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Brooke Wilberger lost her life when she fought back after being sexually assaulted in an isolated area of the Coast Range, officials said at a news conference in Corvallis Monday afternoon.
Benton County officials announced earlier in the day that they had recovered the remains of Veneta resident Brooke Wilberger, who disappeared in 2004.
Meanwhile, suspect Joel Courtney pleaded guilty today in Marion County Circuit Court to a charge of aggravated murder in connection with Wilbergers death. Courtney was sentenced to prison for life without the possiblity of parole, officials said.
As part of Courtneys plea agreement, Benton County prosecutors learned information that allowed investigators to recover Wilbergers remains.
Wilberger was 19 when she vanished five years ago from a parking lot outside a Corvallis apartment complex. She was a Brigham Young University student and 2003 graduate of Elmira High School.
Officials would not specify where in the Coast Range Wilbergers remains were found, or how far from town. The remains were located within Benton County, they said.
Officials received the information from Courtneys attorneys on Friday, and her remains were discovered Saturday morning. Investigators also found Wilbergers clothes, jewelry and keys.
The state medical examiners office confirmed her identity via dental records.
Officials said that Courtney had a FedEx envelope in his hand and represented himself as a deliveryman when he confronted Wilberger and forced her into his van by knifepoint. He kept her isolated in the woods for about 24 hours, and sexually assaulted her the next morning, they said. She fought back, and was bludgeoned to death in the head.
Its a bittersweet day because we cant change the past but its an important day because we can say as a community that we can return your daughter to you, and we will never forget, District Attorney John Haroldson told the Wilbergers.
Wilbergers mother, Cami Wilberger, said the family is grateful to law enforcement officials.
Its hard to understand, but we feel is gratitude, even for Mr. Courtney for leading investigators to (our) daughter, Cami Wilberger said.