One year ago today, an Afghan refugee was found dead at Webb City High School of an apparent suicide. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fieror has more.
Rezwan Kohistani was found under the bleachers at Webb City High School on May 5 of last year.
He was one of eight members of his family to flee their home country of Afghanistan in August of2021 after the US announced an end to the longest war in American history in April of the same year.
After several months of traveling between US military bases in Qatar, Germany, and New Jersey, the Kohistani’s were relocated to the rural, mainly white, Christian community of Orongo, just north of Webb City, miles away from other Afghan residents or the mosque in nearby Joplin that would have helped ease their transition.
Rezwan's father, Lemar, had worked for the US military as a translator during the Afghanistan war, where he learned English in addition to his native Dari.
At the time of their resettlement, the remaining seven Kohistanti family members only spoke Dari and were the only Afghans who lived in Oronogo.
Rezwan Kohistani’s case remains open according to the Webb City police department and they continue to wait for techs to unlock his phone.
His family relocated to Texas last year.
Rezwan Koistanti was 14-years old.
For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
