College Wing ‘Under Repair’ 10 Years — Students Broke In and Found 3 Students Missing Since 2009

Ashford University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. October 15, 2019.
Tyler Brooks and Jordan Hayes were used to exploring forgotten places—old factories, empty warehouses, abandoned buildings. But today, they were breaking into the forbidden West Wing of their own university, sealed for a decade under the shadow of “asbestos contamination.” No one ever talked about it. No one ever questioned it. But Tyler, writing a feature for the student newspaper, wanted answers.

Bolt cutters in hand, Tyler sliced through the chain. The heavy door groaned open. The hallway inside was frozen in time—lockers lined the walls, dust blanketed everything, the air thick with silence. Most lockers hung open, rusted and empty. But three stood out:
Locker 247. Locker 251. Locker 255.
Brand new padlocks, shiny and clean. Someone was maintaining them.

Tyler hesitated. He could report it to administration. But something told him to look deeper. He cut the first padlock, swung the locker open—and found human remains, wrapped in decayed fabric, a backpack, personal items, and an ID badge:
Chenise Williams, Class of 2011.

Jordan gasped, his camera clattering to the floor. Tyler’s hands shook as he cut the next padlock—more remains, another ID:
Jamal Davis, Class of 2011.

The third locker revealed Tyra Johnson, Class of 2012.
Three missing students. Ten years. The secret was out.

The Cover-Up

Tyler and Jordan ran to the nearest faculty office, breathless, desperate. Professor Richard Brennan listened calmly, too calm. He called Dean David Hayes, who barely reacted, focusing on university liability and student conduct. Tyler and Jordan were suspended, threatened with expulsion, accused of trespassing and making false reports.

When they showed their photos, the dean dismissed them. “Old athletic gear,” he said. “Not evidence of human remains.” Brennan was sent to “investigate.” Tyler’s gut twisted—he knew Brennan wouldn’t report what they’d found.

That night, Brennan returned to the West Wing, confirmed the remains, and made two calls:
One to have the evidence removed.
Another to initiate a “contingency plan.”

The Fight for Truth

Banned from campus, Tyler and Jordan refused to give up. They researched the missing students—three high achievers, all from underrepresented backgrounds, all part of Ashford’s first diversity cohort in 2008, all vanished in 2009.
They dug into Brennan’s background and found suspicious online posts:
“Merit-based admissions being replaced by quota systems.”
“Some problems have a way of resolving themselves.”

They discovered the West Wing was sealed just days before Tyra disappeared, based on an asbestos report filed by inspector Thomas Kirkland—who, they learned, had been paid off by Brennan.

They took their evidence to Detective Maria Santos at Milwaukee PD. She listened, took notes, and promised to investigate. But without physical evidence, she couldn’t get search warrants.

Santos interviewed the families. Patricia Williams, Chenise’s mother, broke down when she learned her daughter had been at the university the whole time. Robert Davis, Jamal’s father, remembered Brennan as “helpful”—too helpful. Angela and Marcus Johnson, Tyra’s parents, echoed the same grief and frustration.

The Breakthrough

Santos obtained a warrant for university records and found that only three people had access to the West Wing after it was sealed:
Dean Hayes, head of maintenance, and Richard Brennan—who requested his key days before Tyra disappeared.

She confronted Thomas Kirkland, the inspector, who confessed Brennan paid him $5,000 to file a fraudulent asbestos report.
With Kirkland’s statement, Santos secured warrants to search Brennan’s office and car.

In Brennan’s trunk, she found three heavy-duty padlocks matching those on the lockers, and a bag of bone fragments. In his office, she found files on all three victims—course schedules, photos, activity logs.

DNA matched the bone fragments to Chenise Williams. Santos got a warrant for Brennan’s home. Cadaver dogs found three sets of remains buried under his garden shed—wrapped in plastic, preserved with chemicals.

The Arrest and Trial

Brennan was arrested during a lecture. Students filmed the scene as he was led away in handcuffs. The trial was swift and devastating.

DNA evidence.
Padlocks with microscopic bone material.
Kirkland’s testimony about the fraudulent report.
The families’ heartbreaking accounts.
Tyler and Jordan’s testimony about discovering the bodies and being threatened.

Brennan showed no remorse. In his confession, he admitted to targeting the three students because they were “threats” to what he called “traditional standards.” He had orchestrated the cover-up, sealed the building, and controlled the investigation.

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes. Guilty on all counts.
Judge Morrison sentenced Brennan to three consecutive life sentences. “You will die in prison. And when you die, those three students will still be remembered, will still matter. You will be forgotten.”

The Legacy

Ashford University demolished the West Wing, replacing it with a memorial garden.
Three plaques:
Chenise Williams — She soared.
Jamal Davis — He led.
Tyra Johnson — She inspired.

At the memorial service, families placed flowers. Tyler and Jordan stood quietly in the back. Patricia Williams hugged them both. “Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for bringing my baby home.”

Dean Hayes resigned. The new dean, Dr. Jennifer Martinez, pledged to honor every student and protect every life.

Epilogue

Sometimes justice comes slowly. Sometimes it takes two students refusing to stay quiet, refusing to accept easy answers. Tyler Brooks and Jordan Hayes did the right thing, and because of that, three families found closure, and a university was forced to confront its darkest secrets.

The memorial garden stands as a testament to lives cut short, dreams stolen, and the power of truth. Chenise, Jamal, Tyra—never forgotten.

Their names will always be spoken. Their stories will always be known. And Ashford University will never forget.