From Deseret News archives:

Brooke's still gone, leads 'thin'

Today marks one year since the Y. student disappeared in Oregon

Published: Monday, May 23, 2005 11:24 p.m. MDT
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"We're going to do this catered lunch and probably spend a good portion of the day with some of these people," Hansen said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to see them, and some of the state police that were heavily involved in the beginning."

Janelle Blake, a family friend, said the women in her family are planning to remember Brooke by doing one of her favorite things.

"We're going out and buying shoes, because shoes are something Brooke loved," Blake said. "She had a million pairs, so we're each going to go buy a pair of shoes that reminds us of Brooke, and then we'll probably write her name on the bottom of the pair of shoes."

Friends Brooke made at BYU will also gather at Provo's Kiwanis Park tonight to hold a candlelight vigil.

"She'll be the focus of our day, and we'll just be trying to do things to remember her and do the things that she loved and would be doing at this time in her life," Blake said.

Hansen said the family is touched that the LDS community has kept Brooke in their thoughts.

"For us, what's important to me is that people just remember her, so if they find something or see something or hear something, they'll be able to think, maybe this has something to do with Brooke," he said. "That's kind of what we ask people to do, is keep her in their thoughts. And I know a lot of people have."

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Noble has similar advice for those who want to help find Brooke.

"To the BYU community, this may sound strange coming from a cop, but say a prayer," he said. "For the family, for those involved in the case, that we can get a resolution, and not to forget all the other families that are missing people."

Blake said it makes it easier to know that people care so much for someone they've never met.

"People know who she is, and are concerned about her, and praying for her, so that's nice to know, that so many people who didn't know her still care about her, care about her family,"' she said. "I think that's the one thing that has been so good about this, is that it shows that there are so many good people out there."

Blake said because Brooke was such a fighter, she can't give up hope of finding her just yet.

"If she is still alive, for sure she's not giving up, so I don't feel like I can give up on her," she said. "So I kind of feel like until we know for sure either way, I'm going to hope for the best."


E-mail: mdecker@desnews.com

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