The death of a Kansas man, whose body was found in 2004, was ruled a homicide according to a new report by a forensic examiner.
What We Know:
- A new federal investigation was opened in 2019 into the death of 23-year old Alonzo Brooks. As part of the investigation, authorities exhumed Brooks’ body and brought it to Dover Air Force base to perform an autopsy. The examiner determined it was a homicide by focusing on parts of the body not consistent with normal decomposition.
- Acting U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard noted that Brooks had died under mysterious circumstances. He continued, stating “This new examination by a team of the world’s best forensic pathologists and experts establishes it was no accident. Alonzo Brooks was killed.” The new investigation is focused on determining whether Brooks was the victim of a hate crime.
- Brooks was last seen alive at a house party in rural La Cygne, Kansas on April 3rd, 2004. He was one of three Black men at the party, which over 100 people attended. Brooks came to the party with friends, but when they left before him, Brooks was left without a ride home. His family then contacted police after Brooks failed to come home the next day, according to NBC.
- Brooks had been missing for a month when his family organized a search party. His body was found in a creek on May 1st, partially atop a pile of bushes. Because significant time had passed between his death and initial autopsy, officials at the time were unable to determine a cause of death.
The mystery surrounding Brooks’ death gained renewed attention after it was featured in the Netflix reboot of Unsolved Mysteries. The title of the episode was “No Ride Home.”
