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by Bob_Ward from Dedham

Last Post 5 days, 20 hours Ago


VT Death Penalty
Jul 7, 2008 | 10:49 PM
Category: News
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I'm sure by now you know the brutal details of the Brooke Bennett case.
She is the 12-year-old girl who disappeared on June 25th, last seen with her uncle at a Cumberland Farms in Randolph, Vermont.

Brooke's body was discovered nearly a week later, buried in a shallow grave near the uncle's house.

Prosecutors believe the uncle, Michael Jacques, was trying to initiate Brooke into a sex ring that allegedly already included Brooke's former step father and a 14-year-old girl.

There are many more sordid details that have been widely reported, and frankly they turn my stomach.

Today Jacques was arraigned in US District Court in Burlington, VT on a kidnapping charge. And at the same time, the State of Vermont dismissed its charges against Jacques.

To me this can only mean prosecutors are paving the way to seek the death penalty against Jacques once the forensics come back from the M.E.

Now, Vermont abolished the death penalty in 1964, and the last execution took place in Vermont more than fifty years ago.

Vermont federal prosecutors have already told reporters they may seek the death penalty against Jacques. It seems to me the legal groundwork is now being laid for that to happen.

Here in Massachusetts, where the death penalty was abolished, the feds successfully sought the death penalty against Gary Sampson. In 2001 Sampson went on a brutal crime spree, killing three people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Barring an appeal at some point Sampson will be executed in New Hampshire where the death penalty is still on the books.

I find it interesting that the feds are stepping in with the death penalty in states where capital punishment was abolished.

I'm interested to find out what you think.

Are you concerned about the feds seeking death in states where there is no death penalty? Is this an end run around state's rights? Or do you think the feds are merely doing what the states should do on their own?

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Bob Ward
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Member Comments Total Comments: 21
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forecheck
Jul 7, 2008 | 11:51 PM

If Jacques violated federal law, I don't see what the problem is.

Vermont doesn't seem to have any problem with the feds trying and ultimately executing Jacques.

But Jacques probably won't be executed.

The U.S. Supreme Court is becoming squeamish about the death penalty.

And President Obama isn't likely to appoint many federal judges that favor it either.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jul 7, 2008 | 11:54 PM

Bob, in some cases, this "end run" around state's rights is called for. The death penalty is far too politically nuclear to be re-instated without a massive fight in most states. And, in the meantime, you have sickos like Jacques and Sampson, who really do need a fast train to friesville. (Same thing with Neil Entwistle, if you ask me, but he's a different story).

If a crime is as brutal and sickening as this one, and the feds can step in and seek the death penalty, then they absolutely should.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 12:27 AM

Bob, As a commie liberal I think I am supposed to be against the death penalty. I hate to disappoint my detractors, but this is one law I think needs to be reinstated in the states that don't have it. If it's Vermont or Mass. or any other state, if it can be proven without a doubt a horrible crime such as murder has taken place, than an eye for an eye. If it was good enough for Saddam Hussein it should be good enough for Jacques and Entwistle.
jovanone read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 8:12 AM

Bob,

I’ve said this before on another blog. What’s the sense in either seeking or having the death penalty if we’re not going to execute these maggots? As long as we have bleeding heart liberal judges who refuse to execute them we’re just spinning our wheels and wasting time. The first thing that has to happen is to stop all these foolish frivolous appeals they file, which is another waste of time and money. Then and maybe only then will we be able to start executing these maggots, but until that happens it’s nothing but cheap talk that we’ve all heard time and time again when someone commits a heinous crime.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 8:26 AM

I thank God for the Federal death penalty. What I'm waiting for is for the whole truth to come out.

Bob, a question for you: How does a Level 3 sex offender afford what looks like a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath, two car garaged center entrance colonial, of new construction, on enough land so no othr houses are visible when your cameras are rolling? Level 3's can't get jobs at Mickey D's right?

Keep diggin', buddy....Keep diggin'!!
BCAM
Jul 8, 2008 | 8:53 AM

This whole thing just makes me sick! I think that the Feds are doing the right thing, they should step in and seek the death penalty in the states that don"t have it, and Chip I was wondering the same thing when i saw that house.
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jul 8, 2008 | 8:55 AM

Bob,
Instead of the death penalty for these two
scum, why can't we just put them in general population in D-Block at Walpole, and give the guards, a paid dinner and a movie.
JuneInMA read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 9:04 AM

Ditto, Chip!

I'm waiting for the story to come out. I don't think it'll change my belief that he killed her, but who knows? Nothing has been mentioned about how it is believed that her death came about. It has been mentioned that it is believed Jacques was trying to initiate her into a sex ring, but there are no theories (that I've heard of) of how it went from that, to her getting murdered. I would like to know what happened in between.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 10:02 AM

Hey, Chip, I wonder if Jacques' money had to do with the story on the news today about how online porn sites got a paid membership boost because of the economic stimulus checks...And, if that's the case, then here's hoping the feds get the death penalty. And every damn judge in the country "misplaces" any appeal paperwork.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 10:10 AM

June,

She died saying NO...Brooke Bennett is a true American hero...Bob...when THAT comes out PLEASE make it a headline!!

I have faith that God has a special place for her..."In My house are many mansions..."
divmoose3
Jul 8, 2008 | 10:23 AM

Where were her parents? Even if he were her uncle, with his background there is no way I would allow her to be alone with him under any circumstances.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 11:03 AM

Hey divmoose3? Has it occurred to yu that with a mother who has a Level 3 brother (ir brother in law) and a pedophile ex-husband that she is probably involved? It is inconceivable that she didn't "know" about it....

This girl is a "perv magnet"!!!
Central_Middle read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 11:15 AM

What is assumed about what the uncle did is just disgusting and horrifying. I mean, this is a 12 year old girl when I think about this and that's not far from my age, which is scary. I don't know whether this would be called child abuse but its something at the top level.
The feds jumping in is probably a good thing because like forecheck said, our government's supreme court is getting squeamish. Many people believe that the uncle killed Brooke, and personally I believe it myself. But does the uncle deserve the death penalty? Or just a lifetime sentence in jail?
And also one other thing occurred to me while I was watching the news. How come the area around his house is just plain empty with no neighbors? How come he can afford a house that big anyways? Like posted above, a sex offender can't just walk into a fast food business and get a job.
datsbrown
Jul 8, 2008 | 1:21 PM

I would be totally embarrassed to be associated with states such as VT and MA that are so gutless, the Feds must intervene in order to impart real justice to pedophile murderers. Wake up Vermonters..."Uncle Mike" and his ilk are the lowest of the low in our society and are all but incurable. Put the pedophile kidnappers and murderers out of their misery with a state version of the death penalty. As for child rapists, at least pass Jessica's Law and take them off the street for a minimum of 25 years as most of the other states have done. Standing by and waiting for the Feds to do your dirty work for you is nearly as disgusting as being a pedophile.
sirB read my blog
Jul 8, 2008 | 2:59 PM

Jovanone,

Maggots is far to nice of a word to describe these BLEEPIN BLEEP BLEEP BLEEPIN *@#$&^.

I need to see how this trial plays out, but good for the Feds! States like Vermont are far too lenient and don't have the backbone to give these ^%$&* what they deserve.

Thanks for keeping us so well informed Bob!
DeeRo
Jul 8, 2008 | 4:37 PM

BRING ON THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ALL STATES. IF YOU KILL ESPECIALLY A CHILD WHY SHOULD ANYTHING BUT THE DEATH PENALTY APPLY. TOO MANY GET AWAY WITH MURDER AND OUR TAX DOLLARS KEEP THEM FED, HEALTHY AND HOUSED. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Graham_Cracker read my blog view my photos
Jul 8, 2008 | 5:12 PM

See my blog "Don't Mess With Joe Horn" by clicking on the little bloggy icon next to my photo just to the left of these comments. You'll get the idea how I feel.
I don't want to pay for so much as one meal for these people, and if there were any justice in America then I wouldn't have to.
Daphne1984
Jul 9, 2008 | 12:19 AM

Wow Chip i agree with you 100% and the death penalty for thi a$$ H0l3 is a easy way out for him. my question is were are Brook's Real parents..
as for the step father who knows what kind of pact him and jacques plan do take way a beating heart of teen to be...what right do they think they have to do such disscusting act
may Brooke Rest in peace!!!
i hope that the law does their job right, and fear...
tom1964 view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 1:35 AM

Should be public stoning, a needle to put him out just does not seem right.
colleenagnes
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:16 PM

Bob, keep looking into this awful,awful, murder and that is what it was Murder ! this poor child did not ask to be born into this perverted family. she did not stand a chance,the people that was supposed to protect her,her mother, father, uncle and what ever other members of her family that abused this poor child Should get the chair. we all know that brooke is in a better place now because she lived in HELL on this earth ! only can pray that her family pays with thier lives for what they put thier own child thru..no one can say her mother did not know what was happening she was part of the the whole scene !
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Bob_Ward

I am a reporter/anchor specializing in crime and regular features such as New England's Unsolved and Mass Most Wanted.

Member Since: 10/16/2006


 

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