Alonzo Brooks' Body Has Been Exhumed As Part of Murder Investigation

(Image credit: FBI)

published 22 July 2020

Content warning: this article includes references to violence, racism, a hate crime, and murder. Sixteen years after the death of Alonzo Brooks at age 23, now listed as a hate crime by the FBI, local news station KSNT is reporting that Brooks' body was dug up by crews at his gravesite in Topeka, KS. In case you're unfamiliar, an episode of Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix covered Brooks' story. In 2004, Brooks was accidentally left behind at a party in rural La Cygne, Kansas, and never made it home—racial slurs and arguments were apparently present at the party, and Brooks was only one of three Black people there. Official searches produced no clues, leads, or a body, but his family came across Brooks' body quickly after conducting an informal search one month after he disappeared. No interviews from people at the party ever led to an arrest or even suspects. Here's what we know about the case at this point.

Why are investigators digging up Brooks' grave?

The circumstances surrounding Brooks' exact cause of death were never firmly established—the coroner, who was interviewed for the episode, said that Brooks' body was in a state of advanced decomposition too far to establish much information that was useful to the case. He ruled Brooks' death undetermined. Since the FBI is now taking an interest in the case, chances are that they're wondering if any new information from a new autopsy that was missed at the time will provide some more clues as to Brooks' case.

Unsolved Mysteries tweeted the news:

Update: The body of Alonzo Brooks was exhumed this morning. His case was recently reopened by the @FBI who are offering a $100K reward for tips leading to an arrest. If you know something please come forward. #unsolvedmysteries #Justiceforalonzobrooks https://t.co/5l38xxFr5rJuly 21, 2020

Why is the FBI getting involved in the case now?

In early July, news broke that the FBI was now looking into the case and had deemed it a hate crime—and, they learned about what happened through the Unsolved Mysteries episode. They are offering $100,000 for information that might lead to an arrest.

“It is past time for the truth to come out. The code of silence must be broken. Alonzo’s family deserves to know the truth, and it is time for justice to be served,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. Added FBI Agent Leena Ramana: “It’s been 16 years, but we hope that with this passage of time, someone who has information will come forward...Some of these kids, who are adults now, may have been scared to come forward before, or may not have known what they saw was important."

Anyone with information on the case can call 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.