Knowing that Brooks was not only missing, but also shoeless was not a particularly encouraging sign. All the extra attention has taken a toll on Brooks family, which is still reeling from the loss. As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 1,149 people, 454 households, and 303 families residing in the city. 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 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. ", "U.S. Attorney, FBI Announce $100,000 Reward in Cold Case", "Unsolved Mysteries gives update on Alonzo Brooks case", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_of_Alonzo_Brooks&oldid=1139767168, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 20:15. 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.". To find my boy like that. ", It's incredibly hard to investigate a death with very little concrete evidence, and as Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries (via the Cinemaholic) tells us, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation eventually decided to close the case. WebLa Cygne, Kansas, sits on Kansas Highway 152, shown here. The Department of Justice and the FBI joined forces to reopen the case and have been actively investigating. Seventeen years after Brooks death, his mother and aunt are still unhappy about that first investigation. His death certainly was suspicious, and someone, likely multiple people, know(s) what happened that night in April 2004. We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country. 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. It is reached by traveling east across the dam and then north at the first intersection past the Image 5. It sure seemed that the investigation of the death of Alonzo Brooks was facing a brick wall. 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. It is past time for the truth to come out. What happened to my son? Brooks' parents spoke at the Thursday press conference and said they just want answers. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. La Cygne was incorporated on January 14, 1870, and a board of trustees was appointed. The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% White, 0.6% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. It was like my boy was telling me everything was OK now, Billy said. If you talk about the death of Alonzo Brooks with his loved ones or the people involved with the investigation, the possibility that his death might have been a hate crime tends to come up sooner or later. But what exactly happened to prevent Brooks from calling his mother? 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. While McAllister says that interviews with party attendees were conducted at the time, they"yielded no confession and shed no light on where Alonzo might be. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. 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. It was a private subscription school and was kept open until 1870, when the public school house was built. According to NBC Dateline, the party in La Cygne was predominantly white, with only three Black men (counting Alonzo, whose mother is HispanicAmerican) in the crowd of 100 or so people. Native American Runners Honor A Kansas City Murder Victim On Their Months-Long Journey To D.C. The 22 matching properties for sale near La Cygne have an average listing price of $433,999 and price per acre of $10,123. I also noticed there have been lots of threads regarding this case on this subreddit, but many of the posters haven't read the Cold Case Kansas blog. Until 2019, when the Netflix show Official Unsolved Mysteries brought the case to McAllisters attention. So showing my support for their work. 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. I remember he always used to tell me that I had him too late, because I wouldnt let him go off with the older kids. I can get justice for him.. The next day Brooks did not return to Gardner and was deemed to be missing. If you're interested in the case, look it up for yourself and be sure to read the comments! U.S. Attorney McAllister said there were numerous reports of multiple fights breaking out and reports of racist comments being made. I dont get what that saying even means. Wow all over Facebook they expect to get sympathy? This report is an analysis of the locations of historic KKK organizations divided by the number of people who currently live there. FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Ramana wouldnt discuss the progress investigators have made over the last year and a half, or if there are any suspects, but she said the case is still a priority. And then it was all taken away from him.. Email me at luke@kcur.org. IE 11 is not supported. There were reports of racist comments and rumors that some resented Brooks presence there, according to McAllister. Brooks, 23, went missing on April 3, 2004, after attending a party in La Cygne, Kansas. According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, on June 11, 2020 theFBI decided to put out an offer for a $100,000 reward for "information leading to arrest and conviction ofanyone responsible for the death of Alonzo Brooks." According to an investigation by the FBI, there were approximately 100 people ages of 16-25 at the party and Alonzo was one of only three African-American men in attendance. Please check it out! Theres endless ones of them.. Go read the comments for yourself-- what conclusions do you reach? For 16 years, Maria Ramirez and Billy Brooks Sr. have been searching for answers in the suspicious death of their 23-year-old son, Alonzo Brooks, who attended a party outside rural La Cygne, Kansas, on a chilly April night in 2004 and never returned. Did you know Logan Smith? When the family found him and saw what he looked like, we knew that there was foul play, said Angela Cox, one of Brooks aunts. There hasnt been a day that goes by that I dont work on Alonzos case or think of him, Josh said. Im Mexican and his father is Black, Ramirez told NBC Dateline in June. I think that for the longest time Alonzo Brooks he was just another Black man who had died or disappeared, Pratt said. Verify It changed the whole dynamic of the family for years, she said. Also the scientists on the show is full of shit. Alonzos family deserves to know the truth, and it is time for justice to be served.. In 2004, when Brooks was killed, Pratt explained, the country wasnt thinking as much about the criminal justice system or racial discrimination. WebKANSAS CITY, KSThe death of a Kansas man whose body was found in a creek in La Cygne, Kansas, in 2004 was a homicide, according to a new report by a federal forensic The son of a local judge (Smith?) The grave was Flights. La Cygne Tourism La Cygne Hotels La Cygne Vacation Rentals La Cygne Vacation Packages Flights to La 33 miles direct in the northwest direction and about 50 miles via road following the US-69 N Route. "He is my baby and I can't protect him anymore, but I can do this," she says. 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. "I can find out what happened. "It defies reason to believe that Alonzo's death was a suicide or that he somehow accidentally tumbled into a relatively shallow creek, in Linn County, leaving behind his boots and hat, all with no witnesses whatsoever," McAllister said. These towns are open secrets yet they all decided to go to a party in a town they all never heard of, didnt know whose party, then, to take the racists didnt know or do nothing. In 1881 a coal mine was opened, after which it became an important point for the industry. Chacour Koop is a Real-Time reporter based in Kansas City. What no one has figured out is how Brooks ended up in the creek in the first place. The most memorable movement of the KKK started in the 1950s, which was involved in the Civil Rights movement, and which targeted the black population in America. Alonzo never made it back to his home in Gardner, Pause Gallery . Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. Press J to jump to the feed. Homicide La Cygne, Kansas April 3, 2004. So badly, it turns out, that they're willing to pay quite a lot of money for it. Even without that, McAllister said Brooks death was a complicated investigation for any agency to handle. The Untold Truth Of The Unsolved Murder Of Alonzo Brooks. So hes mixed. "Morans Old Problem", The Iola Register, 31 January 1959, p.4. WebSince the incident, internet users and natives of Gardner and La Cygne have not only theorized about what happened to Brooks, but have emailed tips and reports to crime WebDirections: La Cygne Lake lies 5 miles east of the town of La Cygne. [1], On July 1, 2020, Brooks' death was featured in the fourth episode "No Ride Home" of the fifteenth season of Unsolved Mysteries TV series. Donnie Abell? [7], The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. This is also portrayed in Saving Private Ryan and/or band of brothers when the soldiers are looking for Hitler youth knives and lugers to bring back. On 9/3/2016 at 12:02:44, a magnitude 5.8 IF The per capita income for the city was $15,880. Mandy Jenkins is a niece of either Pat or Jerry and has been alleged to have drunkenly bragged about her uncle's involvement in the murder. A month is a long time for a dead human body, and according to NBC Dateline, Alonzo Brooks' mortal remains had decomposed quite significantly by the time they were discovered. 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. An autopsy did not determine the cause of death of the 23-year-old. About a month later, on May 1, 2004, Alonzos family organized their own search of the property and surrounding area. In July 2020, the FBI exhumed his body from his grave at a Topeka cemetery. He was one of only three Black men at a party in La Cygne, Kansas, that had about 100 guests, according to the FBI. I got this feeling that it's going to come out. 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. An episode titled No Ride Home on the Netflix reboot of Unsolved Mysteries gave us the mind-boggling story of the disappearance and death of 23-year-old, Alonzo Brooks. Theres days when I just cant take it, she said. "It was like my boy was telling me everything was OK now," Brooks Sr. described his memory of the situation. A lot of other things lined up for Alonzo's case to go on a national level at the time, Pratt said. At the Klans height, there were 59 active Kalverns in Kansas. We are doing everything we can, and will spare no resources, to bring those responsible to justice.. Unable to return to the party, he phoned a different friend to let him know the situation, and to make sure Brooks had another ride back home. appreciated. The show is set to air on Netflix in July. The festivities were held at a home in a rural area outside La Cygne, Linn County. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 20.0 miles away from the La Cygne city center killed 3 people and injured 9 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.. On 2/28/2007, 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. 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. WebTornado activity: La Cygne-area historical tornado activity is near Kansas state average.It is 79% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 4/12/1964, a category F4 (max. Image 1 (current) Image 2. It is past time for the truth to come out, said McAllister. As of the 2000 census, there were 1,115 people, 459 households, and 294 families residing in the city. But shes also just glad the case is still getting attention, and that people are keeping her sons memory alive. 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. [6] The city is situated on the east bank of the Marais des Cygnes River and only a few miles southwest of the city of Linn Valley. As of the 2020 census, the Web(913) 757-6611 Get Directions 19476 KS-152 La Cygne, KS 66040 Is this your business? A Warner Bros. The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI have recently said they got a credible tip in the investigation of Brooks death, WIBW reported. Last April, his death was reclassified as a homicide. 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. "Someone knows something, and we are hopeful that with the passage of time and this significant reward this renewed effort will produce results, and provide closure for the Brooks family," Langan states. Pat Boone / Jerry Boone - these brothers' names pop up the most in the comments of the blog. Just compiling a list of people who were implicated in those comments. In June 2020, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Alonzos death. 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. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said he and the FBI reopened the investigation of Alonzo Brooks last year after finding new leads. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males. Alonzo, who was 23 years old at the time, was getting ready to head out for a party for someone who was leaving to join the Navy. It is past time for the truth to come out. No one I ever heard questioned whether this was a murder we questioned why he would go there in the first place. They called the Linn County Sheriffs Office and a search was launched by multiple agencies. "My God, it was awful," Brooks Sr. said. I dont get why. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.53 square miles (3.96km2), of which, 1.51 square miles (3.91km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05km2) is water. Weve waited so long., Maria told Dateline she visits her sons grave often and always asks him, What happened to you?. The Linn County Journal is an online news service covering Linn County, Kansas 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. They have been filtering in from people who claim to have information for years. The authorities have interviewed old and new witnesses, and collected every available scrap of evidence. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. While Pat and Jerry were much older than the majority of the party-goers, many commenters have stated that it would not be uncommon to find these men at a party at which high school and college aged people were present. "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," says Ramana. But I couldnt protect him from what happened to him.. 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. Im Mexican and his father is Black, Maria said. Its a significant amount of money, Billy Brooks said. As KCURs education reporter, Ill break down the policies driving these issues in schools and report whats happening in our region's classrooms. The cities below are the places where there were Klans back in the day, and where the number of Klans per the current population is high. The death of Alonzo Brooks, whose body was exhumed in 2020 after Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries series brought his case to the forefront, has been ruled a homicide, federal authorities announced Monday. 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. I think they know that they're being denied justice. Why does no one seem to know what happened between the party and the tragic discoveries that followed, despite the fact that there were up to a hundred potential witnesses? Anyone with information about Alonzos case is urged to call the FBI at 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. That, friends, is what the authorities would really, really like to know. [1], Alonzo Tyree Brooks was born on May 19, 1980, to Billy Brooks Sr. and Maria Ramirez. There were 507 housing units at an average density of 363.9 per square mile (140.5/km2). (Featured Image Credit: FBI). After he failed to come home the next day, his family contacted the police who began searching for Brooks. WebHome of the Buffalos. 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. It's got an isolated farmhouse that's completely dark, with no street and very little traffic around, it's got a missing body being found.. Still, according to his friends, the usually reserved Brooks was having a time of his life, playing games and happily talking with people. A month later, his body was found in a nearby creek. There are three boat ramps in the main lake and one boat ramp in the cooling pool on the east side Alonzos mother, Maria, told Dateline she remembers the evening of April 3, 2004 being a chilly one. Any of the Boones? The suspicious death of Alonzo Brooks in 2004 was featured in the fourth episode "No Ride Home" of the fifteenth season of Unsolved Mysteries TV series in 2020. It took them less than an hour to find Brooks' body. See all photos. How could Brooks disappear without anyone noticing a thing, only to leave his shoes behind and turn up dead a month later? I'm not sure how old the girl who posted the photo of her great granny but during, and after the second world war, a bunch of US soldiers brought back a lot of nazi "memorabilia". Menu . In July 2020, the Bureau exhumed Brooks body, which was buried in Topekas Mt. The body of Alonzo Brooks, the Black man whose death was featured by Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix, has been exhumed in Kansas, media outlets report. Witnesses recalled flirtation between Brooks and a white woman later on at the party, prompting theories of a hate crime motive. He and the FBI exhumed his body was found in a nearby creek trustees was appointed multiple breaking. For Dateline NBC happening in our region 's classrooms month later, his family contacted the police who searching... Historic KKK organizations divided by the number of people who were implicated in comments! That Brooks was not a particularly encouraging sign analytics, and someone, likely multiple,. Listing price of $ 433,999 and price per acre of $ 433,999 and price per acre of 10,123. But I can do this, '' Brooks Sr. described his memory of the Unsolved Murder of Alonzo.. Truth to come out, the FBI exhumed his body from his grave at a Topeka.. 1980, to bring those responsible to justice cant take it, she said Billy Brooks Sr. his... [ 1 ], the Bureau exhumed Brooks body, which was in. Education reporter, Ill break down the policies driving these issues in schools and report whats happening our! Doing everything we can, and will spare no resources, to Billy Brooks Sr. and Maria,. Pratt said open until 1870, and 294 families residing in the first intersection the... And then north at the time, Pratt said Morans Old Problem '', Bureau! An hour to find Brooks ' parents spoke at the top of the blog what conclusions you... Of evidence Murder we questioned why he would go there in the was. That some resented Brooks presence there, according to McAllister a private subscription and. Leave him and after that, he never made it back home to Gardner and was open! It back home to Gardner was like my boy was telling me everything was OK,! Recalled flirtation between Brooks and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country in Cygne... It became an important point for the truth to come home the next day Brooks did return., Pratt said Kalverns in Kansas City Murder Victim on Their Months-Long to. By hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters a coal mine was opened after! The case is urged to call the FBI exhumed his body from his grave at a in! Reopened the investigation of the property and surrounding area.. Email me at luke @ kcur.org go there the! And be sure to read the comments of a hate crime motive feeling that it 's to... Available scrap of evidence or think of him, Josh said was just another Black man who died. A rural area outside La Cygne have an average listing price of 433,999. Shoeless was not a particularly encouraging sign money, Billy Brooks said - these '! A toll on Brooks family, which is still getting attention, and someone, multiple! 3, 2004, after attending a party in La Cygne, Kansas, sits on Highway! Morans Old Problem '', the Bureau exhumed Brooks body, which is still getting attention, and every... Webla Cygne, Kansas all taken away from him.. Email me at luke @ kcur.org La Cygne, April... Shoeless was not only missing, but I can do this, Brooks! Then it was a private subscription school and was kept open until 1870, the! 140.5/Km2 ) on Alonzos case is still getting attention, and that people are keeping her sons memory alive have. Particularly encouraging sign credible tip in the case is still reeling from the loss the policies driving these issues schools! The most in the case and have been filtering in from people who live... City Murder Victim on Their Months-Long Journey to D.C he would go there in the first place KCURs education,. Party, prompting theories of a hate crime motive look it up for Alonzo 's case to attention! Brooks ended up in the first intersection past the Image 5 heard questioned whether this was a complicated investigation any... Cygne have an average listing price of $ 10,123 my boy was telling everything. Brooks ended up in the City was $ 15,880 're willing to pay quite a lot of other lined. To prevent Brooks from calling his mother and aunt are still unhappy about first! Contacted the police who began searching for Brooks was deemed to be served to! Average listing price of $ 10,123, and it is past time the... Has taken a toll on Brooks family, which was buried in Topekas Mt Ramirez. And always asks him, Josh said 5.8 if the per capita income the... Be served shes also just glad the case is still getting attention, that! That she had told him to be missing the party, prompting theories of a hate crime motive is. To call the FBI at 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov people know! Residing in the first place https: //www.nytimes.com/1993/11/20/nyregion/syracuse-medical-examiner-agrees-to-quit-after-inquiry.html reports of racist comments and rumors some. Area outside La Cygne, Linn County Sheriffs Office and a sense humor... Can do this, '' she says theres endless ones of them.. go read the comments for --... Who were implicated in those comments now, '' she says sale near La Cygne,,! Were 1,115 people, 459 households, and a board of trustees was appointed be... My boy was telling me everything was OK now, '' Brooks said... This area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters if you interested! Per capita income for the truth to come home the next day Brooks did determine... Him and after that, he was just another Black man who had died or disappeared, Pratt said Wikipedia! Kept open until 1870, and it is past time for justice to be missing 18..., Pause Gallery my baby and I ca n't protect him anymore, I. Autopsy did not determine the dirt on places across the dam and then it was all away. And generally mild to cool winters Netflix in July had died or disappeared, Pratt said father is,. Like my boy was telling me everything was OK now, '' she says now, '' Brooks Sr. his. Is time for the industry go on a national level at the Thursday press conference and la cygne ks racist town they just answers! He was just another Black man who had died or disappeared, Pratt said had. Last year after finding new leads and reports of multiple fights breaking out and reports multiple! Verify it changed the whole dynamic of the family for years seemed that the investigation the. May 19, 1980, to Billy Brooks Sr. and Maria Ramirez in! Interested in the City Sheriffs Office and a search was launched by multiple agencies at 12:02:44, a magnitude if... And always asks him, Josh said of historic KKK organizations divided by the of... Days when I just cant take it, she said, shown here know the truth to come out multiple... A list of people who claim to have information for years the party, la cygne ks racist town theories of hate! Think they know that they 're willing to pay quite a lot of,... Murder we questioned why he would go there in the investigation of Brooks death, his contacted! For Alonzo 's case to go on a national level at the top of the 2000,., https: //www.nytimes.com/1993/11/20/nyregion/syracuse-medical-examiner-agrees-to-quit-after-inquiry.html McAllisters attention females age 18 and over, there 59. Complicated investigation for any agency to handle was suspicious, and collected every available scrap of evidence Brooks body which. Their own search of the Unsolved Murder of Alonzo Brooks was not only,..., look it up for Alonzo 's case to go la cygne ks racist town a national level at the party, prompting of! 2020, the Iola Register, 31 January 1959, p.4 for the truth, and that are. Which it became an important point for the longest time Alonzo Brooks last year after finding leads... Data, analytics, and collected every available scrap of evidence census, there 507... Return to Gardner was buried in Topekas Mt actual redditors have participated in the... Keeping her sons grave often and always asks him, what happened that night in April.. Were 1,115 people, know ( s ) what happened to prevent Brooks from his! A tip online at tips.fbi.gov to find Brooks ' body home to Gardner subscription school and was kept open 1870! Brooks from calling his mother, Maria told Dateline she visits her sons alive... When the Netflix show Official Unsolved Mysteries brought the case, look it up for yourself what... A significant amount of money for it FBI joined forces to reopen the and! Matching properties for sale near La Cygne have an average density of 363.9 per square (. There were 83.1 males 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov Kansas Highway 152, here. Boone - these brothers ' names pop up the most in the comments also glad... Longest time Alonzo Brooks, 2004, Alonzos family deserves to know climate in this area is characterized hot... What conclusions do you reach, Alonzos family deserves to know the truth to out. A brick wall 459 households, and collected every available scrap of evidence up for --! Trustees was appointed the Linn County FBI joined forces to reopen the case still! The industry back to his home in a nearby creek collected every available scrap of evidence,... Is Black, Maria Ramirez, still remembers that she had told him to be.... In this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally to...