VT - Michelle Gardner-Quinn, 21, Burlington, 7 Oct 2006

[Leviosa]

Hello to Lovely Pigeon, scandi, englishleigh, concernedperson, SewingDeb, and dark shadows, GoodAim, packerdog, friends, and fellow sleuths:

I am sickened beyond what I know. Today is my day to slip away and grieve. My thoughts and prayers are with Michelle's family and friends, which are many.

I again thank you wonderful folks for the links, moderating, and love you put out this one.

GoodAim: You are too good to go anywhere else; I hope to see you around more;

Dark shadows: I have enjoyed and admired your zeal and meticulous detail.

knicksgal: May the God of all comfort be with all those who love and mourn Michelle's loss. This is one of the nicest things I have ever laid eyes on. Amen.

 

[Alice253]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220802,00.html

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The 36-year-old man suspected of killing a University of Vermont student last week is being described by his brother as a devoted parent of three daughters.

Snip.....

But Rooney's former father-in-law Roger Martin of Craftsbury says he made his daughter do things she didn't want to do and is chronically behind on child support payments.

If what the former FIL says is true, doesn't sound like a devoted father to me. I think it will be interesting to see what all does come out about this creep. You have to think this is not his first crime, and probably has a string of them that hopefully he will be connected to now that he's in custody.

 

[reb]

what is it with these guys who are employed, with a wife and kids, who are "the perfect father- his kids are his life-- blah blah blah" all of a sudden acting out, grabbing a girl, raping and killing her, and dumping her body somewhere by the wayside? this guy seems to have the same profile as carlie brucia's killer (and so many others). not the lone, demented, antisocial weirdo hiding inthe shadows who women won't go near, you know your typical rapist stereotype... but an active member of society, with a family,, with kids... often daughters of their own. why??????????

 

[Beyond Belief]

Just an interesting part in todays article

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/STUDENT_SLAIN?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

A woman who lives upstairs from the Winooski apartment where Rooney was staying said Saturday he came home drunk late Wednesday and told her he did something wrong with "the girl from the college."

"He came up and he was drunk, crazy," said Amy Stewart, 25.

"He said he did something wrong with that girl. That's all I know. I say `Tell me more, tell me what's going on,' and he said he not going to tell me anymore," she said.

 

[concernedperson]

what is it with these guys who are employed, with a wife and kids, who are "the perfect father- his kids are his life-- blah blah blah" all of a sudden acting out, grabbing a girl, raping and killing her, and dumping her body somewhere by the wayside? this guy seems to have the same profile as carlie brucia's killer (and so many others). not the lone, demented, antisocial weirdo hiding inthe shadows who women won't go near, you know your typical rapist stereotype... but an active member of society, with a family,, with kids... often daughters of their own. why??????????

I truly believe there are patterns that no one chooses to acknowledge. Bad behavior, l don't think it manifested itself out of the blue. Why? Choose many personality disordered individuals and ask where is the breaking point. Did someone not give in to their wishes, did they act out on another as not to attack the target, did the target provide something that they couldn't provide for themselves? It is going to be something that they needed and will have nothing to do with anyone else's life but their own.

Just a selfish act based on their own needs at the time.In real simple terms...it is evil. I know we hate to accept this as a reason but it is.

 

[reb]

wow... i knew it,, he was drunk.

re: the article...well, that settles that... he basically just waited around, not even trying to hide, until they came for him. even though he blacked out, it appears that he knew very well what happened, he probably just had no recollection of it. not to cut him any slack,, but at least the guy isn't so sociopathic that he isn't just going along with his normal life like nothing happened. it sounds like he is, at the very least, human enough to feel SOME remorse,, and was only inches away from turning himself in or confessing to someone... well, actually, he DID confess to his neighbor later that night. i am hoping here that after he told her this, and she heard about the missing girl the next day, that she contacted LE. and also when he told friends at the bar "i was the last one to see her, and then after that i don't remember what happened" (hello--- a dead giveaway if you ask me).. and they saw cuts on his hands, that they contacted LE also.

well, at least we don't have another 'mystery murder' with some guy going back to living his normal life among us. thank god he wasn't very good at hiding his words or emotions (or, himself). and at least here the parents don't have to worry and search for the rest of their lives, not knowing what happened.

also, it's a real nice thought that he was driving around while blacked-out drunk. i would love to have a talk with the last bartender who served him (assuming he was out at the bars that night).

 

[Juliana]

This murder is just so senseless to me. This along with the murder of the entire family along the highway in Flordiay, has brought me to my knees. I cannot fathom how a person is able to function in any way in society and then is capable of such evil acts. It brings me to my knees and makes me afraid and makes me feel helpless. Clearly this evil is beyond our grasp... what can we do?

 

[reb]

<Clearly this evil is beyond our grasp... what can we do?>

some possibilities:

move to antarctica. not sure of the crime rate there, but it should be OK enough to live out our lifetimes. the more global warming melts the ice, the more land will be available (but still, carry a gun, just in case.)

get tougher on crime in the USA-- i mean REALLY tough, as in police state. which would be contradictory to much of our constitution which was designed to protect us from such overreaching powers... and would mean we would have to be OK with giving up many of our freedoms & privacy that we have always taken for granted as our natural american right. and yet, we are being so overrun with crime, it seems we are losing many of our freedoms anyway,, so it seems we have no choice.
we would have to stop being whiny about gun laws, the death penalty, police 'brutality', manditory sterilization, the border, immigration policy, etc. we would have to decide if we REALLY want to reduce crime, or if we just want to talk about it. sex offenders would have to be put to death or at least put away with no possibility for parole, EVER. and we would have to stop making murderers into martyrs and fighting for their lives like they are the victim of an unjust sustem. unfortunately,, it's far too late to have a society of forgiveness and leniency.

i would say 'make parents raise their kids right'.. but due to the tragic fact that anyone can breed and the fact that people seem to be getting dumber by the day,, no one can control that. but one thing we CAN control,, is to have a government that puts less money into other stupid stuff and more money into EDUCATION, and a better youth & foster care system. but obviously, we don't want that bad enough.

hope for a major global catastrophe to come soon that will wipe out most of humanity, thereby ending much of the madness we have created and hopefully saving what is left of the planet.

or,, build a 'smart bomb' that will not kill anyone but just explode some kind of birth control substance all over the planet, so humans will just go extinct, and it can all just start over.

 

[dannyodie]

I just wonder if this man has killed any children in or around the area? wasn't he being investigated for the lewd act on a minor child? it certainly is very sad that the world has come to be what it is today, we all are at war of a different prospective when it comes to the life of innocent children and young adults. we all should just pray to our maker to protect everyone from these preditors including ourselves. my prayers go out to all that are effected with what this man did to such a beautiful young life.

 

[fran]

This is what happens when you are too busy with life and don't keep abreast of the news.

I am so sad and upset that they indeed did find Michelle deceased. I was so hoping for a better outcome. Along with her sister, who I saw on tv earlier this week, I wanted to keep the faith.

At least they have a suspect in custody.

My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

What a senseless tragedy.

JMHO
fran

 

[sweetmop]

I am so upset with another story with the same ending. When will these type of horrible tragic stories stop? These beautiful girls, so full of life, so sweet, so innocent, and they run into a pervert, who thinks nothing of taking what they want, then viciously stopping their life!!!! Do they think they are God, or what, are there really that many people out there that are PURE EVIL. It's really scarey, because it seems that there is. Just where does this come from, these type of actions/crimes??? I don't know what the answer is here. Something needs to happen to end these senseless and horrible crimes!!!! Oh how I feel for Michelle's poor parents, family and friends. I wish we had the answers to stop this!!! Why are there so many of these types of crimes now? Why???? I pray for God's comfort over Michelle's loved ones and her friends. Please God give them peace and comfort, Bless them and bless all of us too. This really makes me horribly sad and sick to my stomach... blah.

 

[mom3dd]

Not the area for discussion my prayers to Michelles family and friends. discussion on board

 

[mom3dd]

In responese to sweetmop until these creeps have to pay and it is very public and swift it will continue Christie Wilson, Jessica O'Grady, Behl, Teresha ?Halbach, Sue Ann Ray Latoyia, are just a few and I have an extremley poor memory for names, so I am sure someone can cite many more of them. Now I feel even worse there is a little girl geez I want to say Jessica
MOO

 

[concernedperson]

No one is going to take away this pain from her family. It is something that will be endured forever.The only consolation is that a will pay for it and others will become more aware. Keep going forward as this will save another life down the road.In the interim Michelle's family is in my heart and my soul and I am hoping for modicums of peace.

I know how you loved your baby girl. Even when they are adults they are still a baby. The smile, a nod and everything that makes your child special.My heart reaches out to you. My prayers for your peace are even further.

 

[scandi]

Do you mean that bright, spunky and beautiful little gal Jessica Lunsford? And there is a little boy named Nickolas, and there was Samantha, and Dru and Brooke, who are just a few. Elizabeth came home, but they were all held merciless at the hands of their abusers, all sexual perverts. It gives pause as to great thought how to put an end to the tyrany and senseless loss of life and abuse.

I wish I knew the answer.




Scandi

 

[maima]

Rooney is denying any involvement in Michelle's murder. He says he left her after she used his phone.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=5543163&nav=menu183_2_3_9

 

[ihadcabinfever]

I can't place it , Iv'e gone through the sites I keep looking through megans law NJ I could swear I saw it before somewhere. I will keep looking . It's making me crazy. I'll keep looking.

 

[barry9120]

I can't place it , Iv'e gone through the sites I keep looking through megans law NJ I could swear I saw it before somewhere. I will keep looking . It's making me crazy. I'll keep looking.

Just a thought, have you looked through the registered sex offenders database? He may have been registered in a different state, IMO. Also, there is a Brian Rooney from Virginia who started a released/prisoners website. I found it when I used ask.com and searched on him. If you're interested, let me know and I'll try to find it again. The prison brian rooney is from Virginia.

 

[barry9120]

Rooney is denying any involvement in Michelle's murder. He says he left her after she used his phone.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=5543163&nav=menu183_2_3_9

I'd be interested to know how long after Michelle used his cell phone to call her friend, her friend called back the number and spoke to Rooney. He might have some insight into his state of mind, nervousness of voice, etc. According to Michelle's friend, she sounded fine when she spoke to him. To establish a timeline, IMO, it's important to find out when the friend spoke to Rooney. MHO

 

[scandi]

Too bad LE can't break him in the 'box'. I got the impression from Tommy's statement that when he called the guy he was pretty non-plus, and he didn't sense anything unusual in the guys voice. And he just said something like they ended up walking down the hill together after she borrowed his cellie and they they each went their own way.

I'm waiting for forensics, as you just know there has to be something on Michelles body. Even the mud in the wheel-well of the car and on that right front tire might match up to the dirt out where she was left. It was miles away from where she was taken, near water, so it has to be a bit different and something might pop from that. Maybe more clay in it or different minerals. I have seen lots of cases solved like this on TV!


Scandi