The family of twin brothers found fatally shot on a Georgia mountain has pushed back against police's "murder-suicide" theory.

Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19, were discovered dead by hikers on the morning of March 8 at the summit of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) speculated that the pair, who'd died from being shot, may have passed away in a murder-suicide. But their loved ones aren’t buying it.

"They’re very protective of each other. They love each other," the twins' uncle, Rahim Brawner, told WXIA, cited by NBC News.

"They’re, like, inseparable. I couldn’t imagine them hurting each other, because I’ve never seen them get into a fistfight before," he added.

Qaadir and Naazir, who were just days away from their 20th birthday, had plans to fly to Boston on March 7 to visit friends. But authorities say they never boarded their 7AM flight and instead, their bodies were found nearly 90 miles from their home in Lawrenceville.

Adding to the family's confusion, the twins had never mentioned visiting Bell Mountain before, and their plane tickets were still tucked inside their wallets when their bodies were discovered.

"How did they end up out in the mountains?" Brawner questioned. "They don’t hike out there; they’ve never been out there. They don’t know anything about Hiawassee, Georgia. They never even heard of Bell Mountain, so how did they end up right there?"

The GBI has completed autopsies but is awaiting further forensic testing before making an official ruling. The agency has not responded to requests for additional comments.

Meanwhile, the family remains convinced that the police theory is flawed. "We want answers. We want to know exactly what happened to the twins," Samira Brawner, an aunt, said.

The twins had big dreams and an even bigger support system, their family says. "They had a huge support system. We know them. They wouldn’t do anything like this," Yasmine Brawner, another aunt, shared. "To say they did this to each other? No. Something happened in those mountains, and we want answers."

In a GoFundMe post raising money for funeral expenses, Yasmine further challenged the murder-suicide narrative.

"In recent new[s] reports, it was claimed that they took their own lives. My nephews wouldn’t do this! They came from a family of love, and twins wanted so much for their future, they had dreams of starting their very own clothing line," she penned.

As of this writing, the fundraiser had already gathered more than $28,000, surpassing the $20K goal.

Our thoughts remain with Qaadir and Naazir's loved ones at this heartbreaking time.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe

It was just another quiet Friday night when 19-year-old twins Naazir and Qaadir Lewis stopped at a Shell gas station near their suburban Atlanta home.

Security footage showed them refueling their black Nissan Altima, buying snacks, and chatting casually, a typical moment of teenage normalcy.

By the next morning, both young men were dead.

As previously reported, their bodies were discovered March 8 at the top of Bell Mountain, a remote lookout nearly 90 miles north near Georgia’s border with North Carolina.

They were found lying side by side, each with a colorful anime-style sword nearby.

A .45 caliber handgun rested between Naazir’s legs.

Authorities with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) ruled the case a double suicide, citing forensic evidence that both brothers fired the weapon. But months later, their family insists the evidence doesn’t support that conclusion.

A mystery that doesn’t sit right

“The way the bodies were positioned, the way the gun was placed, it all looked staged,” said Daryl Manns, attorney for the twins’ father, Tyrese Lewis. “It just doesn’t look like what you’d expect in a suicide.”

According to the GBI’s 300-page case file, obtained this week by CNN, each brother died from a close-range gunshot wound to the right side of the head.

Investigators found no evidence of third-party involvement, and digital records showed the twins researching firearms and suicide in the days before their deaths.

Still, relatives say nothing in the boys’ lives pointed to such an outcome.

“They were inseparable, nerdy, full of energy,” their aunt Antoinette Lewis told investigators. “They loved anime, video games, and spent hours debating about things like Harry Potter.”

Signs of struggle – and denial

The GBI file paints a more complicated picture. In the weeks before the tragedy, Naazir reportedly confided to a girlfriend in Boston that he was struggling with money and tension at home.

He also showed her a handgun, claiming he needed it for protection.

Records show the weapon had been reported stolen months earlier from another Atlanta suburb. Investigators have not determined how the twins obtained it, according to the CNN report.

In late February, Naazir ordered ammunition online and began searching for information about loading and firing a 1911-style pistol. On March 7, the night before their bodies were found, one of the twins searched “how to load a gun” on YouTube.

The final hours

Cell phone and surveillance data trace their movements: the Shell station stop at 9:30 pm a drive north into the Georgia mountains, and their arrival at Bell Mountain just after midnight, PEOPLE reports.

The gate to the overlook should have been locked after sunset, but a local sheriff’s deputy had reportedly left it open.

When a hiker found the bodies the next morning, a red backpack lay nearby containing ammunition, one of the twins’ phones, and a notebook with a handwritten line: “Journey to the Afterlife.”

Inside the Nissan, investigators found rope, an unopened bottle of Fireball whisky, and a plane ticket to Boston, a trip Naazir had planned to take that weekend.

Unanswered questions

Despite the GBI’s conclusion, the twins’ family remains unconvinced.

They’ve launched GoFundMe to hire a private investigator, hoping to uncover new clues.

“None of it makes sense,” said their stepmother, Kaarini Gitata.

“They weren’t hikers. They wouldn’t drive that far in that car. And they were making plans for the future.”

The GBI has officially closed the case. But for the Lewis family, the search for answers, and for peace, continues.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe.

A family is calling for answers after 19-year-old twin brothers were found shot to death on a mountain a day after they missed a flight.

Qaadir and Naazir Lewis, 19, who were from Lawrenceville, Georgia, went missing on March 7 after failing to board a flight they were due to take to Boston to visit friends.

The twin brothers' bodies were discovered the following day by a hiker, who came across the grisly scene at the summit of Bell Mountain, near the North Carolina border.

Authorities have speculated that the pair, who'd died from being shot, may have passed away in a murder-suicide.

However, their grieving family does not believe this theory, which is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, as they say the pair were inseparable and would never have hurt one another.

Their uncle, Rahim Brawner, told WXIA-TV on Friday: "They’re very protective of each other. They love each other.

"I couldn’t imagine them hurting each other because I’ve never seen them get into a fistfight before."

The twins' aunt, Yasmin Brawner, said that the pair had a "huge support system" who they knew they could have turned to for help if they had any trouble or thoughts of taking their own lives.

She believes that something else may have happened to cause Qaadir and Naazir's untimely deaths, telling the outlet: "We know them. They wouldn’t do anything like this.

"To say they did this to each other? No. Something happened in those mountains, and we want answers."

She has also since started a GoFundMe to pay for the teens' funeral expenses, which has raised over $22,000 of its $20,000 target.

In the fundraiser, she added: "In recents new reports, it was claimed that they took their own lives. My nephews wouldn’t do this!

"They came from a family of love, and twins wanted so much for their future, they had dreams of starting their very own clothing line.

"Unfortunately Something happened at Bell mountain that ended the lives of 19 year old Qaadir and Naazir, which needs to be further investigated."

The family adds that they have yet to get any answers on how Qaadir and Naazir had traveled from the airport to Bell Mountain, as the twins had reportedly never been there before and are not known to hike.

They add that the pair were also found with gunshot wounds on both of their bodies and their plane tickets still inside their wallets.

Their aunt, Samira Brawner, added: "We want answers, we want to know exactly what happened to the twins.

"How did they end up out in the mountains? They don’t hike out there, they’ve never been out there.

"They don’t know anything about Hiawassee, Georgia, ... So how did they end up right there?"

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations confirmed that autopsies have been completed for both men, but added that officials are still waiting on the results of additional forensic tests before a final ruling is made on their official cause of death.

Our thoughts remain with Qaadir and Naazir's loved ones at this heartbreaking time.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe

A firefighter has been charged after he allegedly took and shared images of two dead twin brothers on a mountain.

The case revolves around the tragic deaths of 19-year-old twin brothers Qaadir and Naazir Lewis, who were found dead in what authorities suspect was a murder-suicide on a remote mountain near the Georgia-North Carolina border.

Scott Kerlin, 42, a volunteer firefighter in Towns County, Georgia, has been accused of interfering in the investigation into the March 8 deaths of the Lewis brothers.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Kerlin allegedly took photos of the death scene and shared them with the public, violating department protocol.

Following the shocking allegations, Kerlin was fired from his position and charged with misdemeanor obstruction, according to a Towns County spokesperson.

He was later released on bond.

The Lewis twins, originally from Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, were supposed to be on a trip to Boston to visit friends. However, concern arose when they missed their 7:00AM flight from Atlanta on March 7.

A hiker discovered their bodies the following morning, around 11AM on March 8, in a remote mountainous area near the North Carolina border, roughly 117 miles northeast of the airport.

Investigators have ruled their deaths as a suspected murder-suicide, though they have not revealed who the shooter was.

Authorities found the twins' plane tickets in their wallets, confirming they never made it to Boston.

The official cause of death remains under investigation, as the medical examiner is still awaiting additional forensic test results.

While law enforcement leans toward murder-suicide, the Lewis family is struggling to accept that possibility, describing the twins as inseparable and peaceful.

"We’re just trying to figure out what happened. We’re trying to put pieces together to understand. How did they end up in the mountains? They don’t hike out there. They have never been out there," said their aunt, Samira Brawner, in an interview with WSBTV.

Their uncle, Rahim Brawner, echoed the disbelief, stating he had never known the brothers to be violent toward each other.

"I can’t imagine them hurting each other because I’ve never even seen them get into a fistfight before," he said.

"Murder-suicide? I just believe that they were extremely incapable of that."

As authorities continue to investigate the brothers' deaths, the Lewis family remains desperate for answers.

Meanwhile, Scott Kerlin’s actions have raised concerns over privacy violations and ethical misconduct, with law enforcement not releasing any additional details about the leaked photos.

A GoFundMe page has been set up in order to raise funds for the Lewis family during this difficult time.

Featured image credit: GoFundMe

Warning: This article contains information and details that some readers will find upsetting.

A Nebraska community has been left heartbroken after a family of four was found dead in what authorities are investigating as a triple murder-suicide.

At around 9:45AM on May 10, Nebraska State Patrol officers responded to a call at a home on Johnson Lake, Plum Creek Canyon.

Inside, they discovered the bodies of Jeremy Koch, 42; his wife Bailey Koch, 41; and their sons Hudson, 18, and Asher, 16. All four were found in their beds with fatal knife wounds, and the weapon was located at the scene.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, police believe Jeremy, who had a long history of severe mental health struggles, fatally stabbed his wife and children before taking his own life.

A Tragic Discovery

The horrific scene was discovered by Bailey’s parents, Lane and Peggy Kugler.

In a devastating Facebook post, they wrote: “I found our two grandsons, Hudson, 18, and Asher, 16, and our daughter Bailey, and our son-in-law Jeremy, dead laying in their beds. What I saw will haunt me the rest of my life.”

Lane continued, explaining that Jeremy had “been fighting mental illness for many, many years. His depression had turned into psychosis. It was not Jeremy that committed this horrific act. It was a sick mind".

The tragedy struck just hours before Hudson was set to graduate from Cozad High School. According to a GoFundMe page Bailey had previously launched, Hudson had been planning to move to California to pursue a three-year bonsai apprenticeship, Law and Crime reported.

A Family Fighting for Mental Health Awareness

Jeremy and Bailey were reportedly high school sweethearts who had been together for over 25 years.

They were outspoken advocates for mental health, openly sharing their family’s journey on a Facebook page titled: Anchoring Hope for Mental Health.

Bailey, a teacher and writer, regularly contributed to the site Her View From Home, where she spoke candidly about supporting Jeremy through his battle with severe depression.

In a tribute, the page remembered Bailey as “a beloved friend, talented writer, and tireless mental health advocate,” saying she used “raw, unflinching truth-telling” to shine a light on the realities of mental illness.

Jeremy’s mental health struggles began as early as 2009, when he was diagnosed with severe depression. According to the GoFundMe post, he had survived at least four suicide attempts, including a devastating incident involving a semi-truck crash that left him with multiple severe injuries.

The family’s difficulties intensified in July 2023 when Jeremy could no longer work at their landscaping business. The financial pressure and mental toll forced Bailey to become the sole provider with her teacher’s salary.

In March 2024, Bailey wrote about waking up to Jeremy standing over her with a knife, saying, “Something is wrong.” She was able to talk him down and get him into a hospital. He later underwent treatments, including Electroconvulsive Therapy, which proved ineffective.

At one point, he was hospitalized for dehydration after refusing to eat or drink. “By not eating or drinking, Jeremy is slowly completing suicide,” Bailey wrote.

Just two days before the tragedy, Bailey posted a hopeful update: Jeremy had returned home but wasn’t reacting well to new medication. Still, she was optimistic about a new treatment option at a nearby hospital.

Community in Mourning

Cozad Community Schools issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy and confirming that the high school graduation would proceed as scheduled.

“Cozad Schools was made aware of a tragic situation that will deeply affect our Cozad community,” they said. “Our thoughts are with all those impacted during this incredibly difficult time.”

Support services and grief counseling were made available for students and staff. Holdrege Public Schools, where Bailey worked, also shared a statement describing her as “a passionate educator, a caring colleague, and a bright presence in the school community.”

Ongoing Investigation

The Dawson County Attorney has ordered autopsies for all four victims. The Nebraska State Patrol is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Eustis Fire & Rescue, and the Dawson County Attorney.

In a statement, officials said: “The Nebraska State Patrol, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Eustis Fire & Rescue, and the Dawson County Attorney extend condolences to all, across multiple communities, who will be affected by this incident.”

As the post from Her View From Home concludes: “Bailey would be the first to tell you her story is not an easy one to hear. But the world needs it. We are honored to share it...As she liked to say, mental illness does not win. Hope does.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Featured image credit: Facebook/ Bailey Koch