The suspect in Madison Brooks' rape case has been charged with a third criminal offense after he allegedly laughed and said, “They're going to rape her,” on a cellphone recording.
A grand jury recently indicted Louisiana State University sophomore Kaysen Carver, 19, on video voyeurism charges for her alleged role in an alleged rape before her death in January 2023.
He is also charged with first- and third-degree rape. “We've been told the grand jury is going to indict the ham sandwich,” said Joe Long, Carver's attorney, dismissing the grand jury process, which was held behind closed doors.
“This is a retroactive charge dating back to January. Police didn't think this was a crime in January, but because she didn't have a case and she was panicking, prosecutors are now saying this is a crime. “I decided that,” Long told FOX News Digital. “If the police saw the video and didn't charge him in January, what would that mean to a reasonable person?”
Madison Brooks rape suspect predicts attack in self-recorded video: lawyer
An undated photo of LSU student Madison Brooks, who was fatally hit by a car in January 2023 after being accused of rape. (Brooks family)
Brooks' family attorney Kelly Miller said it was an “appropriate accusation” after viewing the video in court in September. The video is not publicly available.
“He knew what was going to happen. He said at the beginning of the video that she was going to be raped,” Miller told Fox News Digital.
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Brooks, a sophomore at LSU, met the four suspects at Reggie's Bar in the high-crime area of Tigerland, a social hotspot near Baton Rouge's main campus.
She was sitting in the back seat of the suspect's car when she was raped and thrown to the side of the road, where she was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle.
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Pictured left to right: Kaivon Washington, Everett Lee, Kasen Carver, and Madison Brooks. (East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office/Instagram)
Carver said in a self-recorded video, pointing his cellphone camera at himself from the passenger seat and saying, “These guys are crazy. they rape It’s her,” Miller said.
Miller said Carver provided a 10- to 15-second selfie video even though the back seat was blocked by some sort of obstruction. law enforcement There are eyes inside.
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“You can see what's going on in the back seat from the right side of the camera,” Miller said. “Then you see Kaibon (Washington, the other suspect) pushing Maddie down.
“Then we see Carter on top of Maddie with her pants down. You can see her legs sticking out and she's not wearing anything. She's wearing a plaid shirt. So we know it's Desmond Carter.”
The undated photo shows Madison Brooks posing for a photo. (Instagram/@madibrookss)
As the alleged act unfolded, Miller said, music continued to play and at least one of the suspects could be heard cheering.
“Carver said several times during the recording, almost like a narrative, 'They just turned this upside down,'” Miller said.
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The video was only seen by the grand jury, which is behind closed doors.
“The grand jury will be held in secret. We've also been told that the grand jury will indict the ham sandwich,” Long said.
“This is one of those deals. At trial, the jury will see everything. My client is innocent. The public will see the truth at trial.”
Ashley Baustert, mother of Madison Brooks, stands in front of the Madison Brooks Foundation sign in Times Square on Monday, May 8, 2023. Brooks was fatally hit by a car earlier this year. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
Carver has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Three other suspects – Everett Lee, 28; Washington, 18, and Desmond Carter, 17, who is being charged as an adult, have all pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Washington is charged with other rapes in the area.
Good Samaritans try to save Brooks
Prosecutors continued to play short clips of the video after an intoxicated Brooks was forced out of the suspect's car in the middle of Burbank Drive in the early morning hours of Jan. 15.
She stumbled into the middle of a busy four-lane highway and was hit by an oncoming car.
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The driver remained at the scene and called 911, but good Samaritans Beau Adams, 21, and Kathryn DeVilliers, 21, stopped the car and tried to rescue her.
Paramedics were called and took her to hospital, where she ultimately died.
Kathryn DeVilliers and Beau Adams in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. A 21-year-old roommate is credited with prolonging CPR during the final moments of Madison Brooks after she was hit by a car. (KR/Mega for Fox News Digital)
A close-up photo of Kathryn DeVilliers and Beau Adams' arm tattoo on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The matching tattoos are a nod to Madison Brooks, who these 21-year-old roommates are credited with. After being hit by a car, he prolonged his final moments by performing CPR. (KR/Mega for Fox News Digital)
Prosecutors argued the suspects did not appear to know Brooks had died until the next day, Miller said.
Brooks' mother, Ashley Baustert, told Fox News Digital that she spoke of Adams and De Villiers' courage in a previous interview.
“I felt so comforted and at peace that Beau and Kathryn were there. The last few people Maddie saw didn't mean it.” please be my girlfriend [alleged] attacker'' Baustert said.
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LSU seniors marked a cross along Burbank Highway in Brooks' memory at the crash site, where stuffed animals and other trinkets were placed. They also attended Mr. Brooks' funeral and memorial service.
They have been in contact with Brooks' mother to check on her.
