BURLINGTON, Vt. -- "It's with heavy heart and deep sadness that I announce we have located what we believe to be the remains of Brooke Bennett."
Vermont State Police Colonel James Baker made the sad announcement Wednesday in a tragic end to a week-long investigation into her disappearance.
An autopsy is being performed on remains that are thought to be Brooke's. State Police say those remains were found near the home of her uncle, Michael Jacques.
Jacques is now charged with kidnapping in this investigation. State Police said Jacques was the last person seen with Brooke last Wednesday. This is confirmed by a surveillance camera that captured them at a convenience store.
Vermont State Police said they have found a body believed to be that of a missing 12-year-old whose uncle is accused of planning to force her into a sex ring the day she disappeared.
A judge arraigned Jacques Monday on charges that he sexually assaulted another young girl.
Prosecutors said he convinced that girl she was part of a sex ring and repeatedly assaulted her over the past five years. That girl told police Jacques may have been trying to lure Brooke into that ring the day she disappeared.
Brooke's former stepfather has been charged with obstruction of justice and is also being held on an unrelated sex charge. Ray Gagnon lives in San Antonio but visits Vermont often.
Prosecutors said Gagnon logged on to Brooke's MySpace page with a password that Jacques allegedly gave him. They won't say if he posted a message on that site to make it look like she was going to meet someone the morning she disappeared.