TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia volunteer firefighter is facing criminal charges after authorities say he took and shared a crime scene photo of two 19-year-old Black twin brothers found shot to death on a remote mountain — a case that has already sparked outrage and suspicion from the victims’ family.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed the arrest of 42-year-old Scott Kerlin of Hiawassee, charging him with misdemeanor obstruction.
Investigators say Kerlin, a volunteer firefighter in Towns County, took a picture of the bodies of Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis and distributed it, though officials have not clarified how widely the image was shared.
Towns County Schools Superintendent Darren Berrong confirmed the image made its way to students, according to 11ALIVE News. “In collaboration with local law enforcement, our administration promptly initiated an investigation,” Berrong said in a statement to 11Alive. “The students involved were unaware of the illegal nature of how the photo was distributed and were fully cooperative.”
But for the Lewis family, the damage is done.
“It’s scary. I’m literally scared to go on social media,” said the twins’ aunt, Samira Brawner. “I know if I see that picture, I already know I’ll have a heart attack.”
“Just imagine if their mother sees that,” added Yasmine Brawner. “She’s already going through a lot.”
Another aunt, Sabria Brawner, called the sharing of the image “very disrespectful,” saying the family’s privacy had been “invaded.”
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The family’s outrage has only deepened as investigators initially floated the possibility of a murder-suicide — a claim the family adamantly rejects.
“It doesn’t make sense. That’s not them. Absolutely out of character,” said Samira Brawner.
The twin brothers, who lived in Lawrenceville, were found dead March 8 on Bell Mountain, a remote area 90 miles from home with no surveillance and limited access. Their car was discovered parked nearby. Inside were their phones, wallets, and a plane ticket for a flight they missed the day before.
According to relatives, the twins had spent the night of March 6 watching movies at their sister’s house in Chamblee. They were expected to catch a flight to Boston the next morning but never arrived. The family says the idea that the brothers would drive hours to a remote mountain they’d never heard of—especially when they disliked long drives—doesn’t add up.
“They don’t like to pay for gas,” Samira added.
Their uncle, Rahim Brawner, a longtime first responder, emphasized that taking and sharing crime scene photos violates basic professional ethics. “We know that’s one of the number one rules,” he said.
The GBI says autopsies of the twin brothers have been completed, but final results remain pending additional forensic testing. The investigation is ongoing.
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