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DNA Links Rooney to Gardner-Quinn

Burlington, Vermont - October 19, 2006

A big break in the Michelle Gardner-Quinn homicide. An affidavit filed by prosecutors says blood found on the prime suspect's blue jean matches Gardner-Quinn's.

That was revealed by David Sleigh, a court appointed lawyer for Mr. Rooney in an interview with the Associated Press. He said the DNA evidence was revealed at a hearing, a hearing that Sleigh thought was open, when it was actually closed.

The revelations comes as Brian Rooney faces new charges in court. He was in court Thursday facing charges for a series of sex offenses, and the case is now is front and center with the state's top prosecutor.

"There is no criminal case in the state that is more important than this right now," said Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

The state's top prosecutor, the attorney general was in the courtroom when Brian Rooney was led into Burlington District Court. Rooney is a suspect in the slaying of Michelle Gardner Quinn. The UVM student was found dead last week in Richmond near the Huntington Gorge.

Rooney has not been charged with killing her, but the 36-year-old faces unrelated sex charges. At a quick hearing in Burlington, Rooney pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual assault and inciting a felony. Because Rooney's lawyer could not be at the hearing, another lawyer, Bill Norful, pinch hit for him. That attorney declined to discuss the details of this latest charge and any chance of Rooney being free on bail will have to wait.

"Mr. Sleigh, the primary attorney, actually his attorney was unavailable. Mr. Sleigh asked me to reserve arguments for bail. The assumption is he wants to argue bail."

According to court records, Rooney's former girlfriend routinely was sexually assaulted, and last November Rooney allegedly asked an Essex store clerk if she knew anyone that would kill his former girlfriend.

From these latest charges, we have learned new information about the investigation. For days, authorities were silent about why they were searching in Richmond at the home of Rooney's parents. According to court documents, they were looking for evidence connected to this latest sexual assault charge. Investigators were there to seize Rooney's computer, and scores of pictures both stills and videos that were sexual in nature and connected to these latest charges.

As for Rooney's alleged role in the Gardner-Quinn murder, any new information on that case will have to wait said Sorrell. "We'll see how the investigation continues. This is the top priority case for sure for law enforcement in this state right now, working hard, now we have a few days to continue the investigation."

This is the second time Rooney has been in court on Monday he was in Caledonia County where he also pled not guilty to sex charges involving a minor. The two sex cases have kept Rooney off the street and behind bars.

"We are pleased the court is holding Mr. Rooney without bail. The risk that we would have run his parents or others would have come up with the cash that would allow him to be released. We don't have to worry about that until next week," said Sorrell.

The details spelled out in the court documents of this latest case are very graphic and at times violent, and they allegedly happened over a long period of time.

As for when we might see some new developments in the Gardner-Quinn case, that is unknown. A bail hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.

Anson Tebbetts - Channel 3 News