Brian Rooney found guilty of killing Michelle Gardner-Quinn
©GLENN RUSSELL, Burlington Free Press
The parents of Michelle Gardner-Quinn, Diane Gardner Quinn (left) and John-Charles Quinn, react as the jury delivers a guilty verdict in Brian Rooney’s murder trial in Vermont District Court in Rutland on Thursday May 22, 2008. Rooney is accused of abducting, raping and killing University of Vermont student Gardner-Quinn in October of 2006.
If you’ve read here for a while, you may have read earlier posts about the murder of Michelle Gardner-Quinn. Michelle was a 21 year old student at the University of Vermont. I grew up in the Burlington area, and admit that I was really kind of shocked when this happened there….much in the same way as I was shocked when Denise Amber Lee was kidnapped and murdered here where I live now. Both areas are relatively small, low-crime areas. Stuff like this isn’t supposed to happen here, or in Burlington.
When Michelle was killed, an old friend of mine found me via search engines (goggling Michelle…computers are weird, aren’t they?). She’s been great about sending me updates during the trial, including her feelings regarding the chances of Brian Rooney being found guilty. Trish is actually acquainted with Brian Rooney, and has always felt that he was certainly capable of rape, but wasn’t sure if he would actually kill a girl. As time went by, she was convinced of his guilt, but let me know that she wasn’t sure if the evidence was sufficient to convict him of murder. Apparently, there is DNA evidence of sexual assault, but there was no DNA found in his car or on his clothes (unlike Denise Amber Lee, who was able to leave DNA in Michael King’s car….the benefit of being the daughter of a cop, I guess….even when she was kidnapped and being raped, it occurred to her to be sure and leave evidence of herself behind, to help convict the creep who abducted her). The fear was, the lack of DNA evidence showing that Brian Rooney took Michelle to the Huntington Gorge might allow him to get off. I admit, I was worried. I was afraid he might get off. My sister still lives in Burlington, the thought of that creep being free in the city where my baby sister leaves scared me half to death.
Well, I’m happy to say, a jury convicted Brian Rooney this afternoon, in just 6 hours. Thank God. I guess the DNA evidence on Michelle’s body was enough to convince the jury of his guilt, even lacking evidence showing that he took her to the Huntington Gorge. It doesn’t bring Michelle back (and she appears to have been a wonderful person, who probably had a ton to contribute to this world)….but at least her murderer will be punished. I just wish Vermont had the death penalty, because it sure is called for here.
I’ll include the story from the Burlington Free Press below, for those not familiar with the story.
GUILTY: Jury convicts Rooney
RUTLAND — Brian Rooney has been found guilty of killing of UVM student Michelle Gardner-Quinn.
The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for 6 hours before returning with the verdict, culminating a riveting eight-day trial.
The guilty verdict means Rooney will go to prison for the rest of his life with no chance at parole.
“Good afternoon, and it is a good afternoon, isn’t it? We’re going to have one very brief thing to say at this time, and then we’d like to go away,” John-Charles Quinn, the victim’s father, said minutes after the verdict was read.
“Michelle has not been with us for 20 months as a living person, but her living spirit has been with us every day, and her living spirit can be seen in the all the good works that are being done in her name,” Diane Gardner Quinn said. Then the family, including Michelle’s older sister Yasmine Rassam, walked away from the cameras and reporters.
Rooney, 37, of Richmond, was arrested Oct. 13, 2006, the day Gardner-Quinn’s body was found in Huntington Gorge. The 21-year-old University of Vermont senior had been sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled
Her disappearance six days earlier after a night socializing with friends in downtown Burlington had gripped the community, first with hope Gardner-Quinn would surface alive, then with despair as it became clear she was a victim of violence.
The state spent the last year-and-a-half preparing its case against Rooney. The case revolved heavily around a DNA sample found on the victim’s body that experts said matched the suspect with scientific certainty. The prosecution’s case, laid out over four and a half days in Vermont District Court, also included a parade of witnesses — investigators, forensic specialists and friends and family of the victim.
Thomas Tremblay, former Burlington police chief and current Public Safety commissioner: “We’re pleased for Michelle and her family and certainly proud of police, laboratory personnel and prosecutors who built an overwhelming case. Justice has been served.”
Rooney appeared anxious as he walked into the courtroom, and he was frowning as the jury entered a few minutes later. His expression did not change when the jury’s moderator (or forewoman) said, very softly, “Guilty.” After proceedings ended, he whispered quickly to his attorney, David Sleigh, turned toward his mother and stepfather seated in the row behind him and looked glum, then walked quickly from the room and toward a holding cell, surrounded by several security officers.
His family, Ron and Patty Skinner, did not speak to the media as they left.
Burlington Police Detective Cpl. Ray Nails, the cases lead investigator, said he never doubted Rooney’s guilt, or that the jury would convict him.
“There was not a doubt in my mind, that this jury, with the case that was presented as simple and as clear as it was, was not going to come back with this verdict.”
Nails said law enforcement personnel and forensic laboratory technicians did exceptional work throughout the case and withstood criticism in court from defense attorney David Sleigh.
“His job is to poke holes wherever he can. Unfortunately for him, fortunately for us, he was trying to poke holes in cement with a pencil.”
Lots more info and articles can be found at the Burlington Free Press (including live blogging from the trial), and some info can be found at WPTZ.com.
Thank God that justice prevailed in this case. Of course there is going to be an appeal because in Vermont the sentence for aggrivated murder is mandatory life without the possibility of parole. I am a little surprised that he was convicted in lieu of the lack of evidence, but the guy is a certified dirt bag and it makes me a little sad that Vermont doesn’t have the death penalty….. I would have loved to flip the switch! Another animal off the stret and Burlington can breathe a collective sigh of relief!
Another heart wrenching story. :( I wish appeals were not even allowed once convicted. It isn’t fair to families who will already never be the same. They have to see the monster over and over with appeals and haunt their lives even more. ugh. bless all the families who have to deal with this horror everyday. Maybe we all need to start carrying pocket tazers. I’m at a loss for words.
Thank freakin goodness! Watching the news this morning and seeing my friend Ray Ray aka Officer Nails saying how it’s finally over and this is proof that the justice system can work made me have a little more confidence for the Burlington police dept. I still feel horrible for her family though. I know a lot of girls in this town, myself included, all feel that it could have been any of us who were out that night. But at least there’s one less predator off the streets now. Michelle’s memory certainly lives on strong in Burlington.
Good. Another one locked up. Now what can we do to PREVENT this stuff form happening? I know that seems like an impossible task because we can’t take evil out of people, but still, you know what I mean.
That’s good to know justice is served.
so much tragedy. I wonder too what we can do to prevent this kind of tragedy. It’s such a sick world. Murders and tragedies apparently happen everyday. Even in small towns. It’s not just a big city problem. Let’s keep all the families in our prayers and our good thoughts.
I read about the tragedy in Tennessee where the older brother accidently ran over his 5 year old sister in their driveway. He didn’t see her. That’s not evil. That’s just tragic. I wonder sometimes whether God’s asleep. I know he’s not. But I still wonder, what in the world is going on? So many good people hurt.
In any case, God bless you, Tammy, for keeping us informed and for helping us.
too bad it was life w/o parole… should have been death penalty. thanks for such a good article.
I am so discusted and saddened by this case. What a tragedy and such a beautiful girl. I am a mother of 2 daughters and I just don’t know how I would ever survive something like this. I pray for the family. I will NEVER forget Michelle. I am just sick over how she must have suffered. God comfort her now. The evil in this world is overwhelming. Lord help us!! I love you Michelle
What I don’t understand, Is why there wasn’t more said about the scratches on Brian’s arms. It was said, that the scratches were due to Brian’s work(construction). Was there any evidence of skin under Michelle’s finger nails that may have belonged to Brian. Was Brian offered a Poly Graph to see whether he was lying or not? If Michelle wasn’t found until 6 days after she went missing, didn’t Brain have time to clean up very well? Can someone shed some light on all these questions I have????? Concerned for Michelle’s case against Brian. Concerned for questions that Michelle’s family may still have. My heart goes out to Michelle’s family, for I have a daughter as well.
Re: Peggy
I know you know God is not asleep, but you have to think of it like this. God just thinks it is time for some of the good people to come on home to him, for he can see the futute and he maybe bringing his children home before it is too late. He may see something in their future that would have prevented them from going to Heaven. So he saves them before that happens. Just my thoughts on the matter.LOL!!! < < <
Lisa, I cannot speak for Peggy, But in my opinion
I think the comment about god being asleep is because it is just seems so unfair that
innocent people are tortured and and full of fear before they died. You have every right to your opinion, and beliefs, but when victim’s families hear that it was karma or something to the effect of saving them before it was too late just doesn’t make sense.
innocent victims dying in such a horrible way is unjust and I personally don’t know how they could ever make sense of it. I know I can’t.
-I was only trying to bring something positive out of a very bad, bad thing that happen. I can’t explain the horrible way some people die, I hate that it has to happen in such a way. I have also been curious myself why people have to die that way. Only GOD holds the answer to that. It is unfair that people die that way, but GOD is NEVER asleep. Example: God wasn’t asleep during 9-11, he just lifted his protection from America, because so many have turned their back on him. God doesn’t do anything bad, he just allows things to happen to try to get people to wake up!!!! Like in Exodus when all the plagues came, that was warnings for Pharoh to turn over Gods people. He wouldn’t listen, so the plagues kept coming…. In todays time alot of people are not listening so we have 9-11, the hurricanes in New Orleans area, all the fires and the swine flu…..
Lisa, I apologize for my last post. I know you meant well.
Emotions are on overload lately…. :(
I just cannot make sense of it right now.