Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the case of twin brothers found dead on a Georgia mountain.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced that 42-year-old Scott Kerlin has been charged with misdemeanor obstruction.
According to a statement from the GBI, Kerlin, a volunteer firefighter in Towns County, took photos of the crime scene where the Lewis twins were found and shared them publicly.
PEOPLE has contacted a GBI spokesperson to clarify whether Kerlin was at the scene in an official capacity or if he went there on his own. However, Kerlin has not responded to requests for comment.
The bodies of 19-year-old Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis were discovered by hikers on Bell Mountain just before noon on March 8, the GBI reported.
Both teens had gunshot wounds, and an initial investigation by the GBI and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office determined the case to be a murder-suicide.
However, the official cause and manner of death have not yet been released. The medical examiner stated that additional forensic testing is needed following the autopsies.
The brothers’ family members strongly dispute the murder-suicide ruling and have urged authorities to continue investigating.
“My nephews wouldn’t do this! They came from a family full of love. The twins had dreams of starting their own clothing line,” their aunt, Yasmine Brawner, said after launching a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses.
Brawner and other relatives have pointed out that the brothers had no known connections to Bell Mountain, which is about 90 miles from their home in Lawrenceville.
Additionally, the family noted that the twins had planned to fly to Boston the day after their bodies were found and were still carrying their plane tickets when they were discovered.
“Something happened at Bell Mountain that took the lives of Qaadir and Naazir, and it needs to be further investigated,” Brawner emphasized.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to 741741, or visiting 988lifeline.org.
