By  Seamus McGraw

BURLINGTON, VT (Oct. 16, 2006)

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A 36-year-old accused sex offender suspected but not yet charged with the slaying of 21-year-old University of Vermont co-ed Michelle Gardner-Quinn has reportedly denied any involvement in the case.

Brian Rooney, a construction worker who has a history of minor scrapes with the law, but until now no serious arrests, acknowledged to police that he was the man seen accompanying Michelle Gardner-Quinn as she walked toward her dormitory moments before her Oct. 7 disappearance, according to published reports.

But Rooney, who has been named as the only suspect in Michelle's disappearance and slaying, told police that he had split off from Michelle as they walked along Main Street and "denied having any knowledge or involvement in Gardner-Quinn's death," the Associated Press reported, citing a police affidavit filed Monday.

Investigators had narrowed their focus to Rooney within days of Michelle's disappearance and had asked the public for help reconstructing his movements immediately before and in the hours and days after she disappeared while walking home from an evening out with friends. Police have acknowledged that Michelle borrowed Rooney's cell phone as she walked with him, though at the time, witnesses later told police and reporters, she gave no indication that she felt threatened by him.

Next Page

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Mystery Man Seen Walking With Michelle Gardner-Quinn

Search for Michelle Gardner-Quinn Stretches from Virginia to Vermont

Michelle Gardner-Quinn, Vermont Co-Ed Disappeared

Contact Seamus McGraw at seamusm@ptd.net

Seamus McGraw

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