Wednesday, the body of the 12-year-old girl from Vermont was found.
According to The Associated Press, police said that Brooke Bennett’s body was
found buried near her uncle’s home. State Police Director Col. James Baker said
that her body was buried about a mile from Michael Jacques’ house, adding that
her death was “clearly suspicious,” but didn’t give any details.
The discovery came shortly after court documents proved that
Michael Jacques planned to initiate the girl into a child sex ring. Also Wednesday,
the FBI said in an affidavit that a 14-year-old girl spoke with investigators
and told them that she had been with Brooke Bennett on June 25, adding that Michael Jacques, 42, lied to Brooke Bennett, saying he would
take her to a party but, instead, he took her to his Randolph home, in order to initiate her into
a sex ring.
The girl also said that, at one point, Michael Jacques took
his niece upstairs, telling the witness to leave. The 14-year-old girl said she
left Michael Jacques’ house with her boyfriend and that was the last time she
saw Brooke Bennett. The girl confessed that she had been having sexual
relations with Michael Jacques since she was 9.
Michael Jacques has been in custody since Sunday and is
going to be charged with kidnapping, reported Sgt. Tara Thomas.
Raymond Gagnon, Brooke Bennett’s former stepfather, was
charged with obstruction of justice. Authorities said that Raymond Gagnon, 40,
told police he received login information from Michael Jacques in order to
access Brooke Bennett’s MySpace page. He wanted to change some postings in
order to make it look like the 12-year-old girl had a secret date before she disappeared.
According to the affidavit, Raymond Gagnon also confessed he had downloaded
child pornography.
Wednesday night, a candlelight vigil was organized and hundreds
of people gathered to mourn Brooke Bennett’s death.
“Brooke Marie, I love you so much. I just ask that justice
be done for the person who took my baby away,” said Cassandra Gagnon, her mother,
according to The Associated Press.
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