Retrospective on Brooke Wilberger kidnapping
CORVALLIS - Brooke Wilberger, would now be 23 years old.
Wilberger was helping out at the apartment complex her sister managed in Corvallis and was cleaning lampposts that spring, Monday morning, when she vanished.
Brooke's disappearance sparked a massive search by thousands of volunteers, covering nearly every square inch of Benton County.
While searchers hit the trail, parents Greg and Cammy Wilberger took their message to the media.
The family held a news conference May 27, 2004 and Mrs. Wilberger told reporters, "There must be someone that saw something because it was in the middle of the day in broad daylight."
Police early on had several persons of interest in the case but they all dropped off, except one.
In November 2004, a man named Joel Courtney is implicated in the rape and kidnap of a young woman near the University of New Mexico.
Police begin to connect the dots between that case, and Brooke Wilberger.
Prosecutor Kari Brandenburg of New Mexico explained in late 2004, "You look at the individual's background and I think that anyone would wonder about that and wonder if there aren't other cases out there."
While police were putting the pieces together, the family relied on friends and their church for strength.
Brooke's father, Greg Wilberger, said, "We just rely on our faith and we have a real strong belief on what life's about."
On Tuesday, Joel Courtney, who was already convicted in the New Mexico case, was extradited to Oregon and arrived at the Benton County Jail to face charges in the disappearance and death of Brooke Wilberger.
Brooke's body has never been found. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.
Wilberger was helping out at the apartment complex her sister managed in Corvallis and was cleaning lampposts that spring, Monday morning, when she vanished.
Brooke's disappearance sparked a massive search by thousands of volunteers, covering nearly every square inch of Benton County.
While searchers hit the trail, parents Greg and Cammy Wilberger took their message to the media.
The family held a news conference May 27, 2004 and Mrs. Wilberger told reporters, "There must be someone that saw something because it was in the middle of the day in broad daylight."
Police early on had several persons of interest in the case but they all dropped off, except one.
In November 2004, a man named Joel Courtney is implicated in the rape and kidnap of a young woman near the University of New Mexico.
Police begin to connect the dots between that case, and Brooke Wilberger.
Prosecutor Kari Brandenburg of New Mexico explained in late 2004, "You look at the individual's background and I think that anyone would wonder about that and wonder if there aren't other cases out there."
While police were putting the pieces together, the family relied on friends and their church for strength.
Brooke's father, Greg Wilberger, said, "We just rely on our faith and we have a real strong belief on what life's about."
On Tuesday, Joel Courtney, who was already convicted in the New Mexico case, was extradited to Oregon and arrived at the Benton County Jail to face charges in the disappearance and death of Brooke Wilberger.
Brooke's body has never been found. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting