Vermont Supreme Court Upholds Verdict in Student Death

February 4, 2011

Vermont: The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the conviction and life-without-parole-sentence of Brian Rooney, who abducted, raped, and murdered University of Vermont student Michelle Gardner-Quinn.

The court announced its united decision on Friday, rejecting multiple arguments by Brain Rooney that prosecutors didn't give his defense attorney the studies done by the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, showing its DNA tests were valid.

21-year-old Michelle Gardner-Quinn of Arlington, VA disappeared on October 7th, 2006, with her body being found a week later in Richmond.

Prosecutors stated the Gardner-Quinn had met Rooney in downtown Burlington after she had asked to use his cell phone because the battery on hers had died. The DNA evidence found on Gardner-Quinn's body linked her to Brian Rooney.

Rooney was convicted of aggravated murder and given an automatic sentence of life without parole.