Collegiate Times

The last time Joe McCloskey, father of deceased Tech student Brian McCloskey, made the trip to Blacksburg, it was merely days after he and his son took in the Washington Redskins? romp over the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Yesterday, he and Brian McCloskey?s mother, Dawn Powell, returned to hold a news conference at the Blacksburg Police Department concerning the on-going investigation into the death of their son.

Lt. Bruce Bradbery of the Blacksburg Police Department introduced one new piece of information, allowing that on Nov. 9, the day before Brian McCloskey died, Blacksburg police took a motor vehicle into custody. Though Bradbery was unwilling to say specifically where the vehicle was taken, he said it is ?within the borders of the state of Virginia.?

Bradbery would not elaborate further on the make or model of the car due to concerns both that the police should retain certain knowledge to test tip credibility as well as to make sure the McCloskey family sees justice served.
?The family?s need for justice far outweighs the need for details,? Bradbery said.

Police have spoken to several people who say they saw a vehicle on the footpath that night, though Bradbery said he was unsure whether frequent vehicular traffic on the path was a persistent problem.

Materials taken from the impounded vehicle are currently being tested for potential evidence, Bradbery said. However, Bradbery repeatedly said, ?This has not been labeled a homicide,? allowing only that the police department has identified persons of interest.

To police knowledge, there were two parties in the area that night. Brian McCloskey reportedly had visited one, a birthday party, but toxicology information as to whether the victim had consumed alcohol has yet to be returned to the police force.

Introducing a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the injuries to her son, Powell asked for the community to intensify its efforts in determining what exactly transpired before her son was found at 2 a.m. in the 1400 block of Christine Court with multiple blunt-force injuries that would take his life five days later.

?Despite all the support we have received, today we are asking the community again for help; we are a family deeply grieving the loss of a wonderful, young man,? Powell said.

Both parents expressed the need for whoever may possess information to contact the police ? no matter how innocuous the tip may seem ? in order to bring closure to their situation.

?(The reward will) hopefully generate somebody coming forward. What we are looking for is to help bring closure. We want to focus on Brian?s life, not his death. 19-year-olds are full of life, and they?ll know what we?re looking for,? Joe McCloskey said.

Joe McCloskey and Powell were especially complimentary of the friends Brian McCloskey had made in his time here at Tech, saying that many of them traveled to Maryland for the funeral.

?We?re just amazed at, in a short time, how strong his friendships were,? Joe McCloskey said.

Brian McCloskey, whose two older sisters attended Tech, was thoroughly enjoying his time at Tech and was especially looking forward to Tech?s then-upcoming football game against Miami, Joe McCloskey said.

He changed his career path ?two dozen? times in high school, Joe McCloskey said, eventually taking after Powell?s mother when he found an abrupt and surprising love of horticulture. Both parents expressed that Brian?s most distinguishing characteristics were his pure ?love of life? and an indomitable sense of humor.

Those wishing to contribute information to the investigation may reach the Blacksburg Police Department at (540) 961-1150 or (540) 961-1154. Anonymous information may be given at (540) 961-1819.