A chilling video has resurfaced showing a teenager minutes before she was allegedly gang-raped and fatally struck by a car. Madison Brooks, 19, was allegedly sexually assaulted in a car on January 15, 2023, after a night of drinking in a Baton Rouge bar, before being left on a dark road in the early hours.
The Incident
The Louisiana cheerleader was dumped out of the vehicle before stumbling across the road, where she was fatally struck by a truck. The driver of the vehicle that hit her stayed on scene and was cleared of charges. Her alleged rapists are on trial this month.
The resurfaced footage, allegedly recorded by one of the accused, shows an argument between the LSU student and one of the alleged perpetrators. The clip was provided to WBRZ by their legal counsel.
The Video
In the video, Brooks appears to slur her words during what seems to be a dispute with the car's occupants. "I'm sorry that I offended you that bad," Brooks can be heard saying from the centre rear seat. "Take her home," one of the men says off-camera. "Get out, get out. I will Uber on my own," she tells the man next to her, who leaves the vehicle to allow her to leave. "I'm sorry that your feelings got hurt," Brooks says in the short clip.
Legal Proceedings
Defence lawyers argued that the footage exonerated their clients, maintaining that Brooks engaged in consensual sexual activity with two of the men and was not assaulted. The trial of Desmond Carter, 21, one of the men who allegedly assaulted Brooks, will begin on August 17. Carter has been charged with rape alongside Kaivon Washington and Casen Carver.
The Brooks family and their supporters have been wearing pink to commemorate the late student at public events and court hearings. Carter previously asked the judge to ban spectators from wearing pink. His defence claims the color could bias or intimidate the jury. In response, Ashley Baustert, Brooks' mum, said: "We are not disruptive, we are very peaceful, and it's really just about Maddie's favourite colour."
