Circumstances of Disappearance
Brooks was last seen riding her bicycle in her hometown of Fredericktown, Missouri at approximately 10:00 PM on August 5, 1989. A light blue, gray or green station wagon with Missouri license plates was seen in her vicinity at the same time as a witness reported hearing a scream in the neighborhood. A vehicle was heard driving away from the scene shortly thereafter. Brooks' bicycle was found abandoned on High Street later in the evening. There has been no sign of her since that night.
Three men were implicated in Brooks' disappearance and possible murder in 1998. Nathan "Danny" Williams was charged with Brooks' murder in 1999. Investigators announced that Williams was identified by a witness to Brooks' abduction as the man sitting in the back of station wagon with her. The witness also identified Bryant Squires as the driver of the vehicle. Squires has since died of AIDS-related complications. Timothy R. Bellew, a friend of both Williams and Squires, was also implicated in Brooks' case. Bellew admitted that he lied to the Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) about the location of Brooks' body. Bellew claimed her body was buried somewhere on his father's property, but investigators were unable to find her.
Authorities believe that Williams was the actual murderer of Brooks and Bellew and Squires attempted to help him cover up the crime. Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges in 1999. Brooks has yet to be found.