The harrowing case of three missing sisters from rural Missouri has taken a devastating turn, as authorities confirmed Tuesday that all three girls died from asphyxiation — with new details surfacing that left even seasoned detectives in tears. Their bodies, discovered last week after a desperate five-day search, were found hidden beneath brush near a creek just three miles from their family’s home.
The victims — 17-year-old Shania Brooks, 14-year-old Laila Brooks, and 11-year-old Mariah Brooks — vanished after leaving their grandmother’s house late Friday night in what was initially believed to be a short walk home. For days, volunteers, drones, dogs, and helicopters swept the heavily wooded area near Liberty Bend, Missouri. But the discovery made on June 1 shattered the last hopes of finding them alive.
In a deeply emotional press conference, Clay County Sheriff Paul Vance confirmed that early autopsy results indicate the cause of death for all three sisters was asphyxiation, though the manner — whether accidental or intentional — is still under active investigation.
“We are heartbroken to announce that Shania, Laila, and Mariah died from asphyxiation,” Sheriff Vance said through visible emotion. “We believe this was not a random act.”— Clay County Sheriff’s Office (@ClayCoSheriff) June 4, 2025
Family members were present during the update, and sobs could be heard off-camera as the sheriff spoke. The girls’ mother, Alisa Brooks, collapsed as the words were read, clutching a photo of her daughters that she had carried throughout the search effort.
“My babies didn’t deserve this,” she cried. “They were walking home. They were just trying to come home.”— Jessica D. (@JessReportsLive) June 4, 2025
A neighbor’s surveillance camera showed the girls walking past their fence at approximately 9:08 p.m. on May 27, laughing and holding hands. That was the last known footage before their trail went cold. KMBC News released the clip earlier this week, which now serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly the night turned deadly.
While police have not yet announced any arrests, they revealed that a “person of interest” — a 34-year-old male who was known to the family — is currently being held on unrelated charges while detectives pursue forensic evidence.
According to Fox4 Kansas City, investigators believe the girls may have accepted a ride or been coerced into a nearby trailer park, where cell tower pings show their phones briefly connected before going dark around 10:12 p.m.
Hundreds gathered Monday night for a candlelight vigil at Liberty High School, where Shania had been preparing for senior prom.
“She was going to be a nurse,” one classmate said. “She had her whole life planned.”— KMBC 9 News (@kmbc) June 3, 2025
Laila loved to dance. Mariah wanted to be a vet. These girls had dreams — and someone took them away. #BrooksSisters— Kayla Andrews (@KaylaNewsNow) June 3, 2025
The case has sparked outrage across social media, with #BrooksSisters now trending nationally on X, formerly Twitter. Activists are calling for stronger community alert systems for missing children and more accountability in rural policing.
A Change.org petition to pass “The Brooks Sisters Act” — which would require rural counties to initiate Amber Alerts within the first 90 minutes of missing child reports — has already received over 120,000 signatures.
This is not just a tragedy — it’s a failure of the system. Those girls could have been found sooner. #BrooksSistersAct— Tamika Mallory (@TamikaDMallory) June 4, 2025
A family friend has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs and create a scholarship in the sisters’ names. The fundraiser surpassed $100,000 within 24 hours, as celebrities like Kerry Washington and Gabrielle Union shared the link.
Local pastor Rev. Micah Halston, who comforted the family in the hours after the news, said this loss will haunt the town for years. “They were three lights, extinguished by a darkness we must now name and fight.”
Rest in peace, Shania. Rest in peace, Laila. Rest in peace, Mariah. You were loved. You still are. #JusticeForTheBrooksSisters— Rachel Cargle (@RachelCargle) June 4, 2025
The sheriff confirmed that additional forensics — including toxicology reports and DNA findings — will be released in the coming weeks, but he emphasized that the department is working “round the clock” and has dedicated all available personnel to the case.
For now, a grieving community clings to pictures, prayers, and the hope that justice will come swiftly for the sisters who simply wanted to go home.
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