Investigators, who suspected hed become trapped after attempting to grab a pair of sneakers, ruled his deatha freak accident. Many speculate a darker reality. [23] It alleged that Johnson was attacked on a bus trip 14 months prior to his death. The public was horrified by the photo and began to rally around the Johnsons in their quest for the truth. 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. But Johnsons parents felt that his death was not being taken seriously, in part because of his race, or because a larger cover-up was at play. Paulk said it could take up to two weeks before results come back. 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. [1][2][3][4] After a preliminary investigation and autopsy concluded that Johnson's death was accidental, his family had a private pathologist conduct a second autopsy which concluded that he died from blunt force trauma. For a brilliantly done docuseries on Kendrick Johnson, watch Ashes to Ashs vlogcast! Im going through everything myself, Paulk said. "Im treating it like its a brand new case," Paulk said, according to the newspaper. 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. We already knew what team you were on. They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. "Nobody really cares, Jackie Johnson, the teenagers mother, told WAGA-TV. According to Paulk, it was Kendrick Johnson's mother, Jackie Johnson, who obtained the recording and turned it in to investigators. Although no charges were ever brought to light, and his death was ruled accidental.. The FBI had previously said the siblings were in separate parts of the Valdosta-area high school at the time of Johnsons death. Required fields are marked *. However,. Coleman called for the individuals immediate arrest. indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The individual in question could face extortion charges if the recording is phony,Paulk said. [33], On June 20, 2016, the Department of Justice announced that they would not be filing any criminal charges related to Johnson's death, stating, "After extensive investigation into this tragic event, federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnson's civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Johnsons have filed several lawsuits since their son's death, winning none of them. Furthermore, Johnsons parents argued, if this was an accident, how could no one have heard Kendrick call for help in a high school of over 3,000 students? In a statement to CNN, the US Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia said, the final conclusion in the Kendrick Johnson investigation was reached and announced in 2016 by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio (USAO NDOH), which handled the matter. Local law enforcement was quick to rule it an accident and move on but the family is sure this is a case of murder being covered up. [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 case was closed almost half a decade ago due to insufficient evidence of foul play, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But, There are some strange pieces to this case. All that could be seen from the cameras was Kendrick Johnson walking towards the gym, and then several seconds of footage of him jogging within the gym. Wikimedia CommonsSeventeen-year-old Kendrick Johnsons body was inexplicably found upside-down in a rolled-up gym mat in 2013. [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. 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. 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. Kendrick Johnson (Part 1) Crime Weekly. 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. According to Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk, If theres questions and theyre legitimate I need to know the answers myself. [38] The sheriff also stated he does not consider the case to be a homicide. This finding further increased the confidence of doubters that this death was an accident. Why The Accidental Death Of Kendrick Johnson Remains Suspicious To This Day. You do not believe there was anything criminal? Thomas asked Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. Johnson was the main "sniper" for the 103 gang, Seely said. When rolled up, the mat left a 14-inch hole in diameter in the center. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. The body of 17-year-old Johnson was found upside down in a mat in Lowndes County High School in January 2013. [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." "It has been our position that Kendrick was struck with an object that caused severe hemorrhaging, Coleman also told WAGA-TV. You're in for a treat! On Jan. 11, 2013, Johnson's body was discovered in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School. Eight years ago, classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson's body inside an upright mat. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants were negligent and violated Johnson's constitutional right to equal protection based on race. Crime Junkie did the same thing. We knew what the outcome would be from the very beginning, Kendricks father, Kenneth Johnson, told CNN. "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. 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. 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, . The emotions are reflective of one someone who has a burden like hell on their shoulders.. Kendrick Johnson was a 17-year-old student at Lowndes County High School. 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. 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. 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. [21] Other missing footage was the result of the camera's motion-activated function not being triggered. "[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. I encourage everyone to study ALL the evidence in this file before forming an opinion.. The Bells father, a former FBI agent, is accused of directing officials to obscure the investigation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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. The sheriff released a 16-page summary of his investigation on Wednesday including pictures from the Lowndes County gym. 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. Furthermore, a second autopsy showed non-accidental blunt force trauma to the back of the neck. 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 . For the sake of his family, I hope that the case of Kendrick Johnson can be closed in a way that provides closure. Law enforcement has ruled Kendrick's death an . Listen to the latest episode: Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. On June 20, 2016, the Department of Justice announced that it would not be filing any criminal charges related to Johnson's death. 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. 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. Im going through everything myself, Paulk said,estimatingthat the reopened investigation could last a minimumof six months. Finding Kendrick Johnson is an interesting true crime documentary. In 2018, an independent autopsy indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. R.I.P Kendrick Johnson FacebookOne of the coroners reports on Kendrick Johnsons autopsy. 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. [14] On October 31, 2013, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore announced that his office would open a formal review into Johnson's death. 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 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. Nobody wants Kendrick to get justice. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The amended report stated his cause and manner of death were undetermined. 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 has not independently inspected all the evidence that the sheriff reviewed. Have you subscribed to the Grio podcasts Dear Culture or Acting Up? Download our newest episodes now!TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. . 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. [PHOTOS: Images included in Kendrick Johnson death findings report]. 2023 Cox Media Group. The next investigation was a federal one. the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Johnson's head was pointed toward the floor in the. 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. The group is. [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. I do find it disturbing and unethical that this investigation seemed to turn into a witch hunt after the FBI told the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia that they had found nothing criminal, and they consequently were closing the case, Paulk wrote in the synopsis. Tuesday marks 10 years since Kendrick died. 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. [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. 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. I do not, he replied. However, these things really happen in the world. The Bell family has previously deflected blame in the incident; now, Karen Bell says she's upset by the renewed investigative efforts. The Johnsons were extorted out of $1,000 for a tape that contains an individual admitting to their involvement, he alleged. The case follows a young man that was found dead in 2013. There are no suspects because we havent made a determination as to whether or not this was murder, Paulk added. 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. Anderson claimed that his findings indicated traces of blunt force trauma to the right neck and soft tissues, and suggested the death was not accidental. : No charges in Kendrick Johnson death, nr Blackwell Kendrick Johnson_00003415.jpg. Frederick, MD tanker explosion leaves 1 dead; Shuts down part of US-15, Georgia baby girl reported missing with man diagnosed with mental illness, police say, Jesse Wilson: Adoptive mother arrested in boy's death in Arizona, Georgia Power proposes $2.1-billion rate hike, Floyd County cleaning up after trees, power lines downed during severe storms, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, Surveillance captures shooting death of man robbed at MARTA bus stop, Alex Murdaugh killed wife, son to buy time, prosecutor says, UGA football staffer drunk and traveling over 100 mph before fatal crash, police say, DNA links Indiana man to Georgia woman's 33-year-old cold case murder: sheriff. Kendrick Johnsons shoe laying in the pool of blood. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. However, Paulk claimed a woman with the Department of Justice and a man performing the autopsies had developed a close relationship with at one point, the woman saying in an email, I had to make him feel like a man so that he would be open to talking.. appreciated. 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. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously determined Johnsons death was accidental despite two independent autopsies finding the teen died of non-accidental blunt force trauma. His sneakers were shoved behind his knees. 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. VALDOSTA, Ga. - A Georgia sheriff says his office has received new information in the death investigation ofa Valdosta teenager whose body was found at school inside a rolled-up gym mat. The sheriff said investigators are working to verify the recording and how the individual received the information in order to "follow the chain of custody. Attorney. 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. The mysterious death of Kendrick Johnson was initially ruled an accident by law enforcement, but his family was not convinced. They believed that the Sheriffs Department wastoo quick to rule out foul play as a cause for Johnsons death, considering that within 24 hours of finding Kendrick Johnsons body, they concluded that it was an accident. Kendrick Johnson was a Georgia teen, who was found dead inside a rolled up wrestling mat. But this is one of the most baffling mysteries of this case: the black and white gym shoe that lay on the ground below Kendrick Johnson, the one he was presumed to be reaching for, was lying on top of a pool of blood, but there was no blood on the shoe itself. Parents' lawsuit in Georgia gym mat death is dismissed. [14] The governor's office released a statement indicating that they would await the report of the U.S. [20] A forensic analyst enlisted by CNN found that tapes from two cameras are missing an hour and five minutes of footage, while another set was missing two hours and ten minutes of footage. "This week we are trying Kendrick Johnson as the shooter, the organizer and the planner of Delindsey Mack's murder," she told . 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. NY Daily News/Valdosta/Lowndes Regional Crime Labratory via CNNKendrick Johnsons body rolled up inside the gym mat with his shoes behind his knees. The brothers father,Rick Bell, was an FBI special agent who ultimately resignedafter his home was raided and searched for evidence, according to NBC. 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. [11] Some of the apparent lapses in coverage were found to result from camera systems that were not synchronized with one another. 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.. You are not on the team of righteousness., The family is raising $400,000 to benefit the Kendrick Johnson Foundations mission to raise awareness on the need for increased supervision and safety within our public schools. In their GoFundMe page post, Johnson writes, On January 10, 2013, Kendricks life was tragically cut short when he was discovered dead in a rolled-up gym mat, under highly suspicious circumstances., A subsequent autopsy conducted by our forensic pathologist subsequently confirmed our worst nightmare that our sons death was no accident, she continues. Kendrick Johnsons parents released a photo to the media of their sons face as he lay in the funeral home. We have a good picture of him and a pretty good description. Over the years, the Johnsons have publicly implicated brothers Brian and Branden Bell in Kendricks death. When Johnson was exhumed for the first independent autopsy in June 2013, it was discovered that every organ from his pelvis to his skull, including his brain, heart, lungs, and liver, was gone and replaced with newspaper. I wont deem it credible until I can look at the source, find out where [he] got it from.. [31] They were subsequently sued for more than $850,000 in attorney fees[32] and $1,000,000 in defamation damages. 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? The article used as a source an anonymous email to the sheriff's office. [39] He further stated that two brothers, named in previous legal actions by the Johnsons, are not suspects. The police took videotape from the school and could see him entering the gym, but they havent released video that shows anything else. Paulk called the teenagers death a weird accident, telling CNN, there is nothing to substantiate a homicide.. Eight years ago, classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnsons body inside an upright mat. The Valdosta County Sheriff offered half a million dollars of his own money in response to the negative outcry about a recent report released . Idk why but this case in particular seems to bring out the worst in a lot of true crime podcast hosts. No further information was readily provided by law enforcement. The Sheriffs Department asserted that Johnson must have accidentally fallen into the center of the mat while reaching for a sneaker, which he had stored there so as not to have to pay for a locker. We know that.. Authorities were tight-lipped about whether the Bell brothers were suspects in Kendrick Johnsons death. Investigators, who suspected hed become trapped after attempting to grab a pair of sneakers, ruled his deatha freak accident. The sheriff at the center of the Kendrick Johnson death case says his department has gone through the evidence extensively and found no crime. VALDOSTA, Ga. - The brothers accused in a civil suit of killing Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teen found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in his high school two years ago, are suing Johnson's . Kendrick Johnson, center, watches as Assistant District Attorney Sarah Seely, left, hands a piece of evidence to his defense attorneys during the first day of his murder trial Tuesday, Nov . Justice denied. 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. Kendrick Johnson was black and the Lowndes County Sheriff, Chris Prines, and his investigators were all white. In their lawsuit, the parents of the accused boys assert that their sons were not involved in the death, are not considered suspects, and have been harassed as a result of the publication. This will be the final [investigation], as far as Im concerned, he said. An investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teenager found dead in a rolled-up gym mat eight years ago, has been reopened, according to Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. I encourage everyone to study ALL the evidence in this file before forming an opinion.. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. The only way Im going to know is to look at the evidence myself.. 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. Johnson's mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas . 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, . [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office reopened Kendrick's case last March. Respondents include three of Johnson's classmates (two or three respondents are unnamed) and local, state, and federal officials: the school superintendent of Lowndes County, the Valdosta-Lowndes crime lab, the police chief of Valdosta, many sheriff's deputies, the city of Valdosta, the state medical examiner, the GBI and five of its agents, and one FBI agent. Video shows him walking into the Lowndes High gym on Jan. 10, 2013. The Suspicious Death of Kendrick Johnson.Plus many more disturbing stories.The stories in this Episodes are shocking and exhibit human behavior at its absolute worst. [17], Johnson's family requested that his body be exhumed for a second time and was granted permission by Valdosta city officials. Your email address will not be published. Kendrick Johnsons body rolled up inside the gym mat with his shoes behind his knees. The mat was vertical. He was found dead in a rolled up wresting mat. 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. After extensive investigation into this tragic event, federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnsons civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime, it said in a statement. News of the re-opened investigation was welcomed by Johnson's family. Theres still a lot of questions people want answered," Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and 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.. It is a case that has stumped and enraged millions of people around the world. But investigators quickly closed their case on the theory that Johnson had simply fallen into the mat while reaching for one of his sneakers. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Johnson's family filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against 38 individuals, stating that his death was a murder and that the respondents were participants in a conspiracy to cover up the homicide, which they claimed involved two sons of an FBI agent. High-traffic streets like Norman Drive in. Paulk, who was not part of the sheriffs office at the time of Johnsons death, requested the evidence gathered during the federal probe in April 2019 as part of his re-examination of the case, but federal investigators initially declined his request. Draymond Green and Kendrick Perkins don't know it, but they are the first "openly MAGA" basketball players. Investigators will now comb through 17 boxes of evidence, which were previously sealed. Now, positional asphyxia is a legitimate cause of death. Thats the craziest lie you could have told, Johnson said of Paulks probe. The parents asserted that the sons of the FBI agent killed Johnson and used their connections to cover up the investigation. Listen Now Episode Info The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia was recused from the investigation many years ago.. Kendrick Johnson was found dead in a gym mat at Lowndes High School in January 2013. Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson stand next to a banner on their SUV showing their late son Kendrick, in Valdosta, Ga., in December 2013. [28] Shortly after receiving the case, Dettlebach also resigned. A private pathologist was hired to carry out a second autopsy. Wrongful death, Kendrick Johnson's family vs. Lowndes County Board of Education and school officials. Do not believe anything that this sheriffs department tells you, Kenneth Johnson said. Johnsons mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas that shes not surprised by the findings. In it, Paulk wrote, I am quite sure that there will still be a contingent that will believe there was foul play. Months after his death, Lowndes County Sheriffs Office investigators ruled it was an accident and closed the case.