Story Created:
Jul 3, 2008 at 9:38 AM EST
Story Updated:
Jul 3, 2008 at 5:02 PM EST
RANDOLPH, Vt. (AP) - Officials may shed more light today on their investigation of the death of a 12-year-old Vermont girl.
Police found Brooke Bennett's body yesterday in a shallow grave about a mile from her uncle's house in Randolph, Vermont. The discovery ended a week long search for the child, who had been the subject of the state's first Amber Alert.
State police say Michael Jacques, the girl's uncle and a convicted sex offender, will face federal kidnapping charges in the case.
Jacques was already in custody on charges of aggravated sexual assault involving a different underage girl.
In a court affidavit, the FBI says an unnamed 14-year-old girl told investigators that Jacques tricked Bennett into thinking she was going to a party and took her to his home to be initiated into a sex ring.
Authorities have scheduled a news conference for this afternoon at the federal prosecutor's office in Burlington, Vermont.
Shocked and grieving residents of Randolph held a candlelight vigil for the child last night.
AP UPDATE: RANDOLPH, Vt. (AP) - The mother of a girl found dead in Vermont yesterday wants justice. Authorities have already arrested 12-year-old Brooke Bennett's uncle and former stepfather. FBI documents say Bennett's uncle was planning to initiate her into a child sex ring.
ABC reporter Sean Kelly has the latest, including reaction from Bennett's mother...
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