A preliminary investigation report by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) has revealed that the body of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter from the Trump rally incident, is missing.
In the report, Rep. Higgins stated that on August 5th, when he requested to view Crooks’ body, he was informed that it was “gone.” The report further noted that the FBI had released the body for cremation just ten days after the July 13 shooting.
Higgins expressed concern in his report, stating, “My effort to examine Crooks’ body on Monday, August 5, caused quite a stir and revealed a disturbing fact… the FBI released the body for cremation 10 days after J13.”
He continued, “On J23, Crooks was gone. Nobody knew this until Monday, August 5, including the County Coroner, law enforcement, Sheriff, etc. Yes, the Butler County Coroner technically had legal authority over the body.”
Higgins also highlighted that the FBI released the crime scene after just three days and had cleaned up biological evidence from the location.
Rep. Higgins shared these findings on social media, raising further questions about the FBI’s handling of the case. He expressed frustration over not being able to personally examine Crooks’ body, which leaves uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the coroner’s and autopsy reports. Higgins described the FBI’s actions as potentially obstructive to ongoing investigations.
He emphasized that the FBI’s decision to release the body for cremation occurred on J23, after both the Homeland Security Committee and the Oversight Committee had initiated investigations into the July 13 incident, and after Speaker Johnson had announced the formation of an official Congressional investigative body. Higgins called the FBI’s decision to release the body “troubling” and indicative of a “scorched earth” approach to the investigation.