CHAPTER 8  BRIAN

'Missouri State Highway Patrol Report of Investigation', dated 11/22/03. The reporting officer is Sergeant R.E. Roark. "Attemp to locate Brian Brooks/Interview Deborah S. Brooks....At approximately 0547 hours, November 22, myself and the following officers arrived at the residence of Brian Brooks, located north of Salem, off MO 19.. a. Corporal H.J. Folsom; b. Corporal D.C. Suhr, and; Sheriff Bob Wofford...At 0550 hours I interviewed Deborah S. Brooks..The interview was conducted in her living room. I told Mrs. Brooks that we were investigating a shooting which had occurred at Gregory's Roadhouse earlier that morning. I further explained that her husband may have been in a fight with the victim while inside the bar. Mrs. Brooks provided the following information: a. The prior evening she left her residence at 1745 hours and returned home at approzimately 2130 hours. Brian was not at home when she returned. Brian was driving his Ford F-150 pickup, which was now parked in the driveway. I asked her who the red Ford Ranger pickup parked beside Brian's F-150 belonged to, and she replied that the Ranger was her vehicle. b. She was asleep when her husband arrived this morning. She awoke when he got into bed, and thought this was between 0130 and 0200 hours. They did not converse when Brian came into the bedroom. c. Mrs. Brooks stated she knows Vickie Brown, and admitted that she and Brian have had marital problems over her. She advised that Brian had moved to Springfield, Missouri, for a few months in order to get away from Vickie. He moved back home in July 2003. She did not know if Brian is still seeing Vickie..."

'Missouri State Highway Patrol Report of Investigation' dated 11/22/03. Reporting Officer: Sergeant R.E. Roark. 'Second Interview Brian K. Brooks'. "In continuing an investigation into the homicide of William Neil Maxwell which occurred on November 22, 2003, in Dent County; at 0705 hours, November 22, 2003, Corporal H.J. Folsom and I interviewed Brian K Brooks. The interview was conducted at the Dent County Sheriff's Office in Salem, Missouri...Brian provided the following information:..He said he arrived at the roadhouse at approximately 2130 hours, and was driving his Ford-F150 pickup. He arrived alone. He further stated he had consumed about one-half pint of Wild Turkey whiskey and eight or nine beers prior to arriving at Gregory's Roadhouse. After his arrival he had five shots of whiskey and an additional seven or eight beers. It should be noted that Brooks was clearly under the influence of alcohol during this interview. However, he was cognizant of what was occurring and was responsive to, and appeared to understand questions asked of him...I asked Brooks if he knew who Neil Maxwell was. He replied, "Yes, I found out he had bought some beer for my daughter during softball season. I had been planning to talk to him about that for some time." Brooks could not remember when he heard about this, but thought it was sometime during the summer. He could not give a reason why he had waited so long to talk to Maxwell about this allegation. He admitted he had discussed this with Maxwell while at Gregory's Roadhouse, and had been told by someone at the bar who Maxwell was...I asked Brooks if he knew Vickie Brown. He stated he did know her, and they had worked together at US Food Service. He further stated that they were just good friends. He remembered seeing Vickie at Gregory's Roadhouse, but did not remember talking with her at the bar. I told Brooks that several persons present at Gregory's Roadhouse had provided information about a fight which had occurred between he and Neil Maxwell. Brooks agreed he and Maxwell had fought after Maxwell struck him with his fist and they both fell to the ground...I told Brooks that I had spoken with his wife, Deborah and she had confirmed he had been involved in a relationship with Vickie Brown. I further advised he had moved to Springfield, Missouri, in an effort to get away from Vickie, according to DeborahBrooks. Brian Brooks replied, "I also moved to Springfield to get over a problem with meth and cocaine." I asked if he had used any drugs recently. He said "No, I've been clean for a few months now."..I next showed Brian Brooks an earring with what appeared to be a diamond, and a small gold colored necklace. I explained to him the two pieced of jewelry were also found inside his pickup. Brian Brooks stated he had purchased the earrings and the necklace as a gift for Vickie Brown. He further stated she had returned them after they stopped seeing each other.

'Missouri State Highway Patrol Report of Investigation', dated 11/22/03. The reporting officer is Sergeant R.E. Roark. 'Third Interview Brian K. Brooks'. "In continuing an investigation into the homicide of William Neil Maxwell, which occurred on November 22, 2003 in Dent County Missouri; at 1435 hours..Brook stated he was feeling better and had gotten some sleep. Brooks stated his memory of the events of the previous night was "foggy." I told Brooks that Vickie Brown provided information that they had argued on the roadhouse parking lot beside her van. That she had heard what she thought was a gunshot before Brooks confronted her near the rear of her vehicle. She also advised she had jumped into his pickup and rode with him to his house. Brooks stated he did not fire a gun near her vehicle and denied seeing William Maxwell on the parking lot. He did admit that Vickie Brown began beating on the side of his pickup as he tried to drive from the parking lot. She managed to open the passenger door and enter the vehicle. Vickie said she wanted to talk with Mrs. Brooks and Brian agreed to take her to her house. Upon arrival at his home, Brooks parked in the driveway, close to the house. Vickie exited the vehicle and began walking away from his residence, according to Brian Brooks....Brooks replied that during the earlier interview he was "foggy" on details of the previous evening due to drinking too much. He stated that he did not want to answer questions unless he could be accurate about the details. I again asked Brooks about the .25 caliber ammunition found in his pickup. He stated he did have a .25 caliber automatic pistol. He had found the handgun on the bank of the Current River somewhere between Baptist Camp and Cedar Grove Campground. He stated he was alone on the river when he found the firearm. This was about one year ago, according to Brooks. He said the pistol appeared to be in good condition when he found it. It was only fired once, when he operated the slide and the gun fired accidentally. He left the pistol in his pickup, and he advised he did not know the brand or manufacturer of the handgun. He also did not know what he had done with the pistol. I asked Brooks, if he had not fired the weapon, to account for the missing rounds form the box of ammunition found in his pickup. He replied that the ammunition was left in his vehicle by an acquaintance from Springfield, whom he had fished with. Brooks said he did not know the man's name, that he was not a close friend...."