Brian Rooney Held In Relation To Michelle Gardner-Quinn Murder

Police recovered the body of Vermont co-ed Michelle Gardner-Quinn today. A suspect who loaned her a cell phone the night of her disappearance, Brian Rooney, is being held on other charges.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- The body of a University of Vermont student was found along a rural road Friday, and police said they were questioning a man who lent her his cell phone on the night she vanished nearly a week ago.

Michelle Gardner-Quinn's body was discovered near a popular swimming spot 13 miles east of Burlington, Police Chief Thomas Tremblay said.

The 21-year-old senior had become separated from her friends when she borrowed Brian Rooney's phone to call them as she walked up heavily traveled Main Street, which runs between downtown and the campus.

Rooney, 36, of Richmond, has been the focus of the investigation since he was recorded on a jewelry store surveillance camera with her at about 2:30 a.m., Tremblay said. He has not been charged in Gardner-Quinn's case, Tremblay said.

Rooney is said to be from Richmond. There is an ex-con named Brian Rooney claiming to be from Virginia who posted extensively on prisontalk.com. It's unclear if it's the same individual.

Originally Posted by Brian Rooney
I am not worrying about being judged, but I just want a woman to love me for me and that s going to be hard with my past...., but my past will matter to a woman in a relationship. I know that I am never going back to prison, but I am not sure about ever having a real loving relationship.

Also see here.

Hi everyone. My name is Brian. I served 12 years in the Virgina prison system and have been out now for 4 years. I decided a few months ago to start up a website for inmates and it has been a success so far for people who would like to meet others. The site is being advertised in Prison Legal News starting this month, and you support would be much appreciated by me as well as those on the inside. You can check out my site at inmatemailpals.com. This is a good site, and I work hard to make sure that people on the inside are connected to the outside world. If you could pick up an extra pen pal or two, I am sure you will make someone's day. If yu have any questions then please contact me. Take care, and thank you again.

Sincerely,

Brian

Comments

[HateEvilFolks]

Hope the bastard gets what's coming to him.

[jkatl]

2 male friends of michelle's were interviewed last night(Thurs) by Greta. They left the bar with her at approx 2:30 A.M. and one said he and the other guy both had to work in the A.M so they left for the dorms, and left Michelle by herself in the middle of downtown to find her female friend and the after hours party she was looking for. I wonder how those guys feel now. They could have spent ten minutes with her and helped her find her other friend and escorted her to this after hours gathering/party. Instead they leave a girl alone at 2:30 A.M, obviously at least buzzed,to wander around downtown by herself. One of the guys perhaps already feeling guilty told Greta Thurs night that the town was the safest town in the world. Good job guys, its not your fault there is evil in the world and you didn't kill Michelle somebody else did, But C'mon, 10 Minutes, make sure the girl is escorted to the party and she is alive today.

[basil]

I think it's time for youngsters going to college to receive instruction, either from the University or some collective group sporting the torch for student safety about the risks of drinking, and walking out and about alone late at night. Even small town america has their freaks, even in tucked away Amish communities. Too much of this is happening, and I think that a little common sense, maybe the buddy system of escorting each other, or designating a non-drinking driver, might reduce the risk of predation. But as I notice similiar situations across the country, the common theme seems to stem from drinking and lack of common judgement. I'd like to see the higher institutions of learning play a more pro-active role in student awareness. Perhaps with all that high tuition could come escort service of some sort?

[nova]

I really agree with the two comments above. This is so sad and so much like the death of Taylor Behl. When will the schools wake up and start informing female students of the dangers. Dont walk alone. Dont talk to strangers. Go in groups or with a buddy. DONT NOT WALK AROUND LATE AT NIGHT ALONE. DO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS FOR ANY REASON.The world is not a nice place and it is not at all like The Gilmore Girls. There are scores of horny men roaming around with evil intentions. There a always predators out looking for young women. Young women need to stop thinking they can go anywhere anytime by themselves. This is a really sad thing. This was a really sweet young girl from my hometown. She went to the same High School my son did. They are all nice kids from well to do homes. They have no idea of the evil that is out there in the world.

[jsmama]

I think it's a terrible situation all the way around, although I think most schools and universities do lecture about safety and reiterate the importance of not walking alone, especially women and even give out statistics of incidences that have happened on or around campus. As unfortunate as it is that this happened and I very much feel for Michelle, her family, friends, university and the community, I think that some of the responsibility falls back on the students. You can lecture and talk until you're blue in the face about safety and the importance of not walking alone, not talking to strangers, etc. , but you can't make a person adhere to what you tell them. You can give them the information and hope they use it, but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. As smart as most people are about not talking to strangers and not walking alone, which I don't doubt Michelle was just as smart, sometimes people make mistakes like this and unfortunately the result of this one was very unfortunate.

[lizestrada]

For the record he's from Richmond VERMONT not Virginia. Which coicidentally happens to be where Huntington gorge is located which is where victim's body was found. May Michelle rest in peace.

[Brian Rooney]

Just to let everyone know, I am not the same Brian Rooney s the one mentioned in the article. Believe me, I heard about it from others...I thought it was funny though that people wouldn't come up to me and say "Hey, are you Brian Rooney from ABC (news correspondant)"...anyways, just wanted to clarify the matter which I am sure others already know by now. Take care. The Brian Rooney in Vermont deserves what he gets...plain and simple.

Brian