ALONZO BROOKS: Disappeared after leaving party in La Cygne, KS - 3 April 2004 / Body found 1 May 2004 - $100,000 Reward

Alonzo Brooks was last seen on the evening of April 3, 2004 attending a party at a rural home outside of La Cygne, Kansas. His family reported him missing after he did'nt returned home. Alonzo's body was found in a nearby creek on May 1, 2004. He was 23 years old at the time of his murder.

Department of Justice and FBI are investigating Alonzo's death as a racially motivated hate crime.

Before he was murdered, Alonzo Brooks was last seen on the evening of April 3, 2004 attending a party at a rural home outside of La Cygne, Kansas.

Department of Justice and FBI are investigating Alonzo's death as a racially motivated hate crime.

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Regina]

Thank you!

By looking on street view and taking into account that when the street view image was taken we were in extreme drought, it is what I would think of a pretty good sized creek, but nowhere near a river. This also happened in the spring, so there would likely be more water running than normal.. I could easily see how he could have been trapped under brush.

Again, when looking at the current street view image, looking over the bridge, take into account that this area was in EXTREME drought at the time it was taken, plus in a normally dry time (Dec 2022)

You're welcome, of course.
Info is that at the time of the first search, the creek was low and so I don't know why he wasn't found but there's info that it rained during the time he was missing and so I think that's a circumstance that may have contributed to the discovery.
Indeed, it appears to me that after the rain, it would have been smart for authorities to have conducted another search.

 

[GrandmaBear]

After reading the more recent posts the last day or two I recall the case from time ago. This is a murder imo and I see little to buy another cause. Also that's how fed agencies are looking at it. Hate crime or not.

As to water levels and creek size, I think that's pretty debatable too. I did some googling last night in an attempt to find more info on the particular creek and couldn't find what I wanted. He was also found on the bank or so it was said in a recent post.

Not all water sources flood at certain times of year, etc. or even with rain especially if formerly dry or low. And we all differ in what is a city, what is a creek, etc. and we have talked of some of that over the years in the basement or elsewhere. I went to school in a city. It was about 8,000 people. I was advised this was not a city but it most certainly was and is. In their state I gather it would not be.

A creek to me is generally not big, it meanders and some are even often dry, hence dry creek bed being a term. I have a dry creek bed on my property. For the first time in all the years of ownership it had some water in it.. It never filled despite tons of sn*w melt in spring or anything. Generally they aren't wide, one can walk across them easily and you don't drown in them. This is my definition of a creek. Otherwise it is a river if bigger, deeper, wider and does on occasion or can flow more like of course, a river. Even a small river. A few wider spots, some deeper parts and flows more rapidily in places.

I don't think though you can judge on rain or sn*w melt, etc. on each source of water in an area in a certain month or year even. It also depends on if any beaver built a dam or someone destroyed one, etc.

Unless there is an article of that year on that creek and the exact spot, and on such and such a date, with the data recorded, I just wouldn't assume much.

To get off that subject, I don't see much here to think this is anything but foul play, murder and quite possibly a hate crime. And the fed agencies look at it as such no?

 

[Regina]

He was also found on the bank or so it was said in a recent post.

It's a fact. In that Unsolved Mysteries episode, they showed a blurred photo of his body on the bank with a large amount of debris between his body and the water.

Not all water sources flood at certain times of year, etc. or even with rain especially if formerly dry or low.

The one near my house always has a certain amount of water, is usually low but rises and lowers relatively quick.

And the fed agencies look at it as such no?

Well, are they smarter than the KBI? Lol! Seriously, the KBI investigated and found "no evidence or info that Alonzo was the victim of a crime" but if their opinion was that he was, I wouldn't agree with them, either, lol!

 

[GrandmaBear]

It's a fact. In that Unsolved Mysteries episode, they showed a blurred photo of his body on the bank with a large amount of debris between his body and the water.

The one near my house always has a certain amount of water, is usually low but rises and lowers relatively quick.

Well, are they smarter than the KBI? Lol! Seriously, the KBI investigated and found "no evidence or info that Alonzo was the victim of a crime" but if their opinion was that he was, I wouldn't agree with them, either, lol!

I don't doubt the bank thing. And of course I haven't watched anything in recent times. I do though not assume that him found on the bank means he like drowned on his own in a creek and washed up or anything. Especially with brush between him and the creek. BUT he could have but it also doesn't mean he like fell in and couldn't get out. I think of a creek as a creek as you say usually low, slower moving or if fast moving, ti's just a narrow shallow stream bubbling a bit over a rock or two.

I don't know sh*t about the KBI and I don't automatically trust the D O J or F B I etc. either, as it all depends on administrations and agendas or public opinion, crime stats and more. I don't assume anything on any part and when you talk hate crime that could be used for one agenda and made up when it iwasn't murder, or it could be ignored by another agenda and claimed to not be murder.

I'd say Kansas has more of a self interest though than the fed agencies in having it not be foul play.

I sure wouldn't assume this wasn't murder given all the circumstances.

I mean this one didn't shed his clothes right? He didn't die in winter in January did he? And it was a creek not a river. And on the bank not in it. You talk KBI BUT it took the family finding him not local or state authorities...???

Yeah you have a black man at a mostly white party in Kansas. An adult as well. I'm sure they weren't eager given even the politics in 2004 to have it turn into something.

What did the tox show?

I doubt we have full facts from ANY of the agencies. Sdaly almost every crime is not about justice these days but about politics. One would hope they'd be put aside for JUSTICE and I used to think it was that way some years ago, but not any longer. Most don't care, it is only an agenda. They want to shut it up on one side or another or exploit it on the other.

It could be anything and we all have opinions but I don't think there's a conclusion here and if it leans towards anything, it is foul play with the facts.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'd also point out questions in other states. SC with SLED. CBI in Colorado oh my ISP in Indiana. I know little about KBI but politics, stats, winning and looking good takes over all. With some anyhow. We could also take that to the fed level. We could talk about DCF in other cases and more.

This reeks of foul play. Imho.

 

[Regina]

I don't doubt the bank thing. And of course I haven't watched anything in recent times. I do though not assume that him found on the bank means he like drowned on his own in a creek and washed up or anything.

It sounded to me as though you weren't sure it was true he was found on the bank. Anyway, I'm not assuming he drowned, I wouldn't assume cause of death, period.

I mean this one didn't shed his clothes right? He didn't die in winter in January did he?

Although it was spring (April) it would have been cold enough for hypothermia.
As I understand the info, he was fully clothed except that his boots were found in the vicinity of the driveway on opposites sides of the road and his beanie was with or very near the boot on the driveway side. Other info is that he had a recently-injured ankle that was still painful.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It sounded to me as though you weren't sure it was true he was found on the bank. Anyway, I'm not assuming he drowned, I wouldn't assume cause of death, period.

Although it was spring (April) it would have been cold enough for hypothermia.
As I understand the info, he was fully clothed except that his boots were found in the vicinity of the driveway on opposites sides of the road and his beanie was with or very near the boot on the driveway side. Other info is that he had a recently-injured ankle that was still painful.

Hmm. And tox?

Interesting about the boots. And the beanie.

Isn't it you who said above that you did not think it was foul play/murder? Just trying to figure out how you came to that thought? Not dissing it, I just don't see any reason for that conclusion.

 

[Guess Who]

It's a fact. In that Unsolved Mysteries episode, they showed a blurred photo of his body on the bank with a large amount of debris between his body and the water.

The one near my house always has a certain amount of water, is usually low but rises and lowers relatively quick.

Well, are they smarter than the KBI? Lol! Seriously, the KBI investigated and found "no evidence or info that Alonzo was the victim of a crime" but if their opinion was that he was, I wouldn't agree with them, either, lol!

Yep. the one by me always has some water due to underground springs. That area would have them, too.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yep. the one by me always has some water due to underground springs. That area would have them, too.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Do they have a cause of death here by drowning? I didn't 'think they did and I don't think we know cause do we?

Not arguing, just thought we don't have that info.

 

[Guess Who]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Do they have a cause of death here by drowning? I didn't 'think they did and I don't think we know cause do we?

Not arguing, just thought we don't have that info.

I didn't imply drowning as a cause at all. You asked the level the creek would be and if it had water or was a dry bed.

 

[Guess Who]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Do they have a cause of death here by drowning? I didn't 'think they did and I don't think we know cause do we?

Not arguing, just thought we don't have that info.

Finding his hat and boots at the property of the party doesn't really jive with drowning though.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I didn't imply drowning as a cause at all. You asked the level the creek would be and if it had water or was a dry bed.

I know but am asking if there is a cause or manner of death. I mean clearly they are labeling it a homicide/hate crime.

The only reason water would matter is how the body came to be on the bank and/or if he drowned or someone drowned him (holding him down in water).

I'm wondering not about your reason for saying so which I know is more informational but about how anyone is thinking this death was not foul play.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Finding his hat and boots at the property of the party doesn't really jive with drowning though.

Exactly. And I have rarely if ever heard of creek drowning of an adult. Again we all have our idea of creeks but I think you know what I mean.

And lol I will be you and I pronounce creek differently. You do so with an accent too. All in fun.

 

[Guess Who]

Exactly. And I have rarely if ever heard of creek drowning of an adult. Again we all have our idea of creeks but I think you know what I mean.

And lol I will be you and I pronounce creek differently. You do so with an accent too. All in fun.

Just knowing the area I am definitely leaning to foul play. Reports of a fight and his boots and hat found on the property without him. Not set on it though but definitely on that side.

 

[Mel70]

Exactly. And I have rarely if ever heard of creek drowning of an adult. Again we all have our idea of creeks but I think you know what I mean.

And lol I will be you and I pronounce creek differently. You do so with an accent too. All in fun.

Crick.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Just knowing the area I am definitely leaning to foul play. Reports of a fight and his boots and hat found on the property without him. Not set on it though but definitely on that side.

Same.

 

[Regina]

And tox?

I haven't heard but I think it's safe to assume that his BAL would have been high that night.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Do they have a cause of death here by drowning? I didn't 'think they did and I don't think we know cause do we?

No.

I know but am asking if there is a cause or manner of death. I mean clearly they are labeling it a homicide/hate crime.

The only reason water would matter is how the body came to be on the bank and/or if he drowned or someone drowned him (holding him down in water).

It's my impression of the photo that the body came to be where it was due to the water flow of the creek.
Anyway, I don't know why the AFIP pathologist would have ruled manner as homicide but it appears to me it's based on an anatomic finding, which is unusual in a case without an obvious cause of death, such as a gunshot or stab wound, broken bone(s) or if the body was contained or there were bindings, etc.
I know the info is that there were changes regarding decomposition that he didn't think correlated with an accidental death but I know that a body found a month later and in that type of environment immediately presents challenges to for any pathologist to interpret simply because there's a lot to take into account.

 

[Regina]

Just knowing the area I am definitely leaning to foul play. Reports of a fight and his boots and hat found on the property without him. Not set on it though but definitely on that side.

I think he'd have left with Justin if he didn't feel welcome or wasn't having a good time.
At this point, I consider "reports of a fight" to be nothing more than rumor.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I haven't heard but I think it's safe to assume that his BAL would have been high that night.

No.

It's my impression of the photo that the body came to be where it was due to the water flow of the creek.
Anyway, I don't know why the AFIP pathologist would have ruled manner as homicide but it appears to me it's based on an anatomic finding, which is unusual in a case without an obvious cause of death, such as a gunshot or stab wound, broken bone(s) or if the body was contained or there were bindings, etc.
I know the info is that there were changes regarding decomposition that he didn't think correlated with an accidental death but I know that a body found a month later and in that type of environment immediately presents challenges to for any pathologist to interpret simply because there's a lot to take into account.

So they haven't shared tox...

I don't know that I've seen whatever photo you are talking of.

Not sure why you'd think a pathologist in most cases wouldn't know better than we do. Are you thinking they "want" this to be a homicide and a hate crime? I think it more likely with other facts they know that we don't, it is a real finding and fits the bigger picture.

I have to say I don't see a single reason to think this was anything BUT foul play. Jmo of course.

 

[Regina]

I don't know that I've seen whatever photo you are talking of.

I've only seen it in the Unsolved Mysteries episode. Btw, I've said there was debris between the body and the water but having re-watched the episode, I need to clarify that the body was actually surrounded by debris. It was an area where a lot of debris had piled up.

Not sure why you'd think a pathologist in most cases wouldn't know better than we do. Are you thinking they "want" this to be a homicide and a hate crime?

I'm just trying to explain why a homicide ruling in this case doesn't make sense to me.