History of the Brooks Case
Every weekday, Kansas.com's Wichita Crime Maps show you all the crimes reported yesterday across Wichita, and every crime reported in your neighborhood for the past week. See them here.
e-mail
print
RSS
reprint
AIM
Digg it
del.icio.usJune 17, 2006: Man is third suspect in Chelsea Brook case
BY AMANDA O'TOOLE
The Wichita Eagle
Sedgwick County Jail records on Sunday revealed the name of a second adult arrested in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Chelsea Brooks.
Theodore G. Burnett, 49, was arrested Friday on other charges, but he wasn't listed in connection with the murder charge until Saturday.
Two other people have also been arrested in connection with the case. A 19-year-old, Elgin R. Robinson, was the first suspect named in the case. A 17-year-old male has not been identified.
Burnett has a criminal history. Since 1978, he has been convicted of three felonies - burglary, aggravated escape from custody and drug charges. His parole ended in November.
Despite his past, friends said Burnett is not capable of killing.
"He's a thief and a drug user, but I don't see him as a murderer," said Steven White, who said he has known Burnett for about 10 years.
White said Burnett had seemed more distant than usual over the past few weeks, but he thought it had been because Burnett owed him money.
The two normally talked on a daily basis at the apartment complex near Market and Lincoln where they both live.
"I just never thought Ted would pull anything like that," he said. "But everything will come out. If he's guilty, justice will be served."
Burnett's girlfriend, Trudy Guthrie, said she's certain her boyfriend is innocent.
"When you're reading the articles about this, all you an think of is what kind of monster could do this," she said at White's apartment on Sunday. "It wasn't Ted. He's a good person with a good heart."
She said officers questioned her and tore through her apartment Friday night, but she wouldn't say what they asked her or what they were looking for.
She hasn't been able to talk with Burnett since his arrest.
She said she feels bad for the Brooks family.
"I want the family to know I understand that they want that person caught and convicted," she said. "But Ted is not the type of person to do this."
Guthrie said she had never heard of Robinson, the 19-year-old who has also been arrested in the case, or the 17-year-old whose name has not been released .
Court records show that Robinson was named the subject of a protecti on-from-abuse case filed in February by Chelsea's mother, Terri Brooks.
Friends said Robinson had once been in a relationship with Chelsea.
Robinson's grandmother, Pauline Lancaster, contacted at her home Sunday, said the family had asked her not to comment.
Robinson listed her address, in the 3600 block of East Oneida, as his permanent address.
Lancaster said Robinson stayed with her some weekends, but also lived with his father, Elgin Robinson Sr.
Chelsea was last seen June 9 at a skating center she frequented.
She was nine months pregnant.
Officials at the Sedgwick County Jail said no court appearances have been scheduled for either Burnett or Robinson.
Deputy Oscar Rodriguez said the two would probably go before the judge via video this morning, when the judge will be able to explain charges and set future court dates.
Reach Amanda O'Toole at 316-268-6357 or aotoole@wichitaeagle.com.