DM, you didn't mention anything about the uncle. While I realize it is speculation on my part, I would like to know more about him and his relationship with Brooke.
If the parents didn't know about the story of the trip to the hospital, did the uncle alone decide it was acceptable for her to meet someone sight unseen at this store? How old is the uncle? Any adult should question a child about such a meeting and have offered to drive them to the hospital instead. He should have at the very least insisted on meeting the person before leaving the girl alone.
How does the uncle explain the items found near his home? Does he have an alibi? Was the cousin with him the entire time? Why did Brooke spend the night at his house? Are there kids her age? I have a lot of questions.
I'm sorry, but I am truly not here to answer info about an Uncle or anything else, just as I didn't with Nick Garza's situation other than factual information which was known by searchers, and from factual info gathered and established. I don't have the answers for you, and even if I did, I would not post them or repeat anything out of respect and dignity for Brooke and for her family, let alone for the sake of the investigation, anything could harm an investigation, surely everyone must know that. I do not help people who lose someone in order to repeat things, I help them in order to help a MP be found. I do not breach confidentiality any way in life, with anybody. Facts matter more than speculation. I'm sorry I can't help answer your questions. Consider: would you want people talking/speculating all about your family when your child was missing? How does it or could it help? I know that the goal here is to turn over facts to help find out what happened for Brooke and I appreciate that, but I am not an authority on the aspects of the investigation, or in a position to do anything other than what I have been, which is trying to help. It isn't our business, it is the LE's and the families of Missing Persons business. To protect investigations, it HAS to be that way. If you had a child missing, wouldn't you want investigation to have the best chances?? I would.