19 year old Brookley Louks was last seen in Greenwood, Indiana on June 24, 2002. She disappeared after leaving her apartment, located in the 1400 block of Cottonwood Drive, around 5:30 pm.
Background
Brookley Chantille Louks was born on December 12, 1982. She worked as a waitress at Prime Time Bar and Grill in Beech Grove.
According to her mother, Brookley had struggled with substance abuse issues in the past, but was recovering at the time of her disappearance. Her father, Scott A. Louks, died four months after she went missing.
Disappearance
At approximately 4:00 pm on June 24, 2002, Brookley Louks arrived home to her find that her apartment, located in the 1400 block of Cottonwood Drive in Greenwood, Indiana, had been burglarized.
She called 911, and police arrived to take a report. Around 5:30 pm, Brookley left her apartment, reportedly headed to her boyfriend’s home to stay the night, about 30 minutes away.
A witness says they saw her get into the passenger side of her blue 1990 Chevy Corsica, and that an unidentified man was driving. Brookley never made it to her boyfriend’s house and hasn’t been heard from since.
On June 26, 2002, Brookley was reported missing to the Greenwood Police Department.
Investigation
Brookley did not have a cell phone, bank account, or any credit cards at the time of her disappearance. None of her clothing or personal belongings were missing.
Police received an anonymous tip which led them to Brookley’s vehicle in Waverly, Indiana on July 1, 2002. The car was found abandoned in a parking lot near Indiana State Road 37 and Highway 144, approximately ten miles from her apartment.
This location is where a neighbor says they picked up Joe Nowicki on the night she disappeared, who was “out of breath and frazzled.”
Nowicki made several calls from that location that night, looking for a ride. It was about a mile from where Louks’ car was eventually found.
According to Louks’ mother, Nowicki was a close family friend, and Brookley would often help him care for his horses. A neighbor reported seeing Brookley’s car parked outside his home on the night she disappeared between 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
In July 2002, police searched Nowicki’s home and garage, located in the 4600 block of Old Smith Valley Road. During the search they located Brookley’s blood on the floor, desk, and ceiling. Nowicki claims she cut her finger while working on an upholstery project.
Police also found evidence in his workshop that someone had tried to mop up a substantial amount of blood off the floor. Although DNA testing confirmed the blood was Brookley’s, it was not enough to prove she had been killed.
Nowicki’s thumbprint was also found on the hood of Louks’ car, but because he had worked on her car in the past authorities didn’t believe they had enough direct evidence to charge him.
Nowicki had an extensive criminal history dating back to his teen years, including convictions for murder, rape, and robbery.
Nowicki died of cancer in August 2003, shortly after serving time for unrelated gun charges. He is considered the only suspect in Brookley’s disappearance.
Authorities were planning to charge him with murder, but he died before they could do so
“Do I think Joe is responsible for hurting her? One hundred percent. Absolutely. And it was in his garage. And he was pure, pure evil,” Brookley’s sister told the Vanised podcast in 2018.
Authorities continue to search any new information regarding Brookley’s case, but detectives say they haven’t received any new leads.
Her family wants to know where she is and what happened to her, and say they won’t stop searching until they get answers.
Investigators urge anyone with even the smallest detail to come forward, as it could be the one that leads to finding Brookley and giving the family closure.
Whereabouts
The location of Brookey Louks, as well as the circumstances surrounding her disappearance remains unknown. The only suspect in her case, Joe Nowicki, died of cancer in 2003.
She is presumed dead, though her remains have never been found.
Appearance
White female born on December 12, 1982. Brookley has brown hair, blue eyes, stands 5’2, and weighs 120 pounds. Her ears are pierced and she wears size 3 clothing.
Clothing & Accessories:
Brookley was last seen wearing a light colored blouse, dark colored capri pants, pink sandals, and a gold ring with two hearts surrounded by diamonds.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Brookley Louks please contact the Greenwood Police Department at (317) 887-5212, or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477.
