FBI Drops Courtney as Suspect in Two Oregon Murder Cases

Brooke Wilberger was last seen in May 2004

(Portland- AP) - The F-B-I says it has eliminated the man charged in the murder of Brooke Wilberger -- as a suspect in two of three other cases it was investigating.

Joel Courtney is charged in the kidnapping and murder of the 19-year-old.

Courtney is being held in Albuquerque on unrelated charges involving the rape of a student there. He was indicted in the Wilberger case last July. Wilberger, a Brigham Young University student, vanished in May of 2004 from in front of an apartment complex in Corvallis near Oregon State University. Despite massive searches, no trace of her has been found.

The F-B-I entered the case soon after Wilberger vanished. F-B-I spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said investigators still are looking for other cases that might involve Courtney and had identified three possible victims