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Police Going Full Bore on Michelle Gardner-Quinn Murder

South Burlington, Vermont - October 14, 2006

The man suspected of killing a U.V.M College student will be arraigned on Monday. He faces unrelated charges at this point - sexual assault and lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor - that police say came to light from their current investigation.

Burlington Police continue to build a case against Brian Rooney in the homicide investigation of 21-year old Michelle Gardner Quinn. A call that the victim made on Rooney's cell phone led police to the 36-year old construction worker. Rooney was the last person seen with Gardner-Quinn before she disappeared early Saturday morning a week ago. When hikers discovered her body at Huntington Gorge yesterday, police made the arrest, and as Burlington police chief Tom Tremblay phrased it, now it's as if a whole new investigation has started. Police on Saturday said they are in no position to release any information of significance. They still need the public's help.

At a press briefing Saturday, Lieutenant Kathleen Stubbing said police were watching Rooney, most of the week, but investigators still need to know more about the hours right after he was caught on a security camera, walking up Main Street with the victim shortly after 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning. "Our investigation continues to focus on Brian Rooney's actions and whereabouts during the time period from Saturday, October 7th at 2:30 a.m. to mid-morning Monday, October 9th. We are also interested in information regarding the red Jeep Grand Cherokee," said Stubbing.

Police impounded the Jeep they say Rooney drove, but they say there is no evidence that would indicate the victim was ever in it. Still, police want to know where the vehicle was during the week. They also want to know where Rooney was. Until Wednesday, he was staying in an apartment on Malletts Bay Avenue in Winooski. A neighbor, Amy Stewart, says Rooney admitted to her about 2:00 a.m. Wednesday morning that he was in trouble.  "He said he did something wrong," she told Channel 3. "I said, ok, tell me what's going on and he told me that he did something wrong with this college student. So I said, just tell me what's gong on and everything and he said he let them use the phone, and that's all I remember, he lets them use the phone and he did something wrong 'cuz he don't want to tell nobody."

Stewart said she didn't see Rooney after the early Wednesday morning admission. Rooney reportedly went into a local pool parlor just down the street before his arrest. The owner of Walt's Game Room reportedly told police that Rooney had scratches on his hand, but would not say how he got them.

At Saturday's news conference, police declined to provide details of their investigation. They won't say why Rooney was in Hardwick when he was arrested on Friday, shortly after Gardner-Quinn's body was discovered at Huntington Gorge.  "I'm not going to get into some of those specific details at this time," Stubbing told reporters.

Meanwhile, the police investigation continues full bore. They're hoping that anyone with solid information about Rooney, his whereabouts and any statements he might have made, will come forward. Burlington police have created a special tip-line: 658-2704.  UVM plans to hold a memorial service for Michelle Gardner-Quinn at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday at Ira Allen Chapel.

Andy Potter - Channel 3 News.