- Brooke Wilberger
Brooke Carol Wilberger (born
February 20 ,1985 inFresno, California ) is a woman who is believed to have been abducted fromCorvallis, Oregon on the morning ofMay 24 ,2004 . Described as a devoutMormon , Wilberger was afreshman atBrigham Young University in Provo,Utah .cite web | title=Authorities Charge Man With Murder | url=http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/case.cfm?id=27071 | accessdate=2007-04-13] At the time of her disappearance she was on summer break, visiting her sister atOregon State University , cleaninglamp post s in the parking lot of the Oak Park Apartments on the edge of campus. [cite web | title=Suspect Charged With Murder Of Brooke Wilberger | url=http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_214201808.html |accessdate=2007-04-13]Investigation
The investigation initially centered on Sung Koo Kim, who was named as "
person of interest " in the disappearance. Kim was later dropped as a suspect, but given a 68-month prison sentence for crimes uncovered while being investigated for the Wilberger disappearance [cite web|title=Sung Koo Kim gets nearly six years for underwear thefts|url=http://www.katu.com/news/3651561.html|accessdate=2007-04-13] .On
November 30 ,2004 aUniversity of New Mexico student was kidnapped andrape d, before escaping and identifying Joel Patrick Courtney as her attacker. Police eventually linked Courtney, a native ofBeaverton, Oregon , to the disappearance of Wilberger and inAugust 2005 he was charged on 19 counts of aggravated murder, kidnapping,sexual abuse , rape andsodomy [cite web | title=Joel Patrick Courtney, serial killer & rapist | url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/joel_courtney/1.html | accessdate=March 8 | accessyear=2006] . On September 12, 2007 Courtney pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and rape of the 22-year old University of New Mexico foreign exchange student. Courtney'splea agreement calls for a prison sentence of up to 18 years, plus five to 20 years onparole . He also must register as asex offender . [ [http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1793669 Man Charged in Wilberger Case Pleads Guilty in N.M. Assault Case] , "KSL News";12 September 2007 ] Courtney was extradited toBenton County, Oregon for the Wilberger case onApril 8 2008 .Fact|date=April 2008 He was scheduled for his first appearance onApril 9 2008 at the Benton County Courthouse.Fact|date=April 2008 He is facing 14 counts of aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping and single counts of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse in connection with Wilberger's disappearance, and it is expected that the death penalty will be sought.Fact|date=April 2008 His trial is scheduled to begin February 1, 2010. [ [http://www.koin.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=099074b5-e3c0-4041-96d4-bc45fce03ea8 Courtney trial det set for Feb 1, 2010.] , "Koin News";24 May 2008 ] He is also expected to be charged in connection with the unrelated kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, attempted rape, attempted sodomy and attempted murder of two Oregon State University students, the same day Wilberger went missing.Fact|date=April 2008Brooke Wilberger's family is still offering a $15,000 reward for the recovery of her body.
References
External links
* [http://www.findbrooke.com/ Find Brooke website]
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