Brooke Bennett

  This tragedy breaks my heart and I hope that “we” all learn from her death.  Brooke was 12 years old  when she was murdered and as of today no one has been charged with the crime. Her body was found the same week that the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty is not an appropriate penalty for child rape.   Her uncle Michael Jacques is in custody for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.  He is already a convicted sex offender in the state of Vermont with convictions for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.  (anyone see a pattern here?)  He was the last adult to see Brooke alive.  Additionally, (and perhaps even more horrifically), her stepfather,  Raymond Gagnon is also implicated in her disappearance.  He is charged with obstruction of justice for destroying evidence related to the case.  

This story http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8618279 goes into detail about Michael Jacques criminal record and the way the system failed.   Michael Jacques successfully completed sex offender treatment….that should tell you how successful sex offender treatment is.  

I also want to point out that Brooke’s mother was married to the man that helped cover up her death and her sister is married to the man who (I believe) will be charged with her murder.  Something is really wrong in this family… really really wrong.  I have read statements from her mom saying she is offended by comments http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8623432 that people have made about her. I will say this…if she made different choices Brooke may be alive today.  A lot of people failed Brooke Bennett… her uncle, her stepfather, her family, the judge who let her uncle out early, his probation officer and corrections who supported him and said he was rehabilitated.   

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8610899

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376724,00.html