Jury selection for the trial of 17-year-old Desmond Carter, who is charged with rape in connection with the death of Madison Brooks, begins on August 17. Brooks, a 19-year-old Louisiana State University student, died after being struck by a car in January 2023 following an alleged assault in the back of a vehicle.
Her mother, Ashley Baustert, said her immediate family plans to attend court every day during the proceedings. She told the Daily Mail that balancing the trial with caring for her two other children at home will be a challenge, but she feels it is her duty to be there for her daughter.
Defense attorney requests filed this week ask the judge to forbid Brooks's family and friends from wearing pink in the courtroom. Carter's lawyer argued that wearing the color in support of Brooks would create a carnival atmosphere and deny the defendant a fair trial, though the judge has not yet ruled on the motion.
Details of the Charges and Alleged Assault
Investigators arrested four men after Brooks died on January 15, 2023. Grand jurors indicted 17-year-old Desmond Carter and 18-year-old Kaivon Washington on rape charges, while 18-year-old Casen Carver was charged with rape for being present in the front seat during the incident. A fourth man in the vehicle, 28-year-old Everett Lee, was not indicted by the grand jury.
Lawyers for Carter and Washington state the sexual encounter was consensual, claiming the group offered Brooks a ride home after she became separated from her friends and lost her phone. Carver's trial is set to begin in November, while no trial date has been established for Washington.
Family attorney Kerry Miller stated that surveillance footage shows Brooks teetering as she walked toward the vehicle outside Reggie's Bar in Tigerland. Miller also said video recorded inside the vehicle shows Carter assaulting Brooks while Washington appears to hold her down.
Toxicology reports revealed Brooks had a blood alcohol level of 0.319, which is four times the legal limit. Miller argued that her heavy intoxication left her unable to give consent. A video recorded by Carver shows him laughing and telling the camera that the men were about to rape her, while a muffled voice can be heard telling them to get off.
Events Leading to the Incident
On the Friday before her death, Brooks picked up her eight-year-old and nine-year-old brothers from school near her mother's home in Covington. She then drove 60 miles back to Baton Rouge to celebrate a friend's birthday on campus, picking up a cake before arriving.
Before leaving, Brooks interrupted her brothers' PlayStation game to kiss them goodbye and tell them she loved them. Baustert had told her daughter to enjoy her final weekend before classes started and offered to bring the rest of her belongings to campus on Sunday.
Brooks spent Saturday night with student revelers in Tigerland, a Baton Rouge neighborhood near Louisiana State University known for its bars. She met a family friend at Reggie's Bar and sent her mother a final text message reading "I love you!!!" at 11:38 p.m., accompanied by a photograph.
Police contacted Baustert in the early hours of Sunday morning to inform her that Brooks was in the hospital after being struck by a car. Baustert's parents drove her to Baton Rouge, while Brooks's father, John Brooks, traveled from Florida. Both parents arrived at the hospital in time to say goodbye while she was still breathing.
Investigation and Aftermath
Brooks's uncle and grandmother returned to the bar to locate her lost phone, questioning how she ended up on the parkway without her device at 3:00 a.m. Detectives informed Baustert one week later that they had launched a criminal rape investigation.
Reggie's Bar later lost its liquor license for serving underage customers and permanently closed. Baustert expressed satisfaction with the closure, calling it the right decision while requesting that those responsible be held accountable to the highest extent of the law.
Baustert also noted she takes comfort knowing her daughter was not left alone on the road. The driver of the vehicle that struck Brooks and a passerby stayed with her and prayed over her until emergency responders arrived.
Remembrance and Legacy
Family members described Brooks as a vibrant cheerleader who intended to major in communications. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, where she advocated for friendship, unity, and women's heart health.
During her life, Brooks enjoyed beach trips, shopping with her mother, and skiing in the Rocky Mountains, as well as skydiving over the Grand Canyon with her father. In her final act, she donated her heart and kidneys to save others.
Her family registered a star in the Taurus constellation named the Madi Brooks Star, located at the tip of the bull's upper horn as a symbol of strength. They also established a foundation in her name to provide financial assistance, advocate for young adult safety, and promote organ donation.
