PROVO — Brooke Wilberger was part of a tight circle of friends that was formed during her freshman year at Brigham Young University.
Those friends were confronted Wednesday with a disturbing, chilling image — the face of the man accused of killing the pretty coed who vanished 14 months ago.
On Wednesday, the group gathered to watch the televised press conference during which authorities announced they had arrested and charged a man with the rape and murder of 19-year-old Wilberger.
Joel Patrick Courtney, who has been in custody in Albuquerque, N.M., since November on rape and kidnapping counts, was indicted Friday on 19 counts in the Wilberger case — including aggravated murder, kidnapping, sodomy and sexual abuse.
Friend Brittany Knight said she thought Courtney was "smirking" in the photo that flashed on the TV screen.
"If you were to put his picture up next to Brooke's, you'd be looking at complete opposites," Knight said. "Brooke is the embodiment of goodness and happiness, and he is the embodiment of all that is evil."
Police revealed during the press conference that police background checks helped lead Oregon investigators to Courtney in the Wilberger case.
In New Mexico, Courtney is accused of kidnapping a foreign-exchange student at knifepoint on Nov. 20, forcing her into his car, tying her up with a shoelace and sexually assaulting her. That occurred six months after the disappearance of Wilberger.
Albuquerque police last December called their counterparts in Newport, Ore., after discovering Courtney had been stopped there for a traffic violation, Heiser said.
Newport police told their Albuquerque colleagues "Benton County might have some interest in this man," said Benton County District Attorney Scott Heiser.
According to the district attorney, discovery of a green minivan that had been previously linked to Courtney was crucial in building a case against him.
Heiser would not say where the van was found — other than it wasn't Oregon or New Mexico. "The green minivan is the link," Heiser said, but he wouldn't say how.
Heiser said Courtney had a job as a supervisor with a Portland chemical cleaning crew when Wilberger disappeared from a Corvallis apartment complex on May 24, 2004. She was staying in Corvallis with her sister.
Citing court documents, Wednesday news reports said that Courtney was scheduled to appear in Newport on a drunken driving charge on the day Wilberger vanished.
He left a phone message with the court saying he was in Corvallis and on his way to Newport, but he didn't show up, according to the cited records.
Heiser refused to provide answers to a number of questions, such as whether Wilberger's clothing has been found. "I will not say anything that might compromise my case," he said.
He said it is premature to say whether he would seek the death penalty if Courtney is convicted in the Wilberger case.
He said a Benton County grand jury heard testimony from 13 witnesses, and decided there was enough evidence to charge Courtney with killing Wilberger even though no body had been found.
Heiser also said that because of New Mexico's pending charges against Courtney, "it is unlikely he'll be available for extradition to Oregon for some time."
Wilberger's parents, Greg and Cammy Wilberger, also were at the news conference.
Cammy Wilberger said the Wilberger family's main goal remains "to find her and see that justice is served. . . . We believe families are eternal. Brooke will be with our family together."
On the BYU campus, Wilberger's friends cling to memories of their short time with Brooke. "She could light up a room," said Whitney Griffith.
Griffith said she has been equally impressed by the strength and faith of the Wilberger family on the occasions that she's met them.
"They know families are forever, and they have so much faith that this will all turn out OK in the end," Griffith said. "They amaze me."
Members of the Wilberger family declined additional comment.
BYU spokesman Brent Harker said the university will likely remember Wilberger by flying the flag at half-staff and possibly holding a memorial service.
He said the school is waiting for the right time to do so.
"I think it would be appropriate to do that when funeral arrangements are made," he said.
Contributing: Associated Press
E-mail: jtwitchells@desnews.com