CONTENT WARNING: This article contains references to violence, racism, hate crimes, and murder. Sixteen years after the death of 23-year-old Alonzo Brooks, now listed as a hate crime by the FBI, Brooks' body was exhumed by a crew (opens in new tab) at his cemetery in Topeka, Kentucky, local news station KSNT reports. In case you don't know, an episode of Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" (opens in new tab) featured Brooks' story: in 2004, Brooks was accidentally left behind at a party in the rural town of Racine, Kansas, and never returned. There were apparently racial slurs and arguments at the party, and Brooks was only one of three black people there. An official search turned up no clues, leads, or body, but a month after Brooks disappeared, his family conducted an unofficial search and soon found his body. Interviews with partygoers did not lead to any arrests or suspects. What is known at this time is as follows.

The circumstances surrounding Brooks' exact cause of death were not firm - the coroner interviewed for this episode stated that Brooks' body was decomposing and there was not enough information available to help the case. He ruled Brooks' death as undetermined; since the FBI is now interested in the case, it is possible that new information from the new autopsy, which was missed at the time, may provide some clues about Brooks' case.

Unsolved Mysteries tweeted this news:

In early July, news broke that the FBI was investigating the case (open in new tab) and deemed it a hate crime. They are offering $100,000 for information that might lead to an arrest.

"The time for the truth to come out has passed. The code of silence must be broken. The Alonzo family deserves to know the truth and it is time justice is served," said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, while FBI Agent Leena Lamanna said, "Sixteen years have passed, and as this time passes, we hope someone with information will come forward. ...... She added, "Some of the children who are now adults may have been too scared to come forward before and may not have known what they saw was important.

Anyone with information about this incident can call 816-512-8200 or 816-474-TIPS or submit information online at tips.fbi.gov.