BOLLINGER COUNTY, Mo. – It’s been more than 30 years since the disappearance of a teenager that stunned the small town of Fredericktown.
Gina Dawn Brooks was 13 when she disappeared in August 1989. Fredericktown is so small that the first four people we talked to Friday said they knew Brooks’ family.
That included Melissa Jordan, who told us, “It’s been a long time, very sad situation. I actually grew up with Gina and her brothers and sister, so I do feel for them and do hope they get the answers they deserve.”
Witnesses from that day reported seeing her on her bike outside the Baptist Church on College, just two blocks from her home. She was seen being confronted by people inside a battered station wagon.
She reportedly continued riding a few more blocks on College, down to High Street, where she was then heard screaming for help as the station wagon drove away.
Nathan Danny Williams was suspected of Brooks’ disappearance but has never been convicted. He’s currently serving a life sentence for raping a 10-year-old girl in St. Louis’ Bellerive Park, one month after the teen’s disappearance.
Fredericktown residents have been very interested in reports of a new search for Brooks that was being conducted 15 miles from town, in a small area called Marquad.
FOX 2 was the first to report on that search. Video from Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX showed areas being dug up along with vehicles from agencies involved, including the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, MSHP, FBI and Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities announced Thursday that items of interest they found have been sent to the crime lab for testing. The Missouri State Highway Patrol added that the items do not include human remains.
FOX 2 has now learned that operations this week included the Department of Corrections transport of who appeared to be a prisoner Wednesday. They were seen in prison garb walking around the 120-acre site with investigators.
We contacted the D.O.C., asking who was transported and we were told it was a Missouri State Highway Patrol operation. We’re still waiting for the Highway Patrol’s response.
The current owner of the property being searched is not the target of the investigation, as the property has changed hands several times since 1989. It’s currently being used as a hunting property, with law enforcement’s heavy machinery remaining at the site—now four full days after detectives first broke ground.
