Brake's family, girlfriend support him

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - On the eve of Troy Brake's trial for the murders of four people in Wright Township last September, his girlfriend said she still stands by him.

"Some people understand, and some people don't," Tarah Van Dyke told 24 Hour News 8. "But when you love somebody, that's what you do. And I don't believe he had anything to do with the Wright Township stuff."

But prosecutors use strong words to describe Brake.

"This man is evil. This man is evil," said Chris Becker, the Kent County assistant prosecutor.

Ottawa County prosecutor Ronald Frantz said Brake hates women and "shooting them is too good for them."

But the man who has been called a Jekyll and Hyde is known differently by his family and girlfriend. Brake's sister said he is not a killer. He is a brother who would do anything for his sister.

"Even in college, if I needed anything, he would be right there," Brenda Brake said. "He was one of the first people I would call."

And he is a father who doted on his two young children.

"If you look at that picture, he's cuddly," said Brenda Brake, pointing to a photograph. "He has him on his lap."

Troy Brake is accused of murdering Sharmaine Zimmer, her sons Tyler and Jeremy and Jeremy's girlfriend Katherine Brown, then setting their house on fire.

But relatives say there is no way Brake killed the Zimmers; the families were neighbors once in Wright Township. Sharmaine Zimmer used to babysit the Brake children.

"They were always very good to us, we only have positive things to say about them," Brenda Brake said.

Troy Brake's family remains behind him, even after he was convicted of raping and trying to murder a prostitute. They say the jury got it wrong.

The family also does not believe the prosecutor's theory: that Brake killed the family so he could rape Katherine Brown.

Brenda Brake wonders how much of that came from a jail inmate who is expected to testify.

"I wonder what kind of deal that inmate is getting by coming forward and making this stuff up, because it's ridiculous," Brenda Brake said.

Van Dyke, who has been with Troy Brake for three years, has not wavered in her support. "He needs the support and love."

24 Hour News 8's Ken Kolker will cover the trial when it begins Tuesday.