Welcome back to Black & Unsolved: True Crime Chronicles on the NBG Podcast Network, where we explore the haunting, unsolved cases of Black individuals whose stories have been overlooked or pushed to the margins of mainstream media. I'm your host, A.I. Jackson, and today we'll be diving into a chilling mystery that has captivated the nation—the unsolved death of Alonzo Brooks.
Alonzo Brooks' case represents more than just a mystery. It reveals the grim intersection of racial tension, violence, and systemic neglect. It's been 17 years since Alonzo's body was discovered under suspicious circumstances, and yet his family, friends, and the community still wait for justice. Today, we'll explore the timeline of events, the disturbing racial undertones, the frustrating gaps in the investigation, and where the case stands now.
What we do know is that Alonzo Brooks was a young man with his whole life ahead of him, tragically cut short under mysterious and suspicious circumstances. His family continues to fight for justice. If you have any information about Alonzo Brooks' death, the FBI urges you to come forward. Together, we can keep Alonzo's story alive and push for the justice he deserves.
Thank you for tuning in to Black & Unsolved: True Crime Chronicles. If you enjoyed this episode, hit that like button, leave a comment, and share it with your friends. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so don't forget to write a review. For more shows, head over to nbgpodcastnetwork.com. Stay connected, stay empowered, and stay vigilant. Until then, I'm your host, A.I. Jackson, and this is Black and Unsolved, True Crime Chronicles.
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Welcome back to Black and Unsolved, True Crime Chronicles on the NBG Podcast
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Network, where we explore the haunting, unsolved cases of Black individuals
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whose stories have been overlooked or pushed to the margins of mainstream media.
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I'm your host, A.I. Jackson, and today we'll be diving into a chilling mystery
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that has captivated the nation the unsolved death of Alonzo Brooks.
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His case represents more than just a mystery.
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It reveals the grim intersection of racial tension, violence, and systemic neglect.
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It's been 17 years since Alonzo's body was discovered under suspicious circumstances,
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and yet his family, his friends, and the community still wait for justice.
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Today, we'll explore the timeline of events, the disturbing racial undertones,
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the frustrating gaps in the investigation, and where the case stands now.
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As always, listener discretion is advised, as this episode covers sensitive and graphic material.
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Let's start with who Alonzo Brooks was.
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Alonzo was born on May 19th, 1980, in Topeka, Kansas. He was one of five children,
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raised by his mother, Maria Ramirez.
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By all accounts, Alonzo was a kind, laid-back young man.
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He loved to play sports, especially football, and was a loyal friend,
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often described as quiet but quick to laugh.
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At the age of 23, he was still living in Kansas, working and enjoying time with
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friends. He was biracial, part black and part Mexican, and in rural Kansas,
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that sometimes meant he stood out.
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On the night of April 3, 2004, Alonzo attended a party with some friends in
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La Sain, Kansas, a small, predominantly white town about an hour's drive from his home.
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That party would be the last time Alonzo was seen alive.
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What happened to Alonzo Brooks? And why, to this day, has no one been held accountable?
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The night of April 3rd seemed like a typical Saturday evening for Alonzo and his friends.
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They were looking forward to attending the party in La Cigne,
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despite the fact that they didn't know many people there.
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Alonzo had gone with a group of his friends, including Justin Sprague, one of his close.
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Music.
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Mostly white, many of whom were strangers to Alonzo and his group.
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Reports indicate that Alonzo was one of very few, if not the only,
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black person at the gathering.
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Throughout the night, witnesses say that Alonzo seemed to be enjoying himself,
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but tensions at the party began to rise.
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Some of the white attendees were reportedly making racist remarks toward Alonzo.
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According to witnesses, these racial tensions were palpable,
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and some of Alonzo's friends sensed the danger.
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One of his friends even left the party early due to the uneasy atmosphere.
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Things took a sharp turn for the worse when Justin Sprague, the friend who had
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driven Alonzo to the party, left early reportedly due to a misunderstanding
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about whether Alonzo had secured another ride home.
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Alonzo was essentially stranded. stranded, alone, and surrounded by people he
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barely knew, many of whom didn't seem to welcome his presence.
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This is where the story takes a grim turn.
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By the end of the night, Alonzo was missing. His friends didn't initially panic.
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They assumed that Alonzo had either gotten a ride back with someone else,
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or had stayed behind, planning to return the next day.
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But when he didn't come home and no one heard from him the following morning, panic set in.
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Alonzo's family, along with his friends, immediately grew concerned and began searching for him.
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His family contacted local authorities, but frustratingly, the response was
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slow and early efforts to locate Alonzo were riddled with confusion and miscommunication.
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In fact, it took an entire month for Alonzo's body to be discovered.
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It wasn't the authorities who found him, it was his his own family and friends.
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On May 1st, 2004, after weeks of searching, they discovered Alonzo's body lying
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in a creek near the property where the party had taken place.
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Despite multiple searches by law enforcement prior to this, somehow the creek
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hadn't been thoroughly investigated.
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To this day, it remains unclear why authorities were unable,
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or perhaps unwilling, to find Alonzo's body. earlier.
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The discovery of Alonzo Brooks' body only deepened the mystery.
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His remains were found partially decomposed, but initial autopsy reports were inconclusive.
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There was no clear cause of death, no visible signs of trauma,
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no gunshot wounds, and no drowning evidence, despite his body being found near water.
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Authorities quickly ruled out foul play, suggesting that Alonzo may have wandered
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off and died from exposure to the elements.
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But for those who knew Alonzo, this explanation never sat right.
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The area where Alonzo's body was found had been searched several times before.
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How could a team of professional investigators miss it? Did someone move his body? And if so, why?
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These unanswered questions led Alonzo's family to suspect foul play,
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especially given the racial dynamics of the area and the reports of racial hostility at the party.
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Even more disturbing were the rumors circulating around town.
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Whispers of a racially motivated murder spread like wildfire.
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Some believed Alonzo had been the victim of a hate crime, possibly lynched and
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later dumped in the creek.
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Despite these rumors, no one was talking, at least, not to the authorities.
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For years, the case remained cold. Alonzo's family, particularly his mother,
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Maria Ramirez, never gave up hope.
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She continued to push for answers, believing that someone in the community knew
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what had happened to her son, but was too afraid, or too complicit, to come forward.
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In 2019, Alonzo's case began to gain renewed attention.
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Thanks in part to the power of social media and growing public interest in unsolved
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cases involving black victims.
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The Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries aired an episode about Alonzo's case in
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July 2020, which sparked nationwide interest.
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People across the country were outraged at the lack of justice for Alonzo and
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the apparent failures of the initial investigation.
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In response to this growing pressure, the FBI reopened the case in 2019,
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and in 2021, they announced that they now considered Alonzo's death a homicide.
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This revelation, though significant, raised even more questions.
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What had changed in the investigation?
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What new evidence had come to light that led authorities to officially declare
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Alonzo's death a murder? A second autopsy was conducted on Alonzo's exhumed
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body, and this time the results were different.
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The medical examiner concluded that Alonzo had likely died as a result of foul
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play, though the specifics remain undisclosed to the public.
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The FBI has offered a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest
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and conviction of those responsible for Alonzo's death.
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Despite this new momentum, Alonso's case remains unsolved.
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No arrests have been made, and the people responsible for his death are still out there.
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Was this a racially motivated killing? Did witnesses at the party know more than they've let on?
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Was there a cover-up, either by the community or by local authorities?
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These are questions that still haunt Alonzo's family and everyone following the case.
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What we do know is that Alonzo Brooks was a young man with his whole life ahead of him.
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A life that was tragically cut short under mysterious and suspicious circumstances.
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His family continues to fight for justice, refusing to let his memory fade into obscurity.
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So, what happened to Alonzo Brooks?
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Was it a hate crime, an accident, or something far more sinister.
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If you have any information or tips about Alonzo Brooks' death,
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the FBI is urging you to come forward.
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Justice for Alonzo is long overdue and his family deserves answers.
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Together, we can keep Alonzo's story alive and push for the justice he deserves.
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Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Black and Unsolved,
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True Crime Chronicles, where we shine a light on the cases that deserve to be seen and heard.
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If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to hit that like button,
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leave a comment, and share it with your friends.
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We'd love to hear your thoughts, so don't forget to write a review.
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And for more amazing NBG Podcast Network shows, head over to nbgpodcastnetwork.com
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and check out our complete lineup.
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Stay tuned for our next episode, where we will continue to explore unresolved
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cases and the stories behind them.
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Remember, stay connected, stay empowered, and stay vigilant.
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Until then, I'm your host, AI.
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Jackson, and this is Black and Unsolved, True Crime Chronicles.
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Music.
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