An Oregon family struggles with the mysterious disappearance of their 19-year-old daughter Brooke Wilberger, who was kidnapped from an apartment complex just blocks away from the campus of Oregon State University in May of 2004. NBC News’ Kate Snow reports on the stressful investigation that plagued Brooke’s family and her community as the twists and turns in the five-year case left everyone looking for answers. When initial leads turned out to be dead-ends, investigators worried time was running out—until a similar abduction hundreds of miles away in New Mexico turned out to be the long-awaited break in the case of bringing Brooke back home.
Bringing Brooke Home is a two-hour Dateline report re-airing Friday, July 1st, at 9pm/8c, including interviews with Brooke’s family, police investigators and Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, whose involvement in Brooke’s case completely changed the hunt for Brooke's kidnapper.


Story did not have to be 2 hours long. The story could have been told in an hour. I could not watch the entire story due to the length. In an effort to keep viewers tuned in the network dragged this story out. Not a good idea.
Terrible story, amazing family. Character, values, morality in stark contrast to the exact opposite. What a tremendously class act. They are light years ahead of me, I could never show that generosity or mental toughness. Absolutely inspiring in its own tragic way.
Where was the father, Greg, in all of this? Also, did anyone else hear about the lawsuit Greg Wilberger filed against the company that hired Joel Courtney to drive that green van? Did Cammy and Greg divorce?
Anyone know and can cite resources? The case made me weep-- I wish our society cared more about life and human hearts than using sex and sensuality to sell products. It's the new Playboy TV show and advertising sex to sell gum that encourages people to do atrocious things like this (not the only thing, but a cause nonetheless).
Thanks for showing this tragic story. It reminds us how troubled our society is and how fragile life is. Unfortunately, animals like Joel Courtney have always existed, in almost every society, but it seems our entertainment industry today is hell-bent on producing as many Courtneys as it possibly can. Shame on us for supporting such an industry.
We call people like Courtney an "animal", and understandably so -- they're psychopaths. But I think one of the scariest truths in the world is to remember that people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and less powerful lunatics like Courtney have one, essential commonality with each of us: they're human.
As a teacher, when I survey my 100+ students I see such potential for positive change-- and I weep at the possibility of educating another Ted Bundy or another Joel Courtney. They are no less human than we are, and that is the most frightening thing of all.
We fell asleep and didn't see the end of the story. What happened? Did they ever find Brooke's remains?
Courtney eventually told them where Brooke's remains were -- but only in exchange for life in prison without parole in the New Mexico prison, and not the Oregon prison (where he had faced terrible beatings from inmates).
You would think that Chris would know that cameras are everywhere! lol He is now just a spanked, spoiles, old news has been. Thanks for the memories Chris! Oh - did you get rid of the DNA so the divorce court does not get a hold of it? lol
I fell asleep at the end of this show. I last saw the part where he was in that area the day she disappeared. Did he confess to taking her? Did he say why he did? Can someone answer my questions. Thanks!
He did confess to kidnapping her. He also confessed that he raped her in the back of the van, took her into the woods where she fought against him, and he killed her by bludgeoning her head. I don't think he explained why he did that specifically, but from his sister's insights into his mind I think she would say that he liked the feelings of control that it gave him. He felt like he had power when he did things like this. He also admitted to being high on cocaine at the time.