RANDOLPH, Vt. -- More than 200 people gathered Wednesday night to mourn the death of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, whose body was found near her uncle's home a week after she had disappeared.
The gathering was originally organized as a candlelight vigil for Brooke's safe return. Authorities found her dead about 4:45 p.m.
Brooke was last seen alive with Jacques at a convenience store a week ago. Her uncle, Michael Jacques, has been in custody since Sunday on charges of aggravated sexual assault against a different underage girl. He has pleaded not guilty. Police said he would be charged in federal court with kidnapping.
In an affidavit unsealed earlier in U.S. District Court in Burlington, the FBI said an unidentified teenager told investigators she was present on June 25 when Jacques tricked Brooke into thinking she was going to a party and took her to his home to be initiated into a sex ring.
At the gathering, people hugged each other around the town gazebo.
"I loved having her in my classroom," said Gary Finch, Brooke's homeroom and math teacher at Randolph Union High School.
He said she was a very energetic and enthusiastic learner. "She was always volunteering, always with a smile on her face. Smart, creative. It's a tragedy. It's unbelievable. It's hard to comprehend. I didn't think anything like this would happen to such a great kid."
Finch said at the start of the school year, Brooke was nervous about transferring from her small elementary school to the high school for grades 7 to 12.
"She conquered that," he said. "She didn't conquer this."
Others who came said they didn't know Brooke well, but they wanted to be there for her all the same.
"If you were sad, she'd make you happy," said Ali Winot, 15.
Brianna McKay 14, who played basketball with Brooke, remembered that she was always laughing.
Jody Neff, 61, said she didn't know Brooke, but she was there for her family to say a prayer.
(Copyright (c) 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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