Family prepares for sentencing of daughter's killer

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — After coping for nearly nine months with the tragic death of her daughter Brooke Spencer, Leann Eskeets Spencer now must face the sentencing trial of her daughter's murderer.

For the last several months, Spencer has been making efforts to get as many people as she can to be at the sentencing trial of Philip Notah. She understands that if more people are there it will help the judge see how Brooke's life touched the lives of many and how her death had a devastating impact. She hopes to give Notah a better chance of maximum sentencing.

But Spencer knows that the sentencing of Notah will not bring the back the comfort she once had when her daughter was alive.

In the time she has had to cope with her daughter's death, Spencer said she often wonders about Notah's mother, who she is certain must be going through the same devastation as she is. When she walks by her daughter's room, and realizes that she is not coming back, she said she thinks that Notah's mother must thinking the same thought when she walks by her son's room.

"I'm sure Philip's mom feels the same way," said Spencer. "But still, she gets to see her son."

Spencer said that Notah's family has expressed their condolences through her family members, but said she does not know how to approach them.

"I don't know what to say; I don't know how to talk to them," said Spencer. "I feel bad for them. It's sad because our families were close."

Spencer and Notah, met in eighth grade, and became a couple during their sophomore year of school when Spencer transferred from Rehoboth Christian School to play basketball for Gallup High School.

Spencer said following her daughter's death, many people came forward telling her they were sorry they never told about Notah's abusive behaviors toward Brooke. While Spencer said she never saw any physical evidence of abuse, like bruises, she believes that Notah may been controlling mentally and physically. The couple's relationship changed weeks prior to Brooke's death when the two broke up. Spencer said their relationship was rocky the last few months, and her daughter decided to break if off, especially since she had plans to make her education a priority.

"I didn't realize it (their breakup) was going to be devastating on him. I didn't know he was so distraught," said Spencer. "Sometimes I wonder, 'Why didn't his family do something?' "

Spencer said she was told of a time when Notah was being physically controlling to her daughter in the hallways of Gallup High School.

"It seemed like they were doing good for a while," said Spencer. "Maybe they were hiding something. Maybe they thought they could work things out themselves."

While their families were fairly close, Spencer said they never really got to know Notah personally, and that he was usually quiet and distant.

"I never knew a lot of things I wish I could have known," said Spencer. "If only I said this (or that)."

While Spencer said she tries not to blame herself, she said it's hard.

At the trial, Spencer, as well as Brooke's father Bennie Spencer Jr., her maternal uncle, Irvin Patterson, as well as her softball coach Patrick Volpert with the Albuquerque Heat, will be talking about Brooke's life and death. Family members and friends of the Brooke will be wearing shirts in her memory, including shirts that were specially made for her during last year's state championship game.

Spencer said she is nervous and scared for the trial, but both her and her family are hopeful that the judge will give a maximum sentence.

"Hopefully, he'll see how important she is to us," said Spencer.

Still, Spencer knows, and was even told by the U.S. Attorney's Office not to anticipate closure from the sentencing.

"People are telling me leave it in God's hands; He's the real judge," she said.

Spencer said she wants to use her daughter's death to educate others on domestic violence.

"He didn't have to do what he did," said Spencer. "I thought she was going to make it; I thought she was going to survive."