On May 1, 2004, the body of Alonzo Brooks was found in La Cygne, Kansas. This happened approximately one month after he was reported missing on April 3, 2004.

Background

Alonzo Tyree Brooks was born on May 19, 1980, to Billy Brooks Sr. and Maria Ramirez. He was born in Topeka, Kansas, and was of African American and Mexican heritage. At the time of his disappearance, he was 23 years old and worked as a custodian for Countryside Maintenance in Gardner, Kansas.

On April 3, 2004, Brooks went to a party in La Cygne, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Gardner, with three friends. During the party, it was said that hurtful racial words were used toward Brooks, which may have caused tension between him and others. As the party continued, Brooks’ friends left at different times, and they mistakenly believed Brooks would be getting a ride home with someone else. Brooks was left behind. The next day, Brooks did not return to Gardner and was reported missing.

After the party, Brooks’ family went to La Cygne to look for him and contacted local police. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office handed the case over to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation after failing to find Brooks. Both the KBI and FBI could not locate Brooks.

On May 1, 2004, the Brooks family was allowed to search the property where Brooks was last seen. On the first day of the search, Brooks’ body was found near Middle Creek, close to the house where he was last seen a month earlier. An autopsy showed Brooks had no broken bones, no signs of injuries from hitting or force, and no signs that he had drowned. The pathologist could not determine the cause of death.

On June 11, 2020, the FBI reopened the cold case and offered a $100,000 reward for information about Brooks’ death.

FBI investigation

In July 2020, Brooks's body was removed from the grave and taken to Dover Air Force Base for a medical examination and further investigation by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. The examiner's report determined that Brooks's death was caused by another person.

Acting U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard said that the FBI already knew Brooks's death happened under unusual and suspicious conditions. However, the medical examination confirmed that the death was not an accident. Slinkard added that the FBI is using all available resources to find those responsible for Brooks's death and ensure justice is served. The medical examiners also noted that some injuries found on Brooks's body were not caused by the natural breakdown of the body over time.

Media

On July 1, 2020, Brooks' death was covered in the fourth episode, titled "No Ride Home," of the fifteenth season of the Unsolved Mysteries TV series. On November 16, 2020, Unsolved Mysteries said the FBI had found out about a second party in La Cygne the night Brooks disappeared. People who were at the party left after a fight happened, then went to the farmhouse where Brooks was last seen.