From Deseret News archives:
Mom at peace with coed's death
"We've come to terms with Brooke's death," Cammy Wilberger said Tuesday at Oregon State University. "We rejoice in the great memories and the fun girl that she was. We know that we will be together eternally as a family."
The open and passionate talk of the hectic days after Brooke Wilberger's disappearance nearly two years ago centered on her family's reliance on faith to get them through and the community participation that renewed their faith in humanity.
The talk was sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Student Association at OSU and was also a thanks to the hundreds of police and volunteers who searched for Wilberger after she vanished May 24, 2004.
The photographs that the Wilberger family rely on for memories flashed on the screen as about 300 people watched quietly.
Police say the 19-year-old Brigham Young University freshman was snatched in broad daylight from the parking lot of an apartment complex her brother managed near OSU.
The Wilberger family lives in Veneta, west of Eugene.
Courtney was awaiting trial in Albuquerque in the abduction and rape of a University of New Mexico student when Corvallis police linked him to Wilberger. Police have declined to reveal the link and continue to investigate whether he might be a serial killer.
Cammy Wilberger only alluded to Courtney Tuesday, saying what has passed so far has been the easy part. But she said she will be in the courtroom every day as Brooke's voice if Courtney comes to trial for the murder.
She focused instead on the community effort to set up search parties, prepare meals and set up a public information machine that worked tirelessly for two weeks while as many as 1,000 volunteers searched the 4,000 acres around where she was last seen.
"Sadly, we did not find Brooke, but we did find in our community something wonderful about ourselves," Tom Sherry, an adviser to the student group, said.
"Now that I look out at you, all I can say is that I love you," Cammy Wilberger said. "Thank you doesn't seem to be enough."
She said nights bring sobbing and dreams of Brooke off to college or on a trip but that it gets better with the dawn.
"I think we can rest assured that we did everything possible we could do to find Brooke," Wilberger said. "I think we can take great comfort in that. Whatever has happened happened, and we might not understand it, but we can live with it."
Comments
- 3A: Juan Diego runs away with win 10:35 p.m.
- 3A: Juan Diego grinds out win 10:33 p.m.
- BYU basketball women at a glance 10:25 p.m.
- Cougar women's home improvement 10:22 p.m.
- Deal reached on 'balloon boy' 10:18 p.m.
- U. women's 10:17 p.m.
- Whipple should ease growing pains 10:14 p.m.
- RSL plans to attack early, often 10:13 p.m.
- Palin: Aides kept her 'bottled up' 10:12 p.m.
- Tough year for Lobos and coach 10:12 p.m.
- House passes health care bill
335 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
318 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
141 - Will state consider gay rights law?
137 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
119 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
I won't quite say "outstanding", not yet anyway. They have not played any...
The Utes are not the same team as they were last year. I am ecstatic over...
Rex was great. Perhaps in 20 years we will see about Mike.
congrats to both teams, great seasons and it means a lot to make it to the...
I believe it is Jason and Lacy (not Josh and Lily).
I have never seen a more arrogant player on a BYU team than JT. Last year at...
Congratulations Karlee from all your Greek friends. We are so proud of you !
"I don't like to pay my bills on time. I still pay them- just a few weeks...
Great job Dixie!! You represented Region 9 in great fashion. We are all...
1. With the same core players this team has consistently gotten worse. The...



You can be the first to comment on this story.