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Roger Jewell Friday, July 4, 1999, 2:45 a.m., 20 year old Brooke Leigh Henson walked from her home on Henderson Drive in Travelers Rest, apparently to clear her head and cool off after a verbal argument with her boyfriend. She has never been seen again. Four years have gone by and Brooke remaining in the hearts and minds of those that knew her, love her and hope for her return, have never diminished. Last week The Monitor published the first part of a two part interview with Christi Metcalf, Brooke's aunt. The second part of that interview is presented in this week's edition. Christi has never given up searching for answers to Brooke's disappearance and she continues to try to keep Brooke in the memory of everyone, continually hoping the answers will come. Last year Christi met up with Tammy Welch and the Brooke Henson website was born. The website is now getting 50 to 100 visits per day. There, people can find information about Brooke and her story as well as pictures and links to other missing persons websites. There is also a forum available where people can post messages concerning the case or even light a candle in memory of Brooke. "Tammy has been a godsend," Christi said. "We met and exchanged information and at first I questioned why she wanted to do the website but after meeting her I realized how sincere she is about the case." The website is bringing Brooke's story to the entire world. "Brooke's story is being presented around the world and not just the people in this area are responding to the website," Tammy Welch said. "The site is being visited by people from California and Canada and these people are also offering advice." One of those is Tim Miller , who has authored two novels, "Without A Trace" and "Out of Nowhere". Miller has said he is interested in writing about Brooke's story in his "Cold Cases" online column. Through the website, in recent weeks, a Psychic-Medium has offered her services in solving the disappearance of Brooke. "I know many people don't put any stock in this type of stuff," Christi said. "But she has hit on several things that can relate to or identify with that nobody else could have done." "Some of the things she has given us in her reading have been pretty darn close, especially with her being in another part of the country, there is no way she could have known those things," Christi said. "Like I said, some people don't believe in it but we have been following up on her information and it is amazing," Christi said. "I saw something's that the Medium said to ask my kids about, and one of those was a color of a swimsuit. It turned out to be actual color of a bikini that Brooke had," Christi said. In that first message or reading, the Medium replayed a message from Brook Henson. In that message a possible abductor was described as follows. "Brooke says...He is a bearded man, heavy set, probably in his mid 30's with lots of reddish tinted or auburn hair. He has a ruddy complexion, full round face, eyes not exactly small but on the narrow side, like slits. She mentions, a bandana worn or used. She says, "I was strangled and choked. Carly? Carle? Something that sounds like this. Banks down the banks, north of Jimmy's house - dive. Jelly Belly. He drinks and chews on something, Bar 9? Bar on 9? Route 9 or a place named something 9 is where he can be found sitting on his stool, a regular - shoots occasional pool. Carl or Carroll." "She (Brooke) is showing me of all things a bikini or bathing suit. Turquoise blue and black floral print, she likes the color turquoise," the Medium added in the message. "She also keeps showing me the color red. He has a dog, Lady is her name. Dog with long pointed nose, a small sheppard? Joli - Jolietti - ietta, (the Medium is not sure if this in reference to a place or person). Sunny here, sublime, not to worry, I made it to Heaven just fine." Christi said her children told her Brooke had a turquoise bikini. A monitor reporter contacted the Medium several weeks ago and requested a second reading. The second reading is below. "I was walking down the Blvd. (road) when alongside me he came, offered a ride and I thought, why not, nobody seems to care. He gave me a cigarette, so KOOL. He drove along slowly, came upon a river north, swimming spot not far, crabtrees in the distant view. No need to say again what he did to me. Along the banks I say again north - the crabtree brook - Brooke? Irony! Two brooks came together. Symphonies of music play nearby. Car-mine? Carmeline? You misheard me the last time. Car-mel-line. Sinister Ray, Ray's Place. Salty, bitter tears you all weep, take comfort in knowing Jesus holds me in his arms always. Clearing type meadow not far from the banks - look there and you'll find evidence. Farewell for now I hope this will help. Danger guys out there and needs to be put out. Righteous is his family, drove him to insanity. Something unusual about his left hand. Left hand man, unlike choice, henchman. Going for now my dear friends and fam, love and live while you can. Earthtime can be short sometimes. He is surrounded by green. Back to bar 9." Both Christi and Tammy feel that attention from the news media will help turn up the heat in leading to resolving Brooke's disappearance. "I feel that by this story getting out to the people through the media it will turn up the heat and those people that are responsible will start to talk," Tammy said. "The thing the media has done is mention the disappearance usually on the anniversary date of July 4th," Christi said. "The stories in The Monitor, are more than any member of the media has done." "After the second year, the story just sort of died with the major media," Christi said. "And that is sad, because I think everybody just gave up. The family, other than me and Brooke's aunt Lisa, refuses to talk about to talk about it and I am not sure if that is out of grief or what. But that is why I try to do what I can because I think, if this was one of my children, everyone would do the same." "Brooke's room is just the same as she left it," Christi added. "All of the nic-nacks, all of curtains, the bed spread, all are the same since July 4, 1999. Her clothes are still there just as when she left." "I think it's past time for Brooke's family (parents) to get involved," Christi said. "And if they don't want to be involved they should just let us know they don't want to be involved. I know they will never get over the disappearance. But I feel it is time that they take steps to do something." Christi said Brooke and her mother were very close. They shared each other's clothes and she sensed something was wrong on that morning when it was discovered that Brooke had not returned from her walk. Christi said she feels Travelers Rest Police Department dropped the ball early in the case because they at first thought Brooke was a run away. For whatever reason they didn't believe Brooke was missing and that she went away on her own. Christi feels TRPD didn't check closely enough in the early days of the disappearance. But the investigation by TRPD is still going on and Christi and Tammy are not letting the case rest. A benefit to raise funds to use as a reward to anyone with information which leads to the arrest and conviction of responsible parties is still in the planning stages by Tammy and Christi. Also CrimeStoppers of Greenville County Sheriff's Office is offering a reward of up to $2,000 in the case. "I can't say enough that Brooke was a sweet girl that loved to hang out with her family," Christi added. "She trusted everybody. She was a loving person. She was so trusting that she didn't feel that anyone would do any harm to her". "I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt Brooke," Christi added. "I know that there is a special place in Hell for anyone hurt her and Brooke deserves better than what she has gotten (in regards to efforts to solve her disappearance)." Tammy said tough part is every year the media might do something on Brooke on or around the 4th but then after the interest picks up for a few days, it is dropped and the media doesn't do any follow ups. "Brooke is a human being and she deserves to have someone looking for her," Tammy said. The public needs to keep reminding TRPD that they still have an unsolved missing person case. Anyone with any information can contact Lt. Grant at TRPD at 834-9029 or CrimeStoppers at1-800-23CRIME. Comments From Two Of Brooke's Friends The following was sent to a Monitor reporter by way of email from two of Brooke's friends. "Brooke alone is one of a kind. We luv her and miss her bunches. We wish she would hurry up and come home to family and friends. The road trips are not the same, relationships are not as fun, soaps cannot be analyzed quite the same. The analyzing of life and giving meaning to all of the situations that we came upon. The endless discussions that made no sense to anyone but ourselves is missed the most. Pictures of Brooke are arranged on the wall so we can keep the hope. Brooke's clothes still hang in our closet waiting to be traded out for something else. We shared every thought, tear and laugh as always with each other. We will never give up asking questions and following our hearts to do what needs to be done. We know you would do the same or even more for us. We are Brooke's true best friends. Brooke always could depend on us as we could her. She is our sister. She is loved by us and she knows that.." Signed, Keisha and Jessica Meely. Brooke Henson's story and the efforts to locate her will continue in The Monitor as events develop.
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