Another is that he improperly stored skeletons and body parts. He rode to the party with friends, but they left before him, leaving Brooks without a ride. Or could it be more sinister- that black people were unwelcome? For a month, family and friends combed through nearby woods and pastures. After he failed to come home the next day, his family contacted the police who began searching for Brooks. The guy that went to get cigarettes didn't even consider where he was going to get them since they said earlier they didn't know the town and the place didn't even have a proper grocery store. After a period of investigation The KBI sent a letter to the family that said, in part, that no evidence or information came from the investigating indicating that his death was a crime, for this reason the investigation into his death was closed But many people simply didnt agree. . KMBC 9 Investigates is cracking open the unsolved case file of Alonzo Brooks.The 23-year-old went to a party in 2004. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. 2023 Getty Images. He kept in touch with lots of his friends from the old neighborhood, but also branched out and made many new friends in Gardner. Alonzo Brooks. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Yes, but there are no specific anatomical signs to show drowning. The body was consistent with being in the creek for 30 days but I cant tell the circumstances of how he ended up there Most people who dispose of bodies do it for convenience. It was unclear to me in my research whether or not the tenants were the ones who threw the party or if the party was thrown by people who were just using the space, Billy and Cindy went to the La Cygne Sheriff. Alonzo Brooks, 23, of Gardner, vanished from a party April 3, 2004, at a farmhouse near La Cygne. Further confusing this theory are the rumors that Alonzo had been stored in either a meat locker or a chest freezer during this time period. It kills me to think 16 years later nobody wouldve been eaten up by that guilt and come forward. The official autopsy at the time didnt determine a cause of death and the case went cold. [13], Deaths of Arnold Archambeau and Ruby Bruguier, "Kansas man Alonzo Brooks' death from 2004 ruled as homicide by FBI", "Alonzo Brooks - View Obituary & Service Information", "FBI, US Attorney announce $100,000 reward in 2004 murder of Alonzo Brooks", "FBI Reopens Investigation Into Death Of Alonzo Brooks, Examined In 'Unsolved Mysteries' Revival", "FBI exhumes body of Alonzo Brooks, whose case was featured in Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries', "After 15 years, the Alonzo Brooks case has been reopened by the FBIcan it finally be solved? [8] Postmortem examination indicated that Brooks did not have any broken bones, any signs of blunt force trauma or injury, nor any of the biological signs of drowning in his lungs. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.yelp.com/biz/family-cafe-la-cygne. Dateline's online series Cold Case Spotlight. Law enforcement were called and searched the area but couldnt find Brooks, who was only one of three Black men at the party of 100 or so that night. He's my baby, you know." Alonzos 3 sisters and brother describe him as a kind, sweet, a little shy but playful kid who was loving and fun. He never returned to his Gardner, Kansas, home. When Alonzos big brother Billy came to the area to help search with his wife Cindy, they felt much the same way. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. I am really curious about the what did local kids say about Alonzo and Adam. A month later, his body was found in a creek in LaCygne, Kansas, not far from where the party he attended had happened. He was the youngest of 5 children, and though it frustrated him to be the baby of the family when he was young, it made him especially close with his mother Maria Ramirez. A Facebook page Justice for Alonzo Brooks was created to discuss the case and help share awareness. If hes been beaten, theres nothing left identifiable. Stephen McAllister, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, says he shares the belief of Brooks' family: that he was murdered and that his death was racially motivated. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? He said: Theres no way to know if someone has been frozen and defrosted. On the other hand, the SBI and FBI got involved, which makes the cover-up theory seem pretty unlikely. He didn't drown. Daniel Fune and Tyler Broughard, two of the friends who attended the party, said in the Netflix documentary thathe wasn't prone to let that sort of thing bother him. Alonzo was 23 years old at the time of his death. Their pain stretches back to when they took to the streets of LaCygne, Kansas, in April of 2004, looking for Brooks. The link above is where people are talking. The new investigation is focused on determining whether Brooks, an African-American who was 23 years old when he died, was the victim of a racially motivated killing. New technology, and a new incentive After the case was reopened, the FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading. In the initial investigation, a coroner in Linn County said he was unable to determine a cause of death and witnesses interviews failed to produce any arrests. His family and friends found it frustrating to keep track of what could be true, and what was ridiculous. After the initial report came out which stated that Alonzos cause and manner of death was ruled undetermined rumors took off both locally and online. A crisp white shirt and bow tie and a ring perched on his right hand all preserved in a slightly grainy picture bring you back to the time before everything changed for the Brooks family. The code of silence must be broken. Organizza, controlla, distribuisci e misura tutti i tuoi contenuti digitali. ", "U.S. Attorney, FBI Announce $100,000 Reward in Cold Case", "Unsolved Mysteries gives update on Alonzo Brooks case", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_of_Alonzo_Brooks&oldid=1132304105, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 06:39. He'd been at a party near the town, but nobody saw him leave.He never returned to his Gardner, Kansas, home. Same. The examiners report concludes that his death was a homicide. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010 The Mysterious Death of Alonzo Brooks by Susan Schmitz and Paul Fecteau On a remote back road in Linn County, a desolate farm house and the woods and creek that surround it hold a secret about the death of a young man. So according to the people, it was the Boone's brothers who did it. Brooks' mother Maria Ramirez is thankful for the renewed attention and hopes it will finally bring her some answers. The Brooks family has been searching for answers since he went missing all those years ago. He has to warm up to you. On the side of the road nearby, they found his boots and hat. Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. I wish he hadn't gone [to the party]. Furthermore, Mitchells testimony on a murder trial in NY was called into question when he changed the time of death at trial, when the prosecutions entire case had been based on his original testimony. That changed three years ago when the U.S. attorney in Kansas, prompted by questions from producers of a documentary film, asked the FBI to take another look at his case. The 23-year-old was the youngest of five siblings.. An official website of the United States government. At some point, among the small town gossip, the FBI became involved to investigate the possibility of a hate crime. You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. It took him 30 minutes to drag the car out, and by that time he didn't want to return to the party. The next day Brooks did not return to Gardner and was deemed to be missing. And their family owned the "Family Cafe" a mile away from the creek. No Thanks Was he hoping to find a open store? RELATED: Unsolved Mysteries: How The Original Series Is Still Solving Murders. He said his car had broke down and he had to fix it at the side of the road. ITS IMPORTANT TO KEEP HIM ALIVE. I think the fact we were producing this episode shined a light on the case and helped them want to take a look at this case again, the shows co-creator Terry Dunn Meurer told Entertainment Weekly. Milioni di immagini, video e musica di alta qualit ti aspettano. "I don't know how they got Alonzo there. On an April night in 2004, this remote setting may have witnessed the. Brooks' body was found by his father nearly a month later in the nearby Middle Creek. Everyone who searched, even the Lee Summit search team, all agreed his body had absolutely not been there before and if it had been they would have found it. Death of Alonzo Brooks On May 1, 2004, the body of Alonzo Brooks was found in La Cygne, Kansas, about a month after he was reported missing after April 3, 2004. 7/21/2020 2:02 PM PT. Alonzo Brooks was killed. After Alonzo had been missing for almost a month, a group of his family and friends organized a search. KSNT. He's my son. An official website of the United States government. From FBI CNN The death of Alonzo Brooks, whose body was. Since the episode aired, the Alonzo Brooks case was reopened and his body exhumed. How does a whole month go by before you allow the family to do any kind of search of there own. Investigators have been tight lipped about what the party guests report that night, but they did make it clear that all of the rumors matched their interviews on one factor- a thread of racial tension. Traumatic, you know," Brooks' father, Billy Brooks Sr., told KMBC in the days following his son's disappearance. Hell turn up, hes just out walking around. FBI exhumes body of Alonzo Brooks, whose case was featured in Netflix's 'Unsolved Mysteries', Kansas Department of Corrections distributing cold case playing cards, KMBC cold case: 13 years ago, David Cook vanished without trace from his Bates County farm. KANSAS CITY, KSThe death of a Kansas man whose body was found in a creek in La Cygne, Kansas, in 2004 was a homicide, according to a new report by a federal forensic examiner. Perhaps someone who was there that night saw something and didnt want to come forward, assuming it wouldnt be much, it probably didnt mean anything, I doubt I can help. After the exhumation of Alonzos remains, a new autopsy was performed by an FBI forensic pathologist. Email Email. Boones have been known as a criminal element in this county for decades before this murder. I genuinely believe his friends, because my friends and I have been in those situations at parties before. These are important cases, and we really hope that the exposure brings renewed interest and encourages viewers to come forward.. But in 2019, the Department of Justice and FBI reopened the investigation into his death. It's a murder mystery that has remained unsolved for 18 years. On an April night in 2004, this remote setting may have witnessed the. This new examination by a team of the worlds best forensic pathologists and experts establishes it was no accident. On that day, Sprague told them that his car had broken down. English expresses his bafflement at why these young men would leave their half-black, half-Mexican friend in such an environment. Almost a month later, Alonzo was still missing when his family organized a search party of approximately 50 volunteers. Details of the examination are being withheld for investigative purposes. She started walking around the house, yelling and looking for him with no answer. Autopsy determines homicide in 17-year-old cold case. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. Since that heartbreaking, nobody has faced criminal charges in Alonzo Brookss death.No information from the hundred or so people at that party led to an arrest. Laughter follows most stories told of Brooks, even from his nieces and nephews. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. It would take a lot to put him down but he's not staying there happy, partying after that.". . He also says that as they were searching in the brush on the side of the road, someone came down from the farmhouse on a four wheeler and told them to leave. Save up to 50% off on Le Creuset Cookware During the 2023 Winter Savings Event, What Is Amazon Warehouse? The first . The Alonzo Brooks episode ofUnsolved Mysteriesdid not include English's rebuttal to that sentiment; as he toldDaily Mail"Somebody calls Alonzo the n-word and he's ready to go or ready to fight. NEARBY WOODS AND PASTURES BUT NOTHING. We need to get on the phone and talk to people. How is the body not decomposed beyond the point of recognition if he drowned? According to authorities, the new investigation is focused on determining whether Alonzo, an African-American man was the victim of a racially-motivated killing. The FBI is now investigating his murder. At least we had found him. Looks to me like he was tortured and killed and they concealed the body in the freezer till they could just dump it. While they havent revealed much about the contents of their interviews with party goers, theyve made it clear that there seems to be a code of silence among many of the kids who were there that night. Multiple pp involved from the party. No information from the hundred or so people at that party led to an arrest. They all could feel the weight and the urgency of the situation with Alonzos belongings in their hands as they were kicked off the property. He has since been reburied. Both Ramirez and English say that Sprague's story was never the same through years of interviewswith law enforcement. He was targeted because of the color of his skin.. ", RELATED: Everything Unsolved Mysteries Leaves Out About The Jack Wheeler Murder Case. With a skull on it. Im Mexican and his father is Black, Ramirez told NBC Dateline in June. KMBC cold case: In 2004 Alonzo Brooks went to a party, never to make it home again, LONG WAIT FOR JUSTICE. This subreddit is about unsolved mysteries. My one theory out of this was that somehow this might of been covered up on the law enforcement side. Even giving the interview, Rodney had the chills being in that area. WSLA OF DTHEA THAT ALL CHANGED THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE US ATTORNEY IN KANSAS PROMPTED BY QUESTIONS FROM PRODUCERS OF A DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT ALOONS ASKED THE FBI TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HIS CASE. The familys worry turned to dread on May 1 when family members and friends searching for him found him lying in a creek about 200 yards away from the party house. Nothing can describe that pain.. He was one of only three Black men at a party in La Cygne, Kansas, that had about 100 guests, according to the FBI. And I know they did. And if I remember correctly they describe the town like a ghost town at that night. Paul Filla was sent in to take the initial search and report. All Rights Reserved. As the party continued, Brooks's friends left the party at La Cygne at different times, accidentally leaving Brooks behind due to a perceived misunderstanding on how he would be getting a ride home to Gardner. They gathered a search party of friends and family and formulated a plan. "Yes, they remember Uncle Lonzo," Brookss sisters Esperanza Roberts and Demetria Leslie said through laughter. They made their way across the street when Rodney looked down to find a beanie hat. This new examination by a team of the worlds best forensic pathologists and experts establishes it was no accident. Another man was convicted of murder based on Mitchells testimony, and was later exonerated after serving 12 years when Mitchell changed his testimony to say that the death was actually suicide, not murder. As part of the new investigation, the FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for Brooks death. On the first day of the search effort, Brooks' body was found on the banks of Middle Creek adjacent to the house where he was last seen a month earlier. It wasnt how we wanted to find him, but at least we did.. According to the release, the new autopsy focuses on injuries to parts of Alonzos body that the examiner concluded are inconsistent with normal patterns of decomposition. Agents have spoke with partygoers who have never been interviewed before, and recently began administering polygraphs to witnesses. In the autopsy, examiners stated that there were injuries that would not be consistent with decomposition. He'd been at a party near the town, but nobody saw him leave. The FBI added that his death was being investigated as a potential racially-motivated crime. She checked in the basement- no Alonzo. Leslie said. For starters, according to the NYTimes, Mitchell was pushed to resign from his post as the medical examiner of Onondaga County NY because he overstepped his authority and mismanaged his office. HES ALWAYS JOKING AROUND HE ALWAYS TRY TO ACT LIKE HE WAS. A group of Alonzos friends pulled up to the road in front of the farmhouse and decided to inspect the woodline nearby. Brooks' death still weighs heavily on the minds of his mother and other loved ones. Justin needed more cigarettes and Alonzo decided to stay at the party, asking Justin to grab him a pack too. Things are starting to fall out of the trees. Edward stopped him and held him back, reminding him not to touch the body, while he fought to make his way to his baby brothers remains. When Alonzos body was discovered the area descended into madness as the agencies arrived on scene. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In July 2020, the FBI exhumed his body from his grave at a Topeka cemetery. The first . He says there were no penetrating injuries as cause of death, no evidence of acute bone fracture, no evidence of a sharp force injury, no gun shot., He goes on to say Could he have drowned? Billy got a call from his uncle with his location, and he ran down toward his brothers body. Something is wrong. We remain dedicated to uncovering the truth surrounding the murder of Alonzo Brooks and ensuring those responsible are held accountable for their actions.. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. In just under an hour, they found Alonzos body, partially on top of a pile of brush and branches in the creek. As his siblings got older and moved out, Alonzo and his mom moved to the town of Gardner outside of Topeka. Cindy said How many people do you know walk around for two days with no shoes in the rain? On the evening of his disappearance, he had been left alone by the friend who drove him to a party 50 miles away from his home with no way of returning. I do not know the circumstances of his death. It is past time for the truth to come out." AS A RESULT ALONSOS BODY WAS EXHUMED FOR ANOERTH AUTOPSY A FEW MONTHS LATER HIS DEATH RULED A HOMICIDE. For a month, family and friends combed through nearby woods and pastures. For three weeks, the family called the KBI every single day. He headed down the embankment to get a better look and came upon the lifeless body of his 23 year old nephew. "No Ride Home," directed by Michael A. Clarke, made a solid attempt to talk about Alonzo's character. [12] On November 16, 2020, Unsolved Mysteries stated the FBI had learned of a second party in La Cygne the night Alonzo Brooks disappeared. On April 3rd, 2004, 23-year-old Alonzo Brooks left his home in Gardner, Kansas, and told his mother, Maria, he was headed to a party with friends. Logan smith. The stories are what his sisters and the rest of his family have leaned on for years. The death of 23-year-old Alonzo Brooks, whose body was found in a Kansas creek in 2004, has been ruled a homicide after his body was recently exhumed as authorities investigated his case as a possible hate crime, according to a new report by a federal forensic examiner. Alonzo's death was a suicide or that he somehow accidentally tumbled into a relatively shallow creek . In July, Brooks' body was exhumed, and McAllister believes the autopsy findings will be available by the end of the month. If you have any information, call 816-474-tips.More KMBC cold cases: This content is imported from Facebook. https://www.yelp.com/biz/family-cafe-la-cygne. They describe the crowd as being a lot more country than they were used to, pointing out especially how many cowboy hats there were. Alonzo Brooks was killed. None of them were thinking right at all, let alone about the safety of their friend. The circumstances surrounding Brooks's death are mysterious, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate whether or not he was a victim of a hate crime. Some said Brooks may have flirted with a girl, some said drunken white men wanted to fight an African-American male, and some said racist whites simply resented Brooks presence, the FBI said. And moved out, and he had to fix it at the time of his mother and other ones. Theory out of this was that somehow this might of been covered up the. 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