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. I just keep waiting for someone to be honest with [the Johnsons], Karen Bell, the mother of Brian and Branden Bell, said. Finding Kendrick Johnson is an interesting true crime documentary. It is a case that has stumped and enraged millions of people around the world. In 2015, the Johnson family filed a wrongful death suit against brothers Brian and Branden Bell, and another peer, Ryan Hall, who they allege are responsible for Kendrick Johnsons death. Kendrick Johnson: Latest Probe Finds 'No Coverup or - Crime Online Kendrick Johnsons body rolled up inside the gym mat with his shoes behind his knees. 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. Pure evil. The Johnsons have filed several lawsuits since their son's death, winning none of them. Gym mat death: Scene pics point to foul play, expert says | CNN 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. Johnson was the main "sniper" for the 103 gang, Seely said. [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. [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. [14] On October 31, 2013, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore announced that his office would open a formal review into Johnson's death. "Theres still a lot of questions people want answered.". 2. In 2015, the Johnsons filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against 38 people, including three of their sons classmates, the school, the local crime lab, state and federal officials, five agents of the GBI, an FBI agent, and more. Do not believe anything that this sheriffs department tells you, Kenneth Johnson said. The post Kendrick Johnsons case closed after authorities say no crime found appeared first on TheGrio. (@tomjones161 via twitter) The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office is insisting. Georgia Judge Richard Porter ordered the Johnsons and their attorney to pay more than $292,000 in legal fees to the defendants, accusing them of fabricating evidence to support their claims. He was a three-sport athlete and dreamed of playing professional football. In 2013, the 17-year-olds body was found upside down inside a rolled-up gym mat at a Georgia high school; he'd suffocated to death. In the recently-released report, Paulk scrutinized an amended report that was released two years after the Office of Armed Forces Medical Examiner found in August 2014 that Johnson died of positional asphyxia and listed his death as accidental. Im going through everything myself, Paulk said,estimatingthat the reopened investigation could last a minimumof six months. The17-year-olds death was ultimately ruled accidental and amedical examiner concluded the teen died from positional asphyxia. The case wasclosed nearly five years ago due to "insufficient evidence"supporting foul play, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) claimed that when the body was sent to the funeral home after the first autopsy, Johnsons organs had been put back inside the body. The pathologist concluded his death was not an accident. Almost a full day had passed until Johnson had been discovered. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. But still an accident? Thomas wondered. The next day, a teacher found his body inside one of the rolled-up wrestling mats. 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. Kendrick Johnson death investigation will be reopened, Georgia - CNN Investigators, who suspected hed become trapped after attempting to grab a pair of sneakers, ruled his deatha freak accident. [39] He further stated that two brothers, named in previous legal actions by the Johnsons, are not suspects. You didnt find nothing in 17 boxes? 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.. 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. Kendrick Johnson: A second local investigation into the death of - CNN News of the re-openedinvestigation was welcomed by Johnsons family. Crime Weekly: Tragic Accident or Police Cover-Up?: Kendrick Johnson This is a very unusual accident. Kendrick Johnson Death Case Reopened 8 Years Later | Crime News Sheriff Offers $500K of His Own Money for Info About Kendrick Johnson's From there until now, we feel like this has been a cover-up at a very high level. Ebony.com described the murder of Johnson to have been at the hands of two white brothers, though they did not include names. A family spokesperson told NPR they are "cautiously. 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, Marcus Coleman, a spokesperson for the Johnson family, told Oxygen.com. We have not had faith in Lowndes County. Kendrick Johnson march calls for justice 10 years later Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! In June 2016, the Department of Justice announced no charges would be filed against anyone in relation to Kendrick Johnsons death, considering there was insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges.. Kendrick Johnson was found dead in a gym mat at Lowndes High School in January 2013. But inconsistencies in official reports on the condition of Kendricks body and other discrepancies led the family and community to question the official cause of his death. Kendrick Johnson's family hosts grief support group nearing the 10-year Johnsons mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas that shes not surprised by the findings. The Bell family has previously deflected blame in the incident; now, Karen Bell says she's upset by the renewed investigative efforts. I wont deem it credible until I can look at the source, find out where [he] got it from.. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the cause of Johnsons death was accidental positional asphyxia. [12] The family retained the services of attorney Benjamin Crump. The mat was vertical. Wrongful death, Kendrick Johnson's family vs. Lowndes County Board of Education and school officials. In 2013, Johnsons body was found rolled up in a mat inside a Valdosta-area high school gymnasium. But it is what it is.. Paulk and his team were able to secure a wealth of evidence from federal authorities, in part thanks to an appeal from Johnsons family in November 2020. The group is. 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. [29], In November 2015, the Department of Justice filed a motion in the civil case to intervene and stay the case. The sheriff said he spent 15 months reading every page in that file, but found that they did not show any criminal action whatsoever.. Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson stand next to a banner on their SUV showing their late son, Kendrick Johnson, on Dec. 13, 2013, in Valdosta, Ga. 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 spokesperson for the Johnson family, told, . [2][13], After the opinion of the private pathologist was released, Johnson's family stated that they believed Johnson had been murdered. 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. You do not believe there was anything criminal? Thomas asked Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. But you have to wonder. The individual in question could face extortion charges if the recording is phony,Paulk said. Required fields are marked *. Georgia state law dictates that the coroner be contacted immediately on the discovery of a body, but Watson claimed that he was not notified until six hours later. First, no one heard him? New Photos Released In Kendrick Johnson Case - NewsOne His family says despite the setback, they are not giving up hope. 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. This will be the final [investigation], as far as Im concerned, he said. Thing is, he wasnt just found dead. Kendrick Johnson was black and the Lowndes County Sheriff, Chris Prines, and his investigators were all white. Months after his death, Lowndes County Sheriffs Office investigators ruled it was an accident and closed the case. This finding further increased the confidence of doubters that this death was an accident. [2] That left a void, which the funeral home filled. [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. The US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio declined to comment. 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. We aint cheering, but we know this is the only path that we can get for justice for Kendrick Johnson, Marcus Coleman said this week. Paulk estimated it might take six months to process everything. FacebookKendrick Johnson with his mother. R.I.P Kendrick Johnson Facebook PageKendrick Johnsons casket was unearthed for a second time for a third autopsy. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. CNN has not independently inspected all the evidence that the sheriff reviewed. [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. The case was closed almost half a decade ago due to insufficient evidence of foul play, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A hoodie and a pair of orange and black gym shoes were also found lying on the floor of the gym, as well as traces of blood on the wall nearby. Now, the sheriffs have enough evidence in hand to perhaps allow them to solve this mystery once and for all. 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. But Johnsons parents would still not give up. Theres still a lot of questions people want answered," Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said. Thats the craziest lie you could have told, Johnson said of Paulks probe. Nobody wants Kendrick to get justice. Crime Junkie did the same thing. He was just in his socks. 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. 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. And now, authorities say they have an audio recording of someone admitting to Johnson's death. Kendrick Johnson was a 17-year-old student at Lowndes County High School. 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 three teens were classmates. 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[2], Authorities hypothesized that Johnson had fallen into the mat while looking for a shoe and died after being unable to get out. Authorities were tight-lipped about whether the Bell brothers were suspects in Kendrick Johnsons death. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. A number of community activists have also spoken out in favor of the forthcoming probe into the Georgia teens death. His family and friends described him as a sweet and quiet boy. Published on February 1, 2022 08:45 AM. "[11] Johnson's family questioned this hypothesis. In the latest report, Paulk dispelled rumors that Johnson and the Bell brothers had any contact on the day Johnson died. The sheriff says case closed again but he will reopen it if someone brings him verified new information. State medical examiners concluded that. All rights reserved, Privacy Policy|Online Content Agreement, Third Autopsy shows Kendrick Johnson Suffered blunt Force Trauma, Positional Asphyxia: Death due to Unusual Head-Down Position in a Narrow Space, Kendrick Johnson lawsuit: Feds want attorneys to stop collecting evidence, Parents of Georgia teen found dead in gym mate rally for inquiry, National civil right attorney no longer involved in Kenrick Johnson case, Kendrick Johnson family hold rally after filing complaint about missing organs, No wrong doing detected in Kendrick Johnson funeral home probe, Kendrick Johnson footage released; expert find it highly suspicious, KJ family drops $100 million wrongful death suit, Local, federal investigations into gym mat death continue. 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. Kendrick Johnson's death made national news, not on the day his body was discovered, but in weeks . Kendrick Johnson (Part 1) Crime Weekly. Kendrick Johnson's Death And The Chilling Story Behind It Absolutely, they were extorted.. Why The Accidental Death Of Kendrick Johnson Remains Suspicious To This Day. Eight years ago, classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnsons body inside an upright mat. [21] The area where Johnson's body was discovered, where the gym mats were stored, was outside the range of all of the surveillance cameras. The only way Im going to know is to look at the evidence myself.. In 2018, an independent autopsy indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Did you encounter any technical issues? [5] Crump's application to practice law in Georgia representing Johnson's parents was not ruled on, and he withdrew from representing the family and is no longer participating in the case. The emotions are reflective of one someone who has a burden like hell on their shoulders.. Students had also told police that it was common for them to leave their belongings in the mats when they didnt want to pay for a locker. They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. [40], "Kendrick Johnson" redirects here. [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. His mother posted on her Facebook: No mother or father should ever have to bury their child under these circumstances. The mat in which Johnson was found was around six feet tall. 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. Allegedly they were in an altercation on a school bus prior to Kendricks death. It seemed possible that if Kendrick was trying to squeeze into the center of the mat, he could have scrunched his shoulders together to make himself narrower. It's a shame we can't spend more time making fun of Perkins using his own experience in stat-padding to prove its existence, citing an obviously cherry-picked stat (MVP Magic Johnson finished 18th . We already knew what team you were on. He wrote that the FBI reviewed footage from 62 cameras on campus, and Johnson never crossed paths with the brothers. Eventually, after a November 2020 visit by the Johnson family with federal investigators, that request was granted and the Justice Department turned over its investigative material to the sheriffs office. 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. Kendrick Johnson was a Georgia teen, who was found dead inside a rolled up wrestling mat. Sheriff says case closed after his investigation finds Kendrick Johnsons death was no crime 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. We already knew that nothing was going to be done on your watch, she contended. The dead teens mother, Jaqueline Johnson, told the TV station she is not surprised by the sheriffs findings. We have buried kj 3 times and it felt like 3 funerals and i lost him 3 times.. NBA opens investigation after Ja Morant's social media post For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Kendrick Johnson: Sheriff puts up $500K reward for information on Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. "[11], Lt. Stryde Jones, who headed up the investigation for the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, stated: "We never had credible information that indicated this was anything other than an accident. Investigators did not take the hoodie and orange and black gym shoes into evidence. 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. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office reopened Kendrick's case last March. Finally, in March 2021, authorities reopened their investigation into Kendrick Johnsons death. It's just like,'shut this family up,' sending them on their way, but what they didn't realize is the Johnson family is not going anywhere.". Kendrick Johnson Case Will Be Reinvestigated By Georgia Sheriff's What's the opinion on Kendrick Johnson's death? : r/TrueCrime They wont publicly say what that new info is. "[23], In August 2014, a $5 million lawsuit against Ebony magazine was filed, after the magazine published a series of articles naming two students as possible suspects in Johnson's death. Video shows him walking into the Lowndes High gym on Jan. 10, 2013. The parents asserted that the sons of the FBI agent killed Johnson and used their connections to cover up the investigation. That initial investigation concluded that Johnson accidentally slipped into the center of the mat while reaching for a shoe and got stuck. 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. 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. A recordingthat reportedly contains an emotional confession of an individual who may have been involved in the suspicious 2013 death of teenagerKendrick Johnsonin Georgiais now being vetted by authorities, police said this week. NY Daily News/Valdosta/Lowndes Regional Crime Labratory via CNN. The father of the kid who had a motive is allegedly an FBI Agent, with enough pull to supposedly save his son. [21] The president of the Valdosta-Lowndes County chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the former lead investigator for that chapter have stated that they believe the attorneys for the Johnsons have "not been entirely truthful in their statements" and that there was no cover-up in this case. The sheriff released a 16-page summary of his investigation on Wednesday including pictures from the Lowndes County gym. Indeed, in 2013, racism in Valdosta, Georgia, was still very much alive. Johnsons parents have said they think their son was killed. I do not, he replied. In it, Paulk wrote, I am quite sure that there will still be a contingent that will believe there was foul play. The sheriff at the center of the Kendrick Johnson death case says his department has gone through the evidence extensively and found no crime. Eight years ago, classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson's body inside an upright mat. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! S3 Ep 26 "Results" The Kendrick Johnson Investigation - Investigative True Crime Series In this episode Ash and her team head to North Carolina. They also reported that the blood had likely been there for a long time. Kendrick Johnson's body was found in a rolled-up gym mat in January. Kendrick Johnson's case closed after authorities say no crime found In June 2018, Kendrick Johnsons body was exhumed for a second time and a third autopsy was performed. 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. 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. Wikimedia CommonsSeventeen-year-old Kendrick Johnsons body was inexplicably found upside-down in a rolled-up gym mat in 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. 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. . [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. Parents' lawsuit in Georgia gym mat death is dismissed. indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Johnsons parents finally believed that their sons death was not being taken seriously because of his race. 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.
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