Julius Thomas Sr., 55, was found dead in December 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His body was wrapped in a tarp and discovered dumped on South Flannery Road. Investigators tied the death to a local auto business, King of Karz LA, owned by Kevin Hewitt Dukes, after blood and a shell casing were found at the shop and blood was observed on Dukes’ vehicle at his home.

Family members said Thomas and Dukes had an ongoing financial dispute and last heard from Thomas as he was arriving at Dukes’ business on the evening his body was found; phone records show a call from Dukes to Thomas shortly before the death. Dukes was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors told jurors Thomas had been severely beaten and shot multiple times and pointed to a receipt with Thomas’ blood as evidence. Dukes’ defense argued the case was circumstantial and suggested Thomas was killed in a robbery gone wrong.

After an eight-day trial, a jury acquitted Dukes on all charges in August 2024, a verdict Thomas’ family described as devastating. Did anyone who knew Julius or had contact with King of Karz LA around December 2018 see or hear anything that might help clarify what happened?