Thanks. WebThe FBI and Department of Justice have reopened the case of Alonzo Brooks, who attended a party in La Cygne, Kansas, in East Central Kansas, on an April night in 2004 and The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information about a 16-year-old cold case. These were stored in some wooden vaults in the attic and when they were take out, they were displayed in a similar fashion to the photo. The code of silence must be broken. As culture editor, I oversee KCURs coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. Because of the span of time between Brooks disappearance and the discovery of his body, an autopsy was unable to determine a cause of death. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He was also a bit of a homebody who didn't leave the house too much, preferring to spend time with his family instead. A month later, his body was found in a nearby creek. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population. "It was like my boy was telling me everything was OK now," Brooks Sr. described his memory of the situation. I first heard about it when Unsolved Mysteries made an inquiry of our office, and indicated they were going to do an episode about it, McAllister said. And then when family members would call them, they told us that we're calling too much.. Meaning, the number of racist members of the community has historically been the highest, according to the math. If you're interested in the case, look it up for yourself and be sure to read the comments! Its time to find out what happened to my baby. All rights reserved. Discovery Company. It just led to a kind of, I think, throwing up their hands when they didn't end up with an obvious suspect, he said. Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. (SMH!) Soon, multiple agencies were on the case, and ground and air searches started. So if the people involved had important family to the town and the town was known for racism. 33 miles direct in the northwest direction and about 50 miles via road following the US-69 N Route. "I have stood under the trees on the bank of Middle Creek where Alonzo's body was found," the U.S. Attorney said. 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. It offers public water, sewer, and natural gas services to its residents and businesses. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/20/nyregion/syracuse-medical-examiner-agrees-to-quit-after-inquiry.html. It is unfortunate that Alonzo's family (his mom) tossed "under the bus" by law enforcement because they are of color and poor. Some might feel that this means the body was originally stored elsewhere, and was placed in the creek at some point between the official search and the one organized by the family. In 2004, Brooks, who lived in Gardner, went with friends to a party at a farmhouse in La Cygne, a small east-central Kansas town. Anyway, I just wanted to make a more extensive post regarding the Alonzo Brooks case, and would be interested in any more information anyone has compiled. A lot of other things lined up for Alonzo's case to go on a national level at the time, Pratt said. His case was recently reopened by the @FBI who are offering a $100K reward for tips leading to an arrest. It's time for some answers.". Apparently this medical examiner has been in hot water for misconduct in the past (check out this article from '93: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/20/nyregion/syracuse-medical-examiner-agrees-to-quit-after-inquiry.html). Brooks was one of only three black people at the party in La Cygne. [9], Numerous theories have been offered as to how Brooks died. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. We all watch the news with horror when we hear about a hate crime that happens not that far away from us. His death was certainly suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know what happened that night. I can definitely see this as them protecting their own. KwiKom offers service in-town and the surrounding rural areas, with the fastest available Fixed Wireless Internet. Next Image . Fortunately, there's a decent chance that we might eventually find out who killed Brooks. There The population density was 800.4 inhabitants per square mile (309.0/km2). As theU.S.Attorney's Officenotes, the authorities had no cause of death to go by. On April 3, 2004, he, along with some of his friends, was headed to a rural house party just outside of La Cygne. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female. As the U.S. Attorney's Office tells us, they've been working hard ever since. 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. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS. While Sprague was also enjoying the party, at one point he popped out to get some cigarettes and got lost. In the days after Brooks vanished, authorities from Linn County, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation became involved. Hate Crimes Rise In The Kansas City Area, Some Community Leaders Think The Trend Will Continue. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. I want to post the picture but the twitter thread isnt mine. The palpable fear from Zos childhood friend being at the scene says it all. Fishing, camping, and other recreational activities can all be done on La Cygne Lake, Kansas. They didnt just target one race. Its a picture of her great grand mother, posing in front of a Nazi flag. I totally got those vibes from the episode no namers were mentioned. It sure seemed that the investigation of the death of Alonzo Brooks was facing a brick wall. WebDirections: La Cygne Lake lies 5 miles east of the town of La Cygne. Have we learned the details of who knew about the party, how they got invited, etc bedsides one of us knew about a party some guy leaving for the service. In a statement by theU.S. Attorney's Office,McAllister goes even further, and makes clear that he doesn't believe for a second that Brooks died unseen and unheard. Then his family searched for Brooks around the farmhouse and found his body in a creek within an hour, according to the FBI. On April 5, 2021, the FBI announced that their investigation had proved that Brooks' death was a homicide. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, Brooks never made it back to Gardner, and didn't call home to let his mother know what was keeping him something that was extremely unlike him. New to the District. The case is full of unanswered questions and conundrums of the sort that can leave a grizzled old movie detective desperately staring at the complicated evidence wall he's compiled in his house after he retired. He said there were reports that Alonzo had been targeted for violence because of his race, had flirted with the wrong girl and been challenged to fight. One of the screenshots a woman is talking about how its not right to drag the Boones name through the ground and then goes on to say they arent racists in that town. Backwards town that would rather protect their own then see justice served. WebThe town of La Cygne knows WHO killed Alonzo. We live in a world of unsolved murders. Located at 382049N 944544W (38.346841, -94.762171), La Cygne (pronounced luh seen) is a small town that is situated on the east bank of the Marais des Cygnes River, a few miles southwest of the city of Linn Valley, in East Central Kansas. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. "To find my boy like that. Where have all the candidates gone? Zip code 66040 is located mostly in Linn County, KS. Im from Paola but stayed in La Cygne every summer. It does seem the search and rescue and ME are parsing words carefully chosen by their lawyers. For all the interviewing of the kids, it may be that you had an actual killer at the end of the night, with not many people around, he said, and so we've got a code of silence among a very small group, that has not been broken all these years.". Native American Runners Honor A Kansas City Murder Victim On Their Months-Long Journey To D.C. In the autopsy, examiners stated that there were injuries that would not be consistent with decomposition. Since Brookswas of Mexican and Black descent and the area he'ddisappeared in was predominantly white, even the FBI got involved, as they were suspecting a possible hate crime. We are doing everything we can, and will spare no resources, to bring those responsible to justice.. Here's how you know. I grew up in Overland Park, but my Grandma lived in La Cygne and I visited her every Sunday growing up. However, it looks as though a filmmaker has started working with the family on a documentary & podcast that will dive much deeper into the details and possible suspects. Josh created a forum on his website for those interested in the story or for those who may have information about what happened that night. Its been 16 years, but we hope that with this passage of time, someone who has information will come forward, Ramana said. Still, as U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister who is taking point in the Brooks case as of 2020, along withFBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Langan toldNBC Dateline, these led to nothing. A flour mill was built in 1870; a bank was started in 1871; the La Cygne organ factory was another early commercial enterprise, but it did not flourish. He was one of only three Black men at a party in La Cygne, Kansas, that had about 100 guests, according to the FBI. We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country. He was just another guy like me trying to find his direction in life. U.S. Attorney McAllister said there were numerous reports of multiple fights breaking out and reports of racist comments being made. Unsolved Mysteries shared news of the latest development in a tweet. The 1865-1870s movement sought to overthrow Republican state governments. A track for BNSF Railway passes through the city. PublishedOctober 13, 2021 at 3:03 AM CDT. How badly do the authorities want to solve the murder of Alonzo Brooks? After Alonzo left that night, Ramirez and Brooks Sr. never saw their youngest son alive again. According to him, the dramatic moment of discovery was further enhanced by the way the overcast, heavy skies cleared, and the day became sunny just as they found the body. He claimed that Alonzo was having a good time whenever he left. A town company was organized and purchased 1,400 acres (5.7km2) of land, but had only 140 acres (0.57km2) laid out as a town site. Chasing Chains, LLC. His boots and hat were found nearby, but his body was not found until nearly a month later when his family searched the area and found him in a nearby creek. The show is set to air on Netflix in July. Hello from Kansas!I have been following the Alonzo Brooks death (in my opinion, murder) case for several years after stumbling upon it on a blog called Cold Case Kansas. According to Netflix'sUnsolvedMysteriesepisode devoted to Alonzo Brooks' disappearance, "No Ride Home" (via the Cinemaholic), the young man carpooled with his friends to go to the party, which was in La Cygne, Kansas roughlyan hour's drive from Brooks' home. This new twist or, some might say, a less-than-surprising confirmation to the theory that Brooks' death was a homicide was publicized in April 2021, and officials promised to finally bring the case to a conclusion. Investigators have said that Brooks body got tangled among the branches, and was submerged because of heavy rain that flooded the creek. Up to 90 days of daily highs, lows, and precipitation chances. Also the scientists on the show is full of shit. We wanted to get the facts straight and dug into the data in order to identify the most racist cities in Kansas. La Cygne is located at 382049N 944544W / 38.34694N 94.76222W / 38.34694; -94.76222 (38.346841, -94.762171). Even without that, McAllister said Brooks death was a complicated investigation for any agency to handle. Rodney asked Justin why he left the party without taking Alonzo with him. The per capita income for the city was $15,880. His family even pointed out that when they visited the area they could feel eyes on them from every direction and did not feel safe, at all. Alonzo was the youngest of five children born to Maria and her now ex-husband, Billy Brooks Sr. After having a boy and three girls, several years passed and they were surprised to find out Maria was pregnant again. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. Tiffany Boone (now Tiffany VanNorman) is rumored to be the girl that Alonzo Brooks had an interaction with that night, which is allegedly the inciting event of the murder. So showing my support for their work. [5] While at the party, racial slurs were allegedly uttered toward Brooks, possibly igniting tension between Brooks and the other individuals. Email me at luke@kcur.org. In 2004, when Brooks was killed, Pratt explained, the country wasnt thinking as much about the criminal justice system or racial discrimination. As NBC Datelinetells us, Alonzo Brooks was the youngest of the five children of Maria Ramirez and Billy Brooks Sr. After his parents divorced, he initially lived and worked in Topeka, Kansas with his father, but he moved in his early 20s to stay with his mother in Gardner, Kansas. The median income for a household in the city was $34,479, and the median income for a family was $44,118. His mother, Maria Ramirez, still remembers that she had told him to be safe, after all, he was her baby. Unfortunately, his ride home had to leave him and after that, he never made it back home to Gardner. 2023 Cable News Network. Theres endless ones of them.. As any parent can probably attest, there's a very particular sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when your child doesn't come home as agreed. Mitchells qualifications and testimony have more recently come under question, the FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information. Brooks' mother, Maria Ramirez, certainly believes that her son was a victim of a hate crime. That time and distance sometimes allows for people who may have been nervous or too young to know to come forward back then, the opportunity to come to us now.. Like there was zero evidence and it was quite obvious they didnt try hard because he was a POC. Males had a median income of $30,900 versus $19,803 for females. Nothing can describe that pain." According to the FBI, Alonzos body had suffered significant decomposition and an autopsy at that time was unable to determine a cause of death. So hes mixed. But shes also just glad the case is still getting attention, and that people are keeping her sons memory alive. Seeing as the joint team of theFBI and the Kansas District of U.S. Attorney's Office now have national attention from the Netflix show to help them in their mission, there's a chance that McAllister's poetic words might ring true in the end. Donnie Abel is a name that has been brought up in several comments. 4 talking about this. They have been filtering in from people who claim to have information for years. Dont freak out. Here's an effort to tone down their lights, A Kansas City group is paying off traffic fines to help drivers get their licenses back, Kansas City jazz and tap legend Ronald McFadden, half of the McFadden Brothers, dies at 66, Feds Offer $100,000 Reward In Kansas Cold Case That May Have Been Racially Motivated, Activists say Kansas City is in 'a moment of crisis' after racist incidents at local schools. But for years, the case went cold. Web(913) 757-6611 Get Directions 19476 KS-152 La Cygne, KS 66040 Is this your business? It changed the whole dynamic of the family for years, she said. In fact, he specifically mentions that he thinks the people in the know are keeping quiet on purpose. FBI Agent Leena Ramana has told NBC Datelinethat the agency has already reaped the benefits of the reward, as they've received multiple tips, and have many different leads to pursue. WebKnow what's coming with AccuWeather's extended daily forecasts for La Cygne, KS. In that initial investigation, McAllister said, There was a lot of activity, all kinds of interview reports, but no strong coordination.. Maria said she hopes a renewed investigation by the FBI and a recent reward offer of $100,000 will help bring their family closer to the truth. Whether its the white vs. black hate crime that we are so used to being part of Americas culture, or todays hate crime (gay bashing), it never seems to end. It wasnt long before McAllister, who now teaches law at the University of Kansas, requested that the FBI reopen the case. Brooks mother, Maria Ramirez, believes her son was targeted for his race. "[Brooks']death certainly was suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know(s) what happened that night in April 2004," McAllister states. Maria told Alonzo to bundle up before he left. We interviewed 3 and two of them had a bunch of nazi paraphernalia, including nazi flags they had brought back as trophies. 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Announced that their investigation had proved that Brooks ' death was a complicated investigation for any agency to handle that! The U.S. Attorney McAllister said Brooks death was certainly suspicious, and Will spare no resources to...
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