WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Bail Company Rejects Murder Suspect

Bail Company Rejects Murder Suspect

Burlington, Vermont -- October 17, 2006

The prime suspect in the murder of Michelle Gardner Quinn has unsuccessfully attempted to get out of prison on bail.

It's the latest chapter in the case of Brian Rooney who remains jailed on unrelated sex charges.

Vermont's largest bail bond company says Brian Rooney and his family have the assets to finance a bail loan, but the company just doesn't want Rooney's business.

Monday Brian Rooney pled innocent to sex crimes that allegedly happened at least six years before the kidnapping and murder of Michelle Gardner Quinn.

Rooney is the only named suspect. But he has not yet been charged with the murder  that could permit holding him without bail.

For now he is charged only with the sex crimes with cash bail set at $150,000.

"I was contacted on the possibility of posting the bond. I did meet with Mr. Rooney in the St. Johnsbury Correctional Facility holding cell,"  explained Scot Sprano, head agent for ZIGNA/Freedom Bail Bonds in Williston, who met with Rooney at the St. Johnsbury prison Monday afternoon.

Sprano says Rooney's family  has enough money and own enough property to secure the bail loan, but Sprano decided his company will not help  Rooney get out of jail.

"After further reviewing the case we have decided to decline to write the bond," Sprano explained.

"Due to the heinousness of the crimes, we've just decided against it,"  he added.

Meanwhile Rooney  is fighting a court order to provide a DNA sample to police in connection with the Gardner Quinn murder investigation.

The police obtained the court order Monday.

The court order means a judge has determined that the police have established probable cause to compare Rooney's DNA profile to DNA evidence connected to the murder investigation.

However Rooney's  lawyer  has filed a motion to block the DNA collection. A hearing on the issue could come next week.

Tuesday afternoon several media agencies  asked a judge to release search warrants and other documents from the Gardner Quinn murder investigation.  The judge postponed the hearing until the 26th at the request of Rooney's lawyer and other media agencies -- including Channel 3. But normally, these kinds of documents will remain sealed while a police investigation is still open.

Brian Joyce - Channel 3 News