GA - Twin brothers miss flight to Boston, found dead 24 hours later in Georgia mountains, 14 Mar 2025

[jillolantern]

Yes. And if I am a compassionate and well-trained member of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, I don’t need to say that in the press release, because all else I’m saying makes that rationally clear. No law enforcement body would put forward probable murder-suicide if they didn’t have the weapon, unless it had been many years since and maybe wildlife absconded with it or whatever. This is a law enforcement agency expressing admirable constraint, and a family in massive pain. I admire the softness of the steps being shown here.

You have more confidence in LE than I do. I hope you are right.

 

[mickey2942]

 Parents really don't know everything that is going on with adult children.

 

[jillolantern]

When a family and their friends are adamant that they wouldn't do such a thing, I tend to believe them.

I completely disagree with this. Families never believe suicide. Their kids are never druggies or alcoholics or prostitutes. They cannot believe a mom left her kids or a dad killed the family. The evidence is that families don't know or won't admit what they know or lie about what they know to look good on TV.

That said, I also don't blindly trust LE, so ... what to do.

In this particular case I'm not arguing one way or another at this point. I'm just saying that because the family says so doesn't mean anything, and we have plenty of evidence of that from other cases.

IMO

 

[jillolantern]

It makes me sad that there is still such shame and stigma around it.

100%

 

[statt#1]

The family isn't convinced of the murder/suicide claim. And to boot, they claim the twins weren't hikers, never went to the spot they were found, didn't even know where it was.

And odd too, the flight tickets were found in their pockets....

Mystery surrounds teen twins found shot dead on Georgia mountain one day after missing flight: ‘We want answers’

Grieving uncle Rahim Brawner said the teens were inseparable and would never hurt each other, even as the Georgia Bureau of Investigations is treating the case as a murder-suicide.

nypost.com

 

[statt#1]

Cody Alcorn, 11alive, he's got some reporting on this story, on several well known media platforms.

GBI appears to be waiting on some further investigation....whatever that means.

Twin brothers miss their flight to Boston, found dead 24 hours later in Georgia mountains

Qaadir and Nazir Lewis' bodies were found on Bell Mountain. Their family disputes GBI's initial murder-suicide ruling, insisting the twins wouldn’t hurt each other.

www.11alive.com

 

[Snoopster]

 Parents really don't know everything that is going on with adult children.

I wish I knew everything (well, almost everything) that is going on with my adult children, but I definitely understand that I don't.

I can't imagine what the family is going through as they wait for further details from the investigation.
<hugs and love> to them!

 

[mickey2942]

I wish I knew everything (well, almost everything) that is going on with my adult children, but I definitely understand that I don't.

I can't imagine what the family is going through as they wait for further details from the investigation.
<hugs and love> to them!

I know. It is sad, that people learn more about their adult children, or even spouses, that they never knew.

 

[Snoopster]

Their car was found there.

I might have missed it but I went back through all of the media links posted here on this thread and I don't see a mention of a vehicle or how they got to Bells Mountain.

 

[Knox]

Cody Alcorn​

UPDATE | Mystery on Bell Mountain

A mystery is unfolding on Bell Mountain in Towns County Georgia after the bodies of twin brothers from Lawrenceville were discovered nearly 90 miles from home.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is initially treating the case as a murder-suicide, but the victims’ family is pushing back, saying that explanation doesn’t add up.

Qaadir and Naazir Lewis, both 19, were found shot to death Saturday morning by a hiker at the summit of Bell Mountain, near the North Carolina border.

The family said the brothers had booked a flight to Boston for 7 a.m. last Friday but never made their flight. Just 24 hours later, they were found dead in an area the family said they had never visited before.
The family said the brothers' plane tickets were found in their wallets on the mountain.

TODAY I got a couple more questions answered from the family |

1) Was their car found at Bell Mountain? Yes
2) Last time they were actually seen? Stepmom originally said Saturday at 3 a.m. Investigator said 3 a.m. as well, then investigator changed it to Friday 11 p.m; he stated that he converted the time wrong.
3) Did they have their luggage with them? No
4) Phones on them? Found in car
5) Did they check into their flight? Unsure.

https://www.facebook.com/CodyAlcornNews/posts/pfbid0cVGP2J4xYC8sT8t5R4qRuLKw5AHDW44HyqxvXS6Uszw62Vp1QvTCFdqLFRRxybdsl

 

[Knox]

Interesting detail about the last time seen listed in the above post. "Actually Seen" - means to me someone laid eyes on them (in-person/via an app) or they are on video cam somewhere. Curious about the need to make a four-hour time conversion?

Also NO luggage?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[ShyestButterfly]

I can't stand when the family immediately denies possible explanations. They say they "know". How can you know?

Teenagers live double lives, especially with the internet so readily available as an anonymous and (somewhat) erasable location to live another life. My parents knew nothing about me or what I was into when I was 18-19. We got along okay but I just played the part I had to around them.

A murder-suicide or suicide pact can't possibly be ruled out until there's evidence to suggest otherwise.

They both look proud and happy about their graduations. IMO, I don't think this was any type of suicide pact. JMO.
They were headed to Boston -- I would think they were exited about the trip. SMH.

Their new lives, STS, have just started. How many of us were proud of ourselves due to our first big step in growing up and feeling more adult? Who knows what good things these young men might have done to make things better in their town and possibly for the world?
Their parents, probably grandparents, cousins, and friends, etc., were certainly proud and happy for that day for those young men. The world was out there for them.
It takes my breath away.
Hoping that LE and whoever else can solve this sad, sad event.

I struggled through high school and had severe depression. After I graduated I was relieved but was quickly overcome by hopelessness and fear. I am 29 and most of my friends have experienced a mental health problem or otherwise had a bit of an existential or what is sometimes called a "quarter-life crisis".

Sometimes kids are also astoundingly talented at hiding their pain. It's not always obvious somebody is struggling. Especially when there's a perfect and anonymous outlet for that pain right here online. That temporary release valve allows people to at least play a part in life and appear like they're doing well.

But I'm not trying to make it seem like "this must be the case". I'm only saying it's absolutely still a possibility because appearances mean very, very little. Countless cases described on this site like JBR or serial killers like Dahmer (charming and charismatic; appears well-to-do) are perfect examples of appearances being deceiving.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[caribou_birdie]

some released info that may lead me one way or another....

-the mountain can't be that isolated if they were found the next morning (presumably) by a hiker. if a planned suicide or a planned dumping/execution spot, why not choose somewhere less traveled?

The road leading up tp Bell Mountain is a one lane road, houses lining both side of the road. A sign at the entrance about 500 yards (I am estimating) down the mountain warns you there is no turn around and a VERY steep grade.

The mountain is not isolated at all. The times I have been there, it has been very busy. Always someone there.

 

[caribou_birdie]

These are some of my pics of Bell Mountain. IMO, none of the graffiti is gang graffiti. The steps looking down are from the very top platform. The fence runs along the perimeter of the steep mountainside so you don't accidentally slip and have a terrible accident.

 

[sunflowermomma]

MOO, I don't like that they went straight to suicide. This seems odd and needs more investigation. Is there a suicide note or related communications between the brothers on their phones, discord, kik, whatsapp etc?

What were their friend groups like? Did they have any enemies?

Is the place they were found truly a HIKING trail where outdoorsy people go to be in nature, or is it more of a young adult hangout/local landmark?

Did they actually have friends or know anyone in Boston?

Were they lured there for some reason? MOO speculation, something like buying something off the dark web and picking it up somewhere remote?

So many questions.

Agree with the post above ^^ that the graffiti does not look like gang graffiti. It looks reminiscent of Slab City or some other community art project type of place.

 

[caribou_birdie]

Is the place they were found truly a HIKING trail where outdoorsy people go to be in nature, or is it more of a young adult hangout/local landmark?

This PARTICULAR spot is a local (and not so local) landmark. However, there are Trailheads for the Appalachian Trail in the area and lots of hiking trails in the area, so these mountains attract thousands of hikers, even in the cooler months.

 

[sunflowermomma]

"Their family said the brothers were found with their plane tickets still inside their wallets." -- This part of the NYP article is weird to me. Does this mean their boarding passes were in their wallets? Who prints out their boarding pass at home anymore? When you check in online you're prompted first to add the boarding pass to your mobile wallet. Everyone I know does that or prints it at their airport at the desk or kiosk. Is it confirmed they actually had booked tickets?

 

[Peppery]

I wonder what clothing they had on. Was it the same as they were wearing on Thursday when the sister last saw them? Since there was no luggage in the car, it makes me think this happened late Thursday/early (overnight) Friday, rather than on the way to the airport. I assume they’d have already packed and had suitcases ready at their home.