Hikers made a grim discovery on Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Georgia, when they found the bodies of twin brothers, prompting an official investigation into their deaths.
On the morning of March 8, 2025, authorities discovered the bodies of two brothers, Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19 years old and residents of Lawrenceville, at the peak of Bell Mountain. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office launched an inquiry after hikers reported the incident at approximately 11:05 a.m.
Authorities confirmed that both men had sustained gunshot wounds, and preliminary findings suggested the case to be a murder-suicide. The investigation remains active as officials await autopsy results.
The GBI also apprehended Scott Kerlin, a 42-year-old volunteer firefighter from Hiawassee, and charged him with misdemeanor obstruction. Investigators determined that Kerlin took unauthorized photographs of the crime scene and publicly shared them, prompting legal action.
The brothers had been reported missing after failing to board a flight to Boston on March 7. Law enforcement is still working to determine the full circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The GBI reported that while a medical examiner completed the autopsies, the official ruling and results await further forensic analysis.
The family of the twins has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for their funeral and memorial services, which has already surpassed $30,000. In the description, their aunt, Yasmine Brawner, expressed her disbelief regarding the circumstances of their deaths.
She also rejected the murder-suicide claim. The 19-year-old brothers were apparently close to their family and had plans to start a clothing business. She urged the public to share their story and support the cause.
The rest of the family stands united, also rejecting the reported cause of the twins’ deaths. “They loved each other. They’re like inseparable, so I can’t imagine them hurting each other because I’ve never even seen them get into a fistfight before,” their uncle, Rahim Brawner said.
Mostly, they want answers and are calling for a more thorough investigation. The twins were supposed to spend the weekend in Boston, visiting friends, so their discovery nearly 90 miles away caused considerable shock, given their lack of hiking experience and unfamiliarity with the Hiawassee and Bell Mountain terrain.
These actions, uncharacteristic given the twins’ strong support system, prompted the family to believe an incident occurred in the mountains.
