Sheriff who first arrested Bucky Brooks now trying to help him move on

BULLITT COUNTY, KY (WAVE) - After 16 long years, the murder case of Jessica Dishon finally came to an end this spring when her uncle was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

But another man spent time behind bars, and despite the end of the case, and despite a judge throwing out the charges against him, in some ways, David "Bucky" Brooks is still paying the price.

WAVE 3 News on Friday spoke exclusively to Brooks, and those trying to help him.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Stanley Dishon pleads guilty to manslaughter in niece's death]

For most of us, being accused of murder would be more than we can bear. But Brooks also now has a medically-fragile child, a disability, five hungry mouths to feed and a hard time putting his past behind him.

He and his wife Irene have a family full of love. Among their three children is 5-year-old Ida, who has endured a heart attack and three open-heart surgeries.

The Brookses also have a house full of needs, but not much money to fill them.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Bloody bed sheet found near where teen's body was discovered]

"Because (Ida's) got so many doctor's appointments right now, it's really taken a strain now," Brooks said.

Since his 2001 arrest in connection with the Dishon murder, Brooks has had a hard time putting the past behind him and finding work.

"I've been a few places, basically right after the last time that Mr. Dishon went to court," Brooks said of his efforts to find work. "(Employers) said no because of what was going on at the time."

To complicate things, Brooks' job choices are limited because of a medical issue from a 2005 fire where he tried to rescue four children from a burning home.

"I got insulation in my lungs," he said, adding that he can't do any heavy lifting.

Paul Parsley was the sheriff who first arrested Brooks, but now, he's trying to help him.

"I never did think Bucky was guilty, but I couldn't step in and say (not to) charge him because what if he is guilty?" Parsley said. "I've watched him; I've watched the whole family grow up."

Parsley and others are now pitching in to make things right.

"I think the community maybe needs to step in and help them out a little because actually the community has kicked them aside when they thought Bucky was guilty," Parsley said.

Parsley said the Brooks family needs almost everything -- food, clothes, even toilet paper.

Parsley and his wife help when they can, and they're part of a more organized effort to try to give the family a hand up, so the Brooks family can finally move on.

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