Background: Who Was Madison Brooks?
Madison Kennedy Brooks was a 19-year-old college student at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was born on May 7, 2003, and grew up in Covington, Louisiana, a small city on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. By the time she started college, she’d already been accepted into LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, where she was studying political science. She was also a member of the Alpha Phi sorority on campus.
By most accounts, Madison was an energetic, socially active college student. She wasn’t a public figure in the traditional sense — no professional career, no public platform, no celebrity status. Most people outside of Louisiana had never heard of her before January 2023. But after a single night ended her life, she became the center of one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the state’s recent history.
She was a sophomore when she died. She had two brothers, Alden and Brady. Her mother, Ashley Baustert, has since become a vocal advocate for her daughter’s memory and founded the Madison Brooks Foundation in her honor. Her father is Scott Brooks, though details about him remain limited in public sources.
📌 Important Note on Wikipedia
Madison Brooks does not have an official page on Wikipedia as of August 2026. Searches for “Madison Brooks Wikipedia” lead to third-party biography sites, not the Wikipedia platform itself. This article serves as a fully sourced alternative.
Latest Update
As of August 5, 2026, here is what is currently known.
The legal case connected to Madison Brooks’ death is still moving through Louisiana courts — more than three years after she was killed. No trial has concluded as of this date.
The most active thread in the case involves Casen Carver, 22, who was the driver of the vehicle Madison was in during the early morning hours of January 15, 2023. He was charged with first-degree rape, third-degree rape, and video voyeurism. Prosecutors have admitted that Carver did not physically assault Brooks — the charge rests on Louisiana’s law that defines first-degree rape as occurring when two or more offenders are involved, which includes those who provide assistance.
Carver waived his right to a jury trial in September 2025, meaning a judge — not a jury — will decide his case. His trial was scheduled to begin in December 2025, then pushed again. As of June 29, 2026, the bench trial was reset for November 16, 2026.
A legal battle over which judge should preside over the case ran for months. Prosecutors twice sought to remove Judge Gail Horne Ray from the case, citing concerns about impartiality. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied both requests. Judge Ray will remain on the case.
Two other men charged in the alleged rape — Kaivon Washington and Desmond Carter — have not gone to trial yet. Their cases are pending. A fourth man, Everett Lee, had charges grand jury pretermitted, meaning no decision was made on indicting him.
An appeals court ruled in March 2025 that Brooks’ sexual history cannot be introduced as evidence at trial. The Louisiana Supreme Court later upheld that ruling, rejecting a defense appeal on the issue. Brooks’ mother, Ashley Baustert, has publicly stated her frustration with delays and has contacted both Governor Jeff Landry and the state Attorney General to push for accountability.
Full Profile
Quick Reference: Madison Brooks at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Madison Kennedy Brooks |
| Date of Birth | May 7, 2003 |
| Date of Death | January 15, 2023 |
| Age at Death | 19 years old |
| Hometown | Covington, Louisiana, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 1 inch (approx.) |
| Parents | Mother: Ashley Baustert | Father: Scott Brooks |
| Siblings | Two brothers — Alden and Brady |
| Education | St. Scholastica Academy (high school); Louisiana State University (college, 2021–2023) |
| University Major | Political Science (Manship School of Mass Communication, LSU) |
| Sorority | Alpha Phi, LSU chapter |
| Religion | Not confirmed in public sources |
| Relationship Status | Single at time of death; no confirmed relationship publicly known |
| Net Worth | Not applicable — she was a college student at the time of her death |
| Wikipedia Page | No official Wikipedia page exists as of August 2026 |
| Foundation | The Madison Brooks Foundation, started by her mother Ashley Baustert |
Family and Early Life
Madison grew up in Covington, Louisiana, a town known for its quiet residential character on the outskirts of the greater New Orleans metro area. She was the kind of student who stayed active — she attended St. Scholastica Academy, an all-girls Catholic prep school known for its academic standards. After graduating, she enrolled at LSU in 2021, just before turning 18.
Her family has remained close and publicly vocal since her death. Her mother Ashley Baustert has given multiple media interviews, spoken to state officials, and kept the legal case in the public eye. Her two brothers Alden and Brady have stayed largely out of the press.
Career Path
Madison hadn’t started a career yet — she was only a sophomore in college. She’d been accepted into LSU’s Manship School, which is a competitive communications program, and was focused on political science. There’s no documented professional work history beyond her studies.
Education
She completed her secondary education at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington. She enrolled at Louisiana State University in 2021 as a freshman and was midway through her sophomore year when she died in January 2023.
Social Media
Madison had a personal Instagram account at the time of her death with approximately 4,400 followers, according to reports at the time. The account is no longer actively maintained. For updates on her legacy and the foundation her mother started in her name, the Madison Brooks Foundation maintains a public presence on social media — search for it directly by name on Facebook and Instagram for the most current information.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Does Madison Brooks have a Wikipedia page?
No, Madison Brooks does not have an official Wikipedia page as of August 2026. Multiple search results link to third-party biography and news sites under the “Madison Brooks Wikipedia” query, but none of those are actual Wikipedia articles. Wikipedia’s editorial standards require notable sourcing before a biography article can be created and maintained, and no such page currently exists for her.
How did Madison Brooks die?
Madison Brooks died on January 15, 2023, after being struck by a rideshare vehicle on Burbank Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Court records indicate she had been dropped off at the Pelican Lakes subdivision in the early morning hours after leaving Reggie’s Bar in a car with four men who face rape charges connected to that night. She wandered into the roadway and was hit. She was transported to a hospital and died the same day.
Who was charged in Madison Brooks’ case?
Three men were formally charged: Casen Carver (first-degree rape, third-degree rape, and video voyeurism), Kaivon Washington (first-degree rape and third-degree rape), and Desmond Carter (first-degree rape and third-degree rape). A fourth man, Everett Lee, had charges pretermitted by the grand jury, meaning no indictment decision was reached. No one has been convicted yet as of August 2026.
What is the current status of the Madison Brooks case in 2026?
As of August 5, 2026, no trial in the Madison Brooks case has concluded. Casen Carver’s bench trial is scheduled for November 16, 2026. Kaivon Washington and Desmond Carter are still awaiting trial. The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that Judge Gail Horne Ray will remain on Carver’s case despite prosecutors twice requesting her removal. Courts have also ruled that Brooks’ sexual history may not be introduced as defense evidence.
Where was Madison Brooks from?
Madison Brooks was from Covington, Louisiana, a community on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, roughly 40 miles north of New Orleans. She left Covington to attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 2021.
What was Madison Brooks studying at LSU?
She had been accepted into LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication and was studying political science. She was a sophomore at the time of her death in January 2023, having started at LSU in the fall of 2021.
What is the Madison Brooks Foundation?
The Madison Brooks Foundation was created by her mother, Ashley Baustert, following Madison’s death. Its stated purpose is to keep Madison’s memory alive and to advocate for victims of sexual violence. Ashley Baustert has been publicly active in the legal proceedings and has spoken to both the Governor of Louisiana and the state Attorney General about accountability in the case.
Wrap-Up
Madison Brooks didn’t seek the spotlight. She was a 19-year-old college student studying political science, living in a sorority house, and figuring out her future — the same things millions of college sophomores are doing at any given moment. What happened to her on January 15, 2023, was sudden, devastating, and deeply public. The details of her last night alive spread fast, sparked national conversation about campus safety, consent, and alcohol culture, and eventually drew the attention of Louisiana’s governor.
More than three years later, the court case connected to her death still hasn’t produced a single conviction. Trials have been scheduled, delayed, and rescheduled. Judges have been challenged and kept. Defense lawyers have fought to introduce evidence that appeals courts have repeatedly blocked. Her mother has had to keep fighting, keep speaking, keep showing up to courthouse steps — all while grieving.
If you came here looking for a Madison Brooks Wikipedia page, there isn’t one. What exists is a documented, ongoing legal story that her family is still living through. The next major event on the calendar is Casen Carver’s bench trial, currently set for November 16, 2026. This article will be updated as that date approaches and new verified information becomes available.
John Wood is the founder and lead editor of Biography Region. He researches and writes accurate, engaging biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers, and public figures, delivering well-sourced, reader-focused content that informs and inspires.