of Bethel, her maternal grandfather, Dennis Adams of St. Petersburg, Fla., her maternal great-grandmother, Lilla Woodard of Randolph Center, and her step-grandparents, Osmyn and Sandra Stevens of Bethel.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at Murray Auditorium in the Randolph Union High School with the Rev. Ronald E. Rilling and Pastor Thomas Hardy officiating. Calling hours will be Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Murray Auditorium.

Friend wishing may make memorial contributions to the Molly Bish Foundation, 200 South Street, West Warren, MA 01092.

Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home, Randolph.

 http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080705/OBITUARIES/807050324/1005/OBITUARIES

[2NJSons_Mom]

Molly Bish Foundation:

http://www.mollybish.org/index.html

[ldstlou]

Hmmmm

There are tons of articles/stories on these events, more will be coming out, I hope that mommy dearest, Cassandra Gagnon will be charged as well as Denise Jacques, both of these sisters knew exactly what their husbands and former husbands were capable of yet they did nothing. They actually facilitated the abuse and murder of Brooke Bennett and the sexual abuse of A.R. Brooke’s 14 year old cousin who lured Brooke to her death
<snips>
 From what I came up with, "Denise Jacques" was married previously. I came up with a previous married name, but would rather not post that name though anyone local probably knows already who she was previously married to. I say this because the first letter of the last name matches the victim (I really think it was Denise's daughter from the previous marriage) assaulted since she was 9 yrs old that was described in the affidavit. According to the affidavit, Denise encounter several "questionable" happenings in her home but accepted her husband's explanations. I blame Denise Jacques the most for being so ignorant. I hope she is charged with something or her own children removed from her home.

If this was her own daughter, how is this young lady supposed to live in that town when all will know who she is. What kind of life will this child have? God, I hope someone is smart enough to relocate the child in hopes that she can have some sort of normal life if even possible.
http://secretsfromwithin.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/parents-and-family-scarier-than-myspace/

Could this be true

ok wait...I am confused!!!

So Denise and Cassandra are sisters? or former sister in laws?

Cassandra is is Brooke's Mom.

Denise is Cassandra's sister and possible the mother of the 14 year victim name unknown?

Jacques is the brother of Gagon, who was married to Cassandra? Jaques was married to Denise who is the Mother of the 14 year old victim?

I can't get it clear in my head.

You all know me. I am the first to stick up for the Mom,s they are usually victims of circumstances also, the ones that feel the most pain, and yet the ones that are demonized. NOT IN THIS CASE!!!!

What in the hell was she doing!!! Why even allow ANY contact between this creep and her daughter. Holy crap!! Are you kidding me?? Man raped an 18 year by gunpoint and you think it is ok to come anywhere near your house???!!! And Brooke must have thought it was ok to leave with this guy. He felt comfortable with picking her up at her house. Damned right the mother should be held responsible on this one!!!!!!!

But can someone clarify the relationships to me please?

[2NJSons_Mom]

Hmmmm

There are tons of articles/stories on these events, more will be coming out, I hope that mommy dearest, Cassandra Gagnon will be charged as well as Denise Jacques, both of these sisters knew exactly what their husbands and former husbands were capable of yet they did nothing. They actually facilitated the abuse and murder of Brooke Bennett and the sexual abuse of A.R. Brooke’s 14 year old cousin who lured Brooke to her death
<snips>
 From what I came up with, "Denise Jacques" was married previously. I came up with a previous married name, but would rather not post that name though anyone local probably knows already who she was previously married to. I say this because the first letter of the last name matches the victim (I really think it was Denise's daughter from the previous marriage) assaulted since she was 9 yrs old that was described in the affidavit. According to the affidavit, Denise encounter several "questionable" happenings in her home but accepted her husband's explanations. I blame Denise Jacques the most for being so ignorant. I hope she is charged with something or her own children removed from her home.

If this was her own daughter, how is this young lady supposed to live in that town when all will know who she is. What kind of life will this child have? God, I hope someone is smart enough to relocate the child in hopes that she can have some sort of normal life if even possible.
http://secretsfromwithin.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/parents-and-family-scarier-than-myspace/

Could this be true

ok wait...I am confused!!!

So Denise and Cassandra are sisters? or former sister in laws?

Cassandra is is Brooke's Mom.

Denise is Cassandra's sister and possible the mother of the 14 year victim name unknown?

Jacques is the brother of Gagon, who was married to Cassandra? Jaques was married to Denise who is the Mother of the 14 year old victim?

I can't get it clear in my head.

You all know me. I am the first to stick up for the Mom,s they are usually victims of circumstances also, the ones that feel the most pain, and yet the ones that are demonized. NOT IN THIS CASE!!!!

What in the hell was she doing!!! Why even allow ANY contact between this creep and her daughter. Holy crap!! Are you kidding me?? Man raped an 18 year by gunpoint and you think it is ok to come anywhere near your house???!!! And Brooke must have thought it was ok to leave with this guy. He felt comfortable with picking her up at her house. Damned right the mother should be held responsible on this one!!!!!!!

But can someone clarify the relationships to me please?

I think you have it right, except Jacques & Gagnon are not blood related, as far as I've read.  They were brothers-in law before Cassandra & Gagnon divorced.