More than a year after twin brothers Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis were discovered dead atop Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Georgia, on March 8, 2025, their family has publicly accepted the state’s conclusion that both brothers died by suicide — a painful turning point that followed months of grief, doubt, and an exhaustive independent search for answers.
The 19-year-old twins, who were from Lawrenceville, Georgia, in Gwinnett County, were found by hikers at the summit of Bell Mountain in Towns County. Their deaths drew widespread attention as family members initially rejected the official findings and demanded a deeper look at the circumstances surrounding their loss.
Family Accepts the GBI’s Ruling
In a Facebook statement posted over the weekend, the twins’ aunt, Yasmine Brawner, announced that the family had reviewed the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s files and taken significant steps to verify the findings on their own. The family hired two independent homicide investigators and obtained separate autopsy reviews — and according to Brawner, every independent conclusion aligned with what state investigators had already determined.
Brawner said the family examined the state case materials in detail and brought in two outside homicide experts to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the physical evidence and investigation documentation, while also securing independent autopsy reviews.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation had formally ruled the deaths a suicide-suicide on May 21, 2025, following a thorough investigation that included forensic analysis, digital evidence, and cellular location data tracing the brothers’ movements from their Gwinnett County home to the mountain. The agency had originally characterized the case as a possible murder-suicide before investigators gathered additional evidence that pointed in a different direction.
Evidence That Built the Case
Among the key findings made public by the GBI: cellular data established a clear timeline of the brothers’ travel from home to Bell Mountain, and surveillance footage corresponding to those locations showed the two men were alone throughout the journey. Investigators also determined that only Naazir went to the airport on March 7, 2025 — he never boarded a flight and returned home — and records confirmed he was the only one who held an airline ticket.
Records further showed that Naazir had purchased the ammunition used in the gun, and that it was delivered to his home on March 5, 2025 — two days before the brothers made their way to the mountain. Internet search histories recovered from their phones revealed queries about how to load a firearm, suicide statistics, and related topics. Forensic analysis confirmed that both brothers had fired a weapon, and investigators concluded that the injuries responsible for their deaths were self-inflicted.
At the time of their deaths, their family had believed Qaadir and Naazir were traveling to visit friends in Boston. Their older sister, Kai’ree Powell, later reflected on her final conversation with her brothers, recalling how they had encouraged her to pursue her passion for dancing just two days before their bodies were found. Powell told reporters that was the last thing they said to her.
A Family’s Long Road to Acceptance
When investigators first announced their ruling, the Lewis family pushed back firmly. Relatives described Qaadir and Naazir as thriving college students with no known history that anyone close to them felt could foreshadow such an outcome. The family called repeatedly for outside scrutiny of the evidence and expressed concern that foul play had been overlooked. GBI agents met with the family directly to walk them through the findings, but the family did not initially accept the conclusion.
The independent reviews they ultimately commissioned — the homicide investigators and the separate autopsy analyses — were funded in part through a GoFundMe campaign that supporters rallied around after the brothers’ deaths. Donations helped cover burial costs, the cost of those independent investigations, and mental health counseling for family members navigating an unimaginable loss.
Now, after exhausting every avenue available to them, the family says they are ready to move forward with honoring the twins rather than contesting the circumstances of their deaths. Brawner said that while accepting the findings has been incredibly painful, the family is dedicated to preserving Naazir and Qaadir’s legacy by raising awareness around mental health struggles and ensuring that people facing similar challenges understand they have support.
If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Support is free, confidential, and available around the clock.
