2. Something is wrong. After nearly a month, the family was finally given permission to go search the property themselves. A month later, his body was found in a creek in LaCygne, Kansas, not far from where the party he attended had happened. Alonzo Brooks is the focus of an episode of Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries (Photo: Netflix) . They also own a Family Cafe that is like a mile away from the creek and the party house. He didnt like to be around a big crowd of people.. McAllister says this triggered him do take another look at the closed file, and it raised enough concerns for him to bring it to the FBI for reopening. . CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. . In just under an hour, they found Alonzos body, partially on top of a pile of brush and branches in the creek. Discovery Company. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. His closest group of friends that he went to the party with all say they were interrogated for hours a day, for days on end, and were all more than willing to cooperate in any way possible. Not only was there an omission concerning their day-drinking, but Sprague, who was 18 at the time, was reportedly both high and drunk when he leftBrooks at the party, and likely did not include this detail to officers as he had just enlisted in the army and didn't want to risk his career with a DUI. I think the friend that left for cigarettes knew something was going to happen. I guess that's what they were talking about. Like, finally, like, you hear us." TOLD OF ALONSO BROOKS EVEN ONES FROM HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS. After Alonzo had been missing for almost a month, a group of his family and friends organized a search. LET ME KNOW. 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. His remains were not found until May 1st, 2004, despite extensive searches through the area where he was last seen. On the other hand, the SBI and FBI got involved, which makes the cover-up theory seem pretty unlikely. Alonzo wasnt a social-butterfly type, his best friend Rodney English tells PEOPLE in this weeks issue. They didnt just target one race. Uuuuumm WHAT?! Federal Authorities Exhume Body of Alonzo Brooks, Whose 2004 Death May Have Been Racially Motivated, Alonzo Brooks' Family Sought Help When He Disappeared in 2004, But Instead Got Racial Abuse, Alonzo Brooks' Cause of Death Ruled a Homicide in New Autopsy After Body Exhumation: 'It Was No Accident', Mystery Surrounds Killing of Fla. Bartender Who Was Found Slain in Apartment Nearly 2 Weeks Ago, Pennsylvania Dad Ambushed, Fatally Shot While Pumping Gas in Broad Daylight, 10 Dead in 'Racially Motivated' Mass Shooting at Buffalo Grocery Store, Suspect in Custody, 'People Magazine Investigates' : Inside Decades-Old Disappearances of 5 People Along the Snake River, How a College Student Cracked the 57-Year-Old Unsolved Murder of a 9-Year-Old Pennsylvania Girl, Ala. That everyone was looking at them everywhere they went. But if age and maturity arent enough to get people to talk, perhaps the $100,000 reward will inspire some people to do the right thing and talk. Advertisement. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? She has been declared legally dead. We remain dedicated to uncovering the truth surrounding the murder of Alonzo Brooks and ensuring those responsible are held accountable for their actions.. The examiner concluded in their report that Brooks's death was due to homicide. Alonzo Brooks' friend Justin Sprague was the last person to report seeinghim alive,after heleft Brooks alone at a party on the evening of April 3, 2004, in La Cygne, Kansas. While searches were being conducted, the KBI also conducted hundreds of interviews with party goers and Alonzos friends. In July, Brooks' body was exhumed, and McAllister believes the autopsy findings will be available by the end of the month. Alonzo Brooks, 23, of Gardner, vanished from a party April 3, 2004, at a farmhouse near La Cygne. How Brooks went unnoticed in plain . It took him 30 minutes to drag the car out, and by that time he didn't want to return to the party. Same. There's just nothing that makes any sense that it would have been some kind of an accident on his part or voluntary, says McAllister. [3] At the time of his disappearance, he was 23 years old and working as a custodian for Countryside Maintenance in Gardner, Kansas. Share on Facebook Facebook Less than 24 hours later, Maria tried to file a missing persons report on her son in La Cygne, Kansas, about an hour away from their . It's been a mystery for 11 years, 55-year-old JoAnn Matouk Romain found dead in the Detroit River 70 days after disappearing following a church service she attended in Grosse Pointe Farms. They obviously didnt see the trouble Alonzo was in and thats a shame, Im sure they carry a lot of guilt about that night. Since that heartbreaking, nobody has faced criminal charges in Alonzo Brookss death. . Our thoughts were, Something happened at this party, Brooks' sister Esperanza Roberts tells PEOPLE. His body was a mere 650 feet from the house that had the party. "Tell me where he's at. Brooks' mother, Maria Ramirez, told KMBC in the days following her son's disappearance. He rode to the party with friends, but they left before him, leaving Brooks without a ride. It was immediately evident that Alonzo was the only black person in attendance but he was such a friendly guy and theyd come such a long way that he didnt flinch and joined right in. 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. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. For a month, family and friends combed through nearby woods and pastures. . No Thanks His family has worked to preserve his memory during their long wait for justice. Alonzos 3 sisters and brother describe him as a kind, sweet, a little shy but playful kid who was loving and fun. Brooks was 23 years old at the time of his death. Leslie said. 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. NEXT: Everything Unsolved Mysteries Leaves Out About The Oslo Plaza Woman. The first . I dont know how it looks on a computer but if you are on a phone you may have to press load more at the bottom of the page to see more recent comments. Some say Mandy Jenkins who's the Boone brothers' niece kept bragging about the whole Alonzo murder and its cover-up, threatening people that they would "end up in the creek like the last guy". [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? In 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas and the FBI reopened the investigation of Brookss death, which had been dormant for years. His family and friends found it frustrating to keep track of what could be true, and what was ridiculous. Another point made aboutBrooks that was later denied by his friend English was that the racial tension going around at the party didn't upset him. Dumping his body there was not convenient. They learned that the property was a rental, and the tenants had been evicted. Edit: I'm glad you guys all agree. Additionally, Slinkard stated that the FBI is doing everything that they can and that they will spare no resources in order to bring justice to those who were responsible for Brooks' death. On May 1, 2004, they found his body located in brush in a creek in Linn County. At this point, theyre all close to 40 years old or more, and maybe their consciences are weighing on them, making it hard to sleep at night. The updated series showcases just one story per episode, and Alonzo Brooks' murder was re-examined in the Volume 1, episode 4, "No Ride Home. Let me know. The first . The examiners report concludes that the cause of death was homicide. White pp (the town) covered this up. Eighteen years later, there have been no arrests, no charges and no answers for what happened to the young man. There's also Tiffany Boone who is shady af. Attendees left the party after a fight broke out, then headed to the farmhouse where Alonzo was last seen. Dr. Eric Mitchell was the initial forensic pathologist who reported on the findings at autopsy. Traumatic, you know," Brooks' father, Billy Brooks Sr., told KMBC in the days following his son's disappearance. They gathered a search party of friends and family and formulated a plan. https://www.yelp.com/biz/family-cafe-la-cygne. Brooks' death still weighs heavily on the minds of his mother and other loved ones. HowBrooks' body came to rest in a creek mere yards away from the house in which the party was held, and why it took so long for it to be discovered, is unknown. The stories are what his sisters and the rest of his family have leaned on for years. Alonzo's death was a suicide or that he somehow accidentally tumbled into a relatively shallow creek . Alonzo was an excellent football player, and his friends say that he was an absolute beast on the field but when hed come off, you could just sit and talk for hours. . Alonzo was having a great time that night, playing card games and flip cup, eating and socializing. Alonzo Brooks' death is examined in the Unsolved Mysteries episode "No Ride Home," but the show leaves out some startling information. The new autopsy focuses on injuries to parts of Brooks body that the examiner concluded are inconsistent with normal patterns of decomposition. On an April night in 2004, this remote setting may have witnessed the. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. Boones have been known as a criminal element in this county for decades before this murder. That was the last time she'd see her son alive. And if there were nearly 50 people at the party, Im sure it was chaotic. A few months later, his death was ruled a homicide. Even his autopsy couldn't pinpoint a cause of death. Billy said You do all these searches for weeks and dont find him, we do a search and find him in 30 minutes? Make it make sense. ONE MONTH LATER. Brooks, who lived in Gardner, Kansas, rode to the party with friends. Their friends were already there and the party was already in full swing so they grabbed their beer and got to it. Executive Producer and showrunner of the Netflix documentary series,Terry Dunn Meurer, says that Unsolved Mysteriesnow receives thousands of tips. Alonzos family deserves to know the truth, and it is time for justice to be served.. Justin and Alonzo headed out to make the LONG drive because La Cyne was actually quite a hike from Garnder, over an hour. After the exhumation of Alonzos remains, a new autopsy was performed by an FBI forensic pathologist. The FBI is now investigating his murder. [10], On June 11, 2020, the FBI reopened the cold case and issued a $100,000 reward for information related to Brooks' death.[11]. At least we had found him. Things are shaking loose, he says. Both Ramirez and English say that Sprague's story was never the same through years of interviewswith law enforcement. They began on the road near the farmhouse and walked the two branches of Middle Creek. They searched the creek bed looking for evidence, they brought in air scent tracking dogs, and even deployed helicopters for aerial searches for Alonzo. Alonzo Brooks attended a party at a rural house outside of La Cygne, Kansas, the night of April 3, 2004. Yeah I finished watching it. I definitely thing his body was planted there though. His death certainly was suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know(s) what happened that night in April 2004. The family finally knows there's progress toward finding answers and justice for the forever young Brooks. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Billy says that his brother was not at all bloated like hed been in the water, and his color even looked almost normal, as if he was still alive. Even giving the interview, Rodney had the chills being in that area. The FBI is keeping that information to themselves for the investigation, but they have told us that his manner of death was homicide, rather than undetermined, meaning that someone else is responsible for taking his life. After the official autopsy performed in 2004 didnt determine a cause of death, Brooks case went nowhere. As a result, his body was exhumed for another autopsy. Yes, but the soft tissue was gone. The 23-year-old went to a party in 2004. These are important cases, and we really hope that the exposure brings renewed interest and encourages viewers to come forward.. He's my baby, you know." Both the KBI and FBI were unsuccessful in locating Brooks. It seems like the friends didn't take the altercation very seriously, unfortunately. Absent as well is the narration by Robert Stack, the long-time host of Unsolved Mysteries. Leslie said. She went to his room to get him and found his bed still made up, meaning he hadnt slept in it at all. It's a murder mystery that has remained unsolved for 18 years. His older siblings doted on him, and Brooks never strayed too far from the home he shared with his mom, stepfather and stepbrother in Gardner, Kansas. The KBI and their evidence recovery team did an extensive search for Alonzo Brooks, which also included the creek bed. 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. Where did Justin go to buy cigarettes then? He said his car had broke down and he had to fix it at the side of the road. I dont have much more information about the party goers, who the suspects are, who has been cleared, who has passed the polygraphs, any of that. KMBC 9 Investigates is cracking open the unsolved case file of Alonzo Brooks.The 23-year-old went to a party in 2004. Almost a month later, Alonzo was still missing when his family organized a search party of approximately 50 volunteers. But when they found Alonzos body, the skies cleared and the sun came out. Alonzos family told Dateline that he rode to the party with friends, but they left before he did, leaving him without a ride home. No information from the hundred or so people at that party led to an arrest. He didn't drown. Fai crescere il tuo brand in modo autentico condividendo i tuoi contenuti con tutti i creator sul web. This new examination by a team of the worlds best forensic pathologists and experts establishes it was no accident. Every single kid at that party should have been investigated further. In 2004, Brooks, a Black man, went missing after attending a party. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. HE NEVER RETURNED TO HIS GARDENER KANSAS HOMEOR F A MONTH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. He must have passed out [on the way there] for him to be in a car more than 45 minutes to go to some place he'd never heard of," said English in an interview with Daily Mail. Dateline's online series Cold Case Spotlight. Brooks' body was found by his father nearly a month later in the nearby Middle Creek. Justin popped in and said hi to his mom, and he remembers specifically that Alonzo was lacing up his boots extra carefully with his sock rolled for some more support, because the week before hed twisted his ankle playing basketball and it was still bothering him. None of them were really close with anyone at the party, just a couple acquaintances I think, but it was something to do. They made their way across the street when Rodney looked down to find a beanie hat. Go get them FBI. They found him to be dismissive, as he repeated what the police had told Maria. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. In his teen years, Alonzo became close with a group of guys from Gardner, most of whom hed met through sports one way or another. I really didnt understand why they searched the creek at night either why not come back in the morning and do it during daylight? "Tell me where he's at. The FBI exhumed Brooks' body in July 2020. NEARBY WOODS AND PASTURES BUT NOTHING. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KMBC-TV. He's my son. Alonzo Brooks was killed. As his siblings got older and moved out, Alonzo and his mom moved to the town of Gardner outside of Topeka. And their family owned the "Family Cafe" a mile away from the creek. Additionally, the FBI announced last month that they were offering a reward of up to $100,000 to anyone who has information about his death. "Yes, they remember Uncle Lonzo," Brookss sisters Esperanza Roberts and Demetria Leslie said through laughter. I mean, think about it. 2023 Cable News Network. Browse 18 alonzo brooks stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. It's a murder mystery that has remained unsolved for 18 years. Alonzo Brooks was 23 years old when he went missing after attending a party. IS KNOWING THERES AT LSTEA SOME PROGRESS TOWARD FINDING ANSWERS AND JUSTICE FOR ALONZO. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the individual or individuals that may be responsible for Alonzo Brooks death. New technology, and a new incentive After the case was reopened, the FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading. [1], On July 1, 2020, Brooks' death was featured in the fourth episode "No Ride Home" of the fifteenth season of Unsolved Mysteries TV series. I thought those were just fake comments the show came up with to simulate gossip online. His description was that the body was decomposing, it was fully clothed with several personal items including a ring. My God, it was awful, Billy Brooks Sr. told Dateline. By the time Billy and Cindy made it to the farmhouse to investigate, the property was completely vacant and looked clean and bare, as though no party had even occurred. Now a doctor in Kansas. Fam used to live in the area. appreciated. Theres just a lot of red flags to go up immediately. Our reach is broad, and the strength of our investigative tools are exceptional. HED BEEN TO A PARTY NEAR THE TOWN, BUT NOBODY SAW HIM LEAVE. A Facebook page Justice for Alonzo Brooks was created to discuss the case and help share awareness. That man was released from prison and died a few months later. [8] Consequently, the pathologist could not determine a cause of death. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the death of Alonzo Brooks. Of intriguing Unsolved cases i definitely thing his body was found by his father nearly a later. Or start a new autopsy was performed by an FBI forensic pathologist of 3. The last time she & # x27 ; body was planted there though were found. Rental, and someone, likely multiple PEOPLE, know ( s ) what happened that night in 2004., we do a search came out series, Terry Dunn Meurer, says that Unsolved Mysteriesnow receives of. 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