Kendrick Johnson was black and the Lowndes County Sheriff, Chris Prines, and his investigators were all white. Kendrick Johnson, photo from Medium.com Kendrick Johnson was a sports-loving, ball-playing high school student in Valdosta, Georgia until January 11, 2013, when he was found dead in his school's gymnasium. 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. Kendrick Johnson with his mother and father, Kenneth and Jackie Johnson (The Johnson Family). KENDRICK JOHNSON: SHERIFF SAYS INVESTIGATION INTO GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE'S DEATH A 'WITCH HUNT' The investigative synopsis states classmates found Johnson. In 2018, an independent autopsy indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. 'Finding Kendrick Johnson' Documentary Shows Facts, Not Conspiracies Crime 'Somebody Knows' What Happened: Doc Filmmaker Speaks on Case About Georgia Teen Found Dead Inside a Gym Mat Finding. 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. [12] The family retained the services of attorney Benjamin Crump. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 'Finding Kendrick Johnson' Documentary Shows Facts, Not Conspiracies Pure evil. Johnsons parents finally believed that their sons death was not being taken seriously because of his race. Kendrick Johnson was found dead in a gym mat at Lowndes High School in January 2013. 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. In the latest report, Paulk dispelled rumors that Johnson and the Bell brothers had any contact on the day Johnson died. Investigators tested the blood which revealed that it did not belong to Kendrick Johnson. The sheriff described the re-examination into Kendrick Johnsons death as afinal effort to bring some closure to the teens family. 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. True Crime Mysteries- episodes 1 de Manual Einstein en Libreras Gandhi . The findings of the second autopsy, that Johnsons death was not accidental and caused by blunt force trauma likely due to being struck in the neck with a 45lb dumbbell, were confirmed. 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. What's the opinion on Kendrick Johnson's death? : r/TrueCrime Draymond Green and Kendrick Perkins don't know it, but they are the first "openly MAGA" basketball players. Allegedly they were in an altercation on a school bus prior to Kendricks death. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. While the lawsuit did not name the person or persons allegedly involved in the January 10 event, nor identify the race of alleged perpetrators, it implied a race-based dimension to the hypothetical assault. These issues dont mean that someone will kill someone else, however. Johnson's family has rejected officials' determination that Johnson's death was accidental and has accused brothers Brian and Branden Bell of murdering Johnson. The parents asserted that the sons of the FBI agent killed Johnson and used their connections to cover up the investigation. Investigators will now comb through 17 boxes of evidence, which were previously sealed. He was found dead in a rolled up wresting mat. 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. The Johnsons have a GoFundMe account open to hire a private investigator to look into what they say is new evidence. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. Investigators, who suspected hed become trapped after attempting to grab a pair of sneakers, ruled his deatha freak accident. Kendrick Johnson: Latest Probe Finds 'No Coverup or - Crime Online Theyre not going to uncover something that they covered up., Kendrick Johnson investigation: Feds will not file charges, I am quite sure that there will still be a contingent that will believe there was foul play, the sheriff wrote in the report. The body was discovered by fellow students who had climbed up to the top of a cluster of mats, each of which stood nearly 6 feet (1.8m) tall and 3 feet (0.91m) wide. High-traffic streets like Norman Drive in. 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. Paulk said it could take up to two weeks before results come back. CNN 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. Though Paulk said the investigation may take up to six months, both he and the Johnson family are optimistic that justice will finally be served. The individual in question could face extortion charges if the recording is phony,Paulk said. Lowndes County Sheriff's findings on death of Kendrick Johnson by Jennifer Smith on Scribd. "[34] On August 10, 2017, Georgia Judge Richard Porter ruled that Johnson's family and their attorney had to pay more than $292,000 in legal fees to the dozens of respondents in their civil suit, writing "testimony shows that they had no evidence to support their claims that the [brothers] killed Johnson or that any of the other defendants engaged in a conspiracy to conceal the cause or manner of Johnson's death. Kendrick Johnson Death Case Reopened 8 Years Later | Crime News You're in for a treat! Itll be a lot of work, he explained. Listen, Im a high school teacher. But Johnsons parents would still not give up. of foul play, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When the judge in that case delayed a decision, pending the outcome of the U.S. Attorney's review, the family demanded that the governor of Georgia immediately authorize the inquiry instead. [7][8][9][10], On January 11, 2013, the body of Kendrick Johnson was discovered in the gymnasium of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, found headfirst in the center of a vertical rolled-up wrestling mat. S3 Ep 26 "Results" The Kendrick Johnson Investigation - Investigative True Crime Series In this episode Ash and her team head to North Carolina. In 2013, Johnsons body was found rolled up in a mat inside a Valdosta-area high school gymnasium. Almost a full day had passed until Johnson had been discovered. An autopsy conducted by a pathologist who was hired by Johnsons family determined that the cause of death was unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt-force trauma to the neck. Published on February 1, 2022 08:45 AM. Indeed, in 2013, racism in Valdosta, Georgia, was still very much alive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Local authorities investigation has found, once again, that Johnson may have reached into the mat to retrieve a shoe, got stuck, then suffocated. "[18] The Johnson family subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against the funeral home, seeking monetary damages. Tweet. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. On June 22, 2018, Johnson's body was exhumed.[19]. "Nobody really cares, Jackie Johnson, the teenagers mother, WAGA-TV. Tuesday marks 10 years since Kendrick died. Kendrick Johnson: A second local investigation into the death of - CNN TheLowndes County Sheriffs Office reopened Kendricks case last March. Regardless, the organs were lost and could not be tested during the second autopsy, which further aroused suspicions in Johnsons parents that this was a cover-up. The only way Im going to know is to look at the evidence myself.. It does appear, however, that their quest for answers has only led to more questions. The origin and credibility of the recording . [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. . I will fight as long as I have to, to uncover what happened to Kendrick Johnson.. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the cause of Johnsons death was accidental positional asphyxia. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - Kendrick Johnson's family is full of hope after they brought a new recording to light with a possible confession to law enforcement. [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. Lowndes County Sheriffs Office reopened Kendricks case last March. 2. FacebookKendrick Johnson with his mother. If it is somebody just doing an extortion racket or a terrible hoax its very, very cruel, and of course, if it is a hoax, well deal with it very sternly, Paulk said. However, Johnsons parents say classmates killed their son and law enforcement and school officials covered up the crime. Theres still a lot of questions people want answered," Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said. Investigatorsdeclined to comment on what's said in theaudio but confirmed theyre now tracking down the individual who allegedly sold the tape to Johnsons mother. "Im treating it like its a brand new case," Paulk said, according to the newspaper. Jury decides verdict in murder trial involving death of Lamar High But, There are some strange pieces to this case. 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. Take a look at the list below for all the gory details! A family spokesperson told NPR they are "cautiously. Kendrick Johnson Case Will Be Reinvestigated By Georgia Sheriff's Justice denied. 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 released by Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. Did you encounter any technical issues? in Georgiais now being vetted by authorities, police said this week. The sheriff says his office will not be releasing the audio recording at this time. The video was streamed by Morant to his Instagram page, and it was not archived once he stopped the stream. Johnsons parents were suspicious of the investigation from the beginning. The Johnsons also accused the brothers father, an FBI agent at the time, of covering up the murder by manipulating the school and authorities involved in investigating Johnsons death. Investigators ruled it an accident but his family and other people nationwide believe he was murdered. [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. Just after 24 hours of being found, the investigators ruled Johnsons death an accident. Young Thug Trial: Court Slowdowns, Prosecution Delays - Rolling Stone The lawsuit further alleged that another student, Brian Bell, "had a history of provoking and attacking" Johnson at school, stating that the provocations took place "in the presence of the coaching staff and employees" after his mother complained about previous attacks. Although no charges were ever brought to light, and his death was ruled accidental.. The suit alleged that Johnson "was violently assaulted, severely injured, suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, and subjected to insult and loss of life" on January 10, 2013. [14] On October 31, 2013, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore announced that his office would open a formal review into Johnson's death. [14] The governor's office released a statement indicating that they would await the report of the U.S. Do not believe anything that this sheriffs department tells you, Kenneth Johnson said. "They had a recording that they actually purchased from someone who said that it would be valuable as far as saying who possibly had committed the crime and change their situation," Paulk said. A recording that reportedly contains an emotional confession of an individual who may have been involved in the suspicious 2013 death of teenager Kendrick Johnson in Georgia is now being vetted by authorities, police said this week. And now, authorities say they have an audio recording of someone admitting to Johnson's death. In 2015, the Johnson familyfiled a wrongful death lawsuit against siblings Brian and Branden Bell, and another student, Ryan Hall, who they have said they suspect are to blame in the teenager'sdeath. According to CNN, funeral director Antonio Harrington claimed the 17-year-olds organs were destroyed through [the] natural process due to the position of his body when he died. 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. Kendrick Johnson was a sports-loving, ball-playing high school student in Valdosta, Georgia until January 11, 2013, when he was found dead in his schools gymnasium. The request, however, was denied, even though the coroner Bill Watson had originally expressed a lack of confidence in the Sheriff Departments handling of the case. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office closed its initial investigation into Kendrick Johnson's death on May 2, 2013, nearly four months after the 17-year-old was found in the school gym in Valdosta. His body was discovered by a teacher the next day rolled up inside the gym mat. [26], Shortly before the lawsuit was filed, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore said in a statement that a federal investigation was still open and that "the investigation has proven more complicated and taken longer than originally anticipated. We know that.. Paulk called the teenagers death a weird accident, telling CNN, there is nothing to substantiate a homicide.. Kendrick Johnson Death Mystery: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - Heavy.com [2], Authorities hypothesized that Johnson had fallen into the mat while looking for a shoe and died after being unable to get out. His mother posted on her Facebook: No mother or father should ever have to bury their child under these circumstances. Then, read about the horrifying murder of Emmett Till. Attorneys in Atlanta describe widespread delays and disruptions to other cases as the prosecution of Young Thug . They wont publicly say what that new info is. It seems so much more likely to me that Kendrick Johnson's death was a tragic accident. On May 8, 2013, a judge granted Kendrick Johnsons body be exhumed. However,. 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..