On January 11 in Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found dead, rolled up inside a large gym mat. Investigators concluded he died in a freak accident. We are cautiously optimistic now.. That initial investigation concluded that Johnson accidentally slipped into the center of the mat while reaching for a shoe and got stuck. Valdosta, Georgia CNN For the local sheriff's department, the death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson is a closed book: A tragedy, but an accident. Kendrick Johnson: Sheriff puts up $500K reward for information on Coleman didnt speculate on the speakers identity but emphasized the voice sounded younger in age. He also claimed the tapes unidentified seller, who supposedly sent the Johnsons several texts to orchestrate the purchase, is a white male. We knew what the outcome would be from the very beginning, Kendricks father, Kenneth Johnson, told CNN. However, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk announced the re-opening of the case on Tuesday. News of the re-opened investigation was welcomed by Johnson's family. For years, however, the teenagers family has insisted the 17-year-old was murdered and that investigators actively worked to stifle the familys pleas for justice. CNN gained access to the schools security footage on the day that Kendrick Johnson was killed, but upon viewing it, realized that it offered little insight into what happened that day. The teens parents say they are not convinced. According to Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk, If theres questions and theyre legitimate I need to know the answers myself. Kendrick Johnson (Part 1) Crime Weekly. [12], A subsequent investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office found that the funeral home did not follow "best practice" and that other material was "more acceptable than newspaper." Nobody wants Kendrick to get justice. [17], Johnson's family requested that his body be exhumed for a second time and was granted permission by Valdosta city officials. NY Daily News/Valdosta/Lowndes Regional Crime Labratory via CNN. Indeed, when the mat was first unrolled, Johnson did have one arm stretched above his head and the other down around his waist as though struggling for his shoe. The article used as a source an anonymous email to the sheriff's office. Looking for interesting and mysterious true crime documentaries? Then, in 2014, Kendrick Johnsons parents filed a wrongful death suit against the schools officials, alleging that Johnson had been harassed by a white student which went neglected by the school, perhaps due to his race. FacebookKendrick Johnson with his mother. According to Paulk, it was Kendrick Johnson's mother, Jackie Johnson, who obtained the recording and turned it in to investigators. Paulk said his review of the extensive FBI investigation, 17 boxes worth of evidence and his own look at the 2013 death of Johnson has come to the same conclusion. They soon discover that not only is something wrong, but things go much deeper than they ever imagined. The public was horrified by the photo and began to rally around the Johnsons in their quest for the truth. On June 20, 2016, the Department of Justice announced that it would not be filing any criminal charges related to Johnson's death. Thats the craziest lie you could have told, Johnson said of Paulks probe. This time, the autopsy revealed that Kendrick Johnson had suffered hemorrhaging on the right side of his neck, which meant that he likely died from blunt force trauma. Over the years, the Johnsons have publicly implicated brothers Brian and Branden Bell in Kendricks death. They wont publicly say what that new info is. Attorneys for the Johnson family expressed fears that the camera footage was edited as part of a cover-up. In November 2013, 290 hours of surveillance tape from 35 cameras that covered the gym area were released to CNN following a court request. Not a big deal, perhaps, except, Another student had an issue with Kendrick and had threatened him several times over a girlfriend. Its been eight long years, said Kendrick Johnsons mother, Jacquelyn. The father of the kid who had a motive is allegedly an FBI Agent, with enough pull to supposedly save his son. [30] After the Justice Department's motion was denied, Johnson's parents dismissed their own wrongful death lawsuit, saying that they hoped to refile it after the conclusion of the federal investigation. On that tape, you very clearly hear what appears to be a caucasian young male admitting very tearful, very fearful and stating twice that he knows that hes going to get caught, a family spokespersonsaid. WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), Lowndes County Sheriff's findings on death of Kendrick Johnson, Missing Pennsylvania woman found alive after more than 30 years, Reality star Honey Boo Boo was inside speeding Dodge Charger involved in chase with Ga. deputies, Former Atlanta Hawk, Ga. Tech star charged with choking, kidnapping N.C. woman, Surveillance video shows moments leading up to deadly UGA crash, A 17-year-old Gwinnett County girl thought she was taking Percocet; now shes dead. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. All things mysterious, murderous, and macabre. Nearly a decade after Kendrick Johnsons body was found in a high school gymnasium, investigators have announced a new probe into the Black teenagers mysterious death. Sheriff says recording thought to show proof Kendrick Johnson was murdered, was a cruel hoax His family says despite the setback, they are not giving up hope. You didnt find nothing in 17 boxes? Investigators, who suspected hed become trapped after attempting to grab a pair of sneakers, ruled his deatha freak accident. The cameras which faced the mats were unfocussed and skipped around. Ebony.com described the murder of Johnson to have been at the hands of two white brothers, though they did not include names. Kendrick Johnson Case Will Be Reinvestigated By Georgia Sheriff's But his parents would later maintain that his size versus the size of the mat alone was enough to debunk the investigators case. Upon releasing a 16-page synopsis report, sheriff Ashley Paulk told WCTV that he is 100 percent sure there was no foul play based on the federal case documents he reviewed and interviews police conducted with people involved in the initial investigation. [37] However, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk stated that he would not be claiming there was something wrong with the original investigation or that the original investigation's conclusion of an accidental death was wrong. The Valdosta County Sheriff offered half a million dollars of his own money in response to the negative outcry about a recent report released . [12] Three students at Lowndes High School told investigators that it was common for some students to store their shoes behind or under the rolled up mats, Johnson was not wearing shoes when he was found. [21] Other missing footage was the result of the camera's motion-activated function not being triggered. The, death was ultimately ruled accidental and amedical examiner concluded the teen died from, nearly five years ago due to "insufficient evidence", Were actively hunting for the person that provided it, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk told, . Idk why but this case in particular seems to bring out the worst in a lot of true crime podcast hosts. "This week we are trying Kendrick Johnson as the shooter, the organizer and the planner of Delindsey Mack's murder," she told . The new findings were the result of a second investigation by the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office following one by the FBI. The origin and credibility of the recording which was provided to the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office after being purchased by Johnsons family are bothnow being investigated. We already knew what team you were on. "Nobody really cares, Jackie Johnson, the teenagers mother, WAGA-TV. Johnsons parents finally believed that their sons death was not being taken seriously because of his race. On January 11, 2013, the body of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found in the most unusual of circumstances: upside-down and rolled up in a school gym mat. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. appreciated. The mysterious death of Kendrick Johnson was initially ruled an accident by law enforcement, but his family was not convinced. The Johnsons were extorted out of $1,000 for a tape that contains an individual admitting to their involvement, he alleged. I would be suspicious too, if I were Kendricks parents, that there may be some kind of cover up occurring because, lets face it, who has ever heard of someone dying in a rolled up gym mat? [12][16] The funeral home that processed the body following the FBI's autopsy stated that they never received Johnson's internal organs from the coroner; the organs were said to have been "destroyed through natural process" and "discarded by the prosector before the body was sent back to Valdosta," according to the funeral home owner. From there until now, we feel like this has been a cover-up at a very high level. Paulk estimated it might take six months to process everything. A second local investigation into the 2013 death of Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teenager who was found dead in a rolled-up gym mat, has been closed with no charges filed, according to a report . On top of this, the second autopsy revealed that some of Johnsons organs were missing and in their place, his body had been stuffed with newspaper. Why The Accidental Death Of Kendrick Johnson Remains Suspicious To This Day. Kendrick Johnsons body inside an upright mat. Kendrick Johnson death investigation will be reopened, Georgia - CNN You want to go on the top of a mountain and scream, Look, people, the evidence is there, Karen Bell added. Investigators concluded he died in a freak accident. In 2018, an independent autopsy indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He was never shown within or leaving the gym and indeed, he never did show up for his following classes. Finally, in March 2021, authorities reopened their investigation into Kendrick Johnsons death. Kendrick Johnson was a Georgia teen, who was found dead inside a rolled up wrestling mat. Earlier in March, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk announced that officials were reopening the investigation and reevaluating the previously-sealed evidence. First, no one heard him? They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. Download theGrio today! The U.S. Attorney said allowing evidence discovery in the civil suit to continue would have a "chilling effect" on the federal investigation, which had expanded into investigating possible obstruction and grand jury witness tampering. Thing is, he wasn't just found dead. Kendrick Johnson: A second local investigation into the death of - CNN Kendrick Johnsons case closed after authorities say no crime found, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, butlight showers make brief return, Scam alert: arrest warrant calls are fake, sheriff's office says, Heidi Klum's husband thinks the couple's dogs might have been poisoned. On January 11, 2013, the body of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found in the most unusual of circumstances: upside-down and rolled up in a school gym mat. Eight years ago, classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnsons body inside an upright mat. "If it's a hoax, it's a very, very cruel hoax to do to Mrs. Johnson," he said. Investigators ruled it an accident but his family and other people nationwide believe he was murdered. As a result of this new evidence, Matthew Moore, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced a formal review of the case. It seems so much more likely to me that Kendrick Johnson's death was a tragic accident. For a brilliantly done docuseries on Kendrick Johnson, watch Ashes to Ashs vlogcast! [29], In November 2015, the Department of Justice filed a motion in the civil case to intervene and stay the case. The family, together with the NAACP and other civil rights activists, then held a rally at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. I will fight as long as I have to, to uncover what happened to Kendrick Johnson.. VALDOSTA, Ga. The sheriff at the center of the Kendrick Johnson death case says his department has gone through the evidence extensively and found no crime. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the cause of Johnsons death was accidental positional asphyxia. He also stated thefuneral home never had Johnsons organs, saying they were discarded by the prosecutor before the body was sent back to Valdosta for burial. I really hope that he . We know that.. This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 04:38. You are not on the team of righteousness, Jackie Johnson said. This finding further increased the confidence of doubters that this death was an accident. The Justice Department announced in October 2013 it was opening an investigation into the case and in 2016 said it was closing the case, saying it had found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges.. [11] However, analysis of the camera systems by the Valdosta Daily Times purported to explain the anomalies, casting doubt on the theory of a cover-up. Death of Kendrick Johnson - Wikipedia Required fields are marked *. NBA opens investigation after Ja Morant's social media post Forensic experts are conducting voice comparison analysis on the speaker captured in the recording. Meet The Damselfly, Your New Favorite Insect, Man Who Had Part Of His Brain Removed To Cure Him Of Seizures Says He No Longer Feels Fear, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Almost a full day had passed until Johnson had been discovered. 2. The dead teens mother, Jaqueline Johnson, told the TV station she is not surprised by the sheriffs findings. A recently-completed investigation found no evidence of a coverup in the 2013 death of Kendrick Johnson, who was found in a rolled-up mat at his Georgia high school. Im going through everything myself, Paulk said. The amended report stated his cause and manner of death were undetermined. Jaqueline Johnson said she doesnt trust local authorities and wants federal investigators to take another look at what happened to her son here nine years ago. [15], Johnson's family filed a legal action to open a coroner's inquest into his death. Download the FOX 5 Atlanta appfor breaking news and weather alerts. The brothers father,Rick Bell, was an FBI special agent who ultimately resignedafter his home was raided and searched for evidence, according to NBC. Body Parts Are Missing: Newly-Released Footage of Kendrick Johnsons Last Moments, the Latest in Troubling Death Investigation, Rick Bell, was an FBI special agent who ultimately resigned, Johnsons organs were returned to his body following the autopsy, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. We dont know whether its credible or not, hesaid. indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The NBA has opened an investigation into a social media post by Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant after he livestreamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a club early Saturday. He died on January 10 in the school's gym. Speculation and outrageous theories always run wild and it takes away from the victims story. In the latest report, Paulk dispelled rumors that Johnson and the Bell brothers had any contact on the day Johnson died. We already knew that nothing was going to be done on your watch. Do not believe anything that this sheriffs department tells you, Kenneth Johnson said. Authorities were tight-lipped about whether the Bell brothers were suspects in Kendrick Johnsons death. This is a very unusual accident. Discovery Company. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. [11] An autopsy by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) stated that Johnson had died from positional asphyxia,[12] and the case was ruled an accidental death by the Lowndes County investigators. And now, authorities say they have an audio recording of someone admitting to Johnson's death. Law enforcement has ruled Kendrick's death an . Finding Kendrick Johnson is an interesting true crime documentary. Johnsons mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas that shes not surprised by the findings. But it doesnt look like thats ever going to happen.. R.I.P Kendrick Johnson FacebookOne of the coroners reports on Kendrick Johnsons autopsy. Johnsons parents have said they think their son was killed. The suit alleges the boys family conspired with former Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine and county school officials to cover up the death. [38] The sheriff also stated he does not consider the case to be a homicide. The latest report addresses several controversial topics at the center of Johnsons death, including the teens autopsy, where his body was found, and cameras located at Lowndes High School. Police focus on timeline in Kendrick Johnson gym mat death - CBS News That students father is a retired FBI agent. He was found rolled up in a gym mat at Lowndes High School the next day. On October 31, 2013, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announced that his office would open a formal review into Johnson's death. He was a three-sport athlete and dreamed of playing professional football. Investigators will now comb through 17 boxes of evidence, which were previously sealed. Kendrick Johnsons casket was unearthed for a second time for a third autopsy. It does appear, however, that their quest for answers has only led to more questions. A sheriff in Valdosta, Georgia, has concluded that there is no evidence of a crime in the January 2013 death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson, who was found dead in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School. Kendrick Johnsons shoe laying in the pool of blood. The recording hasnt yet been made public. County authorities are currently combing through a trove of boxes of evidence, including computer hard drives, documents, and other files relevant to the investigation. The Bells father, a former FBI agent, is accused of directing officials to obscure the investigation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [2], Authorities hypothesized that Johnson had fallen into the mat while looking for a shoe and died after being unable to get out. Kendrick Johnson: Federal lawsuit DROPPED in death of - Crime Online Wikimedia CommonsSeventeen-year-old Kendrick Johnsons body was inexplicably found upside-down in a rolled-up gym mat in 2013. The sheriff says case closed again but he will reopen it if someone brings him verified new information. 2023 Cox Media Group. However, the coroner said these organs were not sent to the funeral home because they were too decomposed and were instead disposed of beforehand. Allegedly they were in an altercation on a school bus prior to Kendricks death. Johnson's family didn't accept the. That material included grand jury testimony, results from an autopsy conducted by federal authorities and additional digital evidence. Essential, you asphyxiate (either by suffocation or lack of oxygen) due to the position of your bodya position in which you cant get yourself out. [12] The funeral home owner stated that it is standard practice to fill a void in this fashion, and that cotton or sawdust may also be employed for this purpose. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Kendrick Johnsons parents released a photo to the media of their sons face as he lay in the funeral home. In 2013, Johnsons body was found rolled up in a mat inside a Valdosta-area high school gymnasium. The FBI had previously said the siblings were in separate parts of the Valdosta-area high school at the time of Johnsons death. We have buried kj 3 times and it felt like 3 funerals and i lost him 3 times.. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. [12] The family retained the services of attorney Benjamin Crump. You do not believe there was anything criminal? reporter Tony Thomas asked Paulk. We have buried kj 3 times and it felt like 3 funerals and i lost him 3 times.. Lowndes County police said they believed Kendrick crawled into the mat to retrieve his shoes, became stuck, and continued to burrow into the mat until he became completely trapped and died. Given the slender opening in the gym mat, this is certainly plausible, even though Kendrick was exceptionally physically fit. We have not had faith in Lowndes County. Policeand eventually the states attorneysaid he went headfirst into the mat to get a sneaker at the bottom, and that he died from positional asphyxia when he couldnt get out. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Paulks 16-page report, which was released Wednesday and published on Scribd, is divided into nine categories, including conspiring/cover, shoe storage in wresting mats, a fight that occurred on a bus trip among the wrestling team of which Johnson was a member, the teens autopsy and observations after the discovery of his body.
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