After this sad look at the case and death of Kendrick Johnson, read up on another mysterious disappearance, that of Elisa Lam. I made a promise to the people Id go through every piece of [evidence].. . Tweet. The initial autopsy revealed that Johnson died due to positional asphyxia or that he suffocated as a result of being stuck upside-down in an enclosed space for an extended period of time. [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. MATTIE'S CALL: A 9-month-old baby girl was reported missing from the Ellenwood area with a man police say was diagnosed with a mental illness. Possible Audio Confession In Kendrick Johnson's Death Investigated. [PHOTOS: Images included in Kendrick Johnson death findings report]. 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. Why The Accidental Death Of Kendrick Johnson Remains Suspicious To This Day. The father of the kid who had a motive is allegedly an FBI Agent, with enough pull to supposedly save his son. Kendrick Johnsons body inside an upright mat. Johnsons family, however, said they areconfident the 25-second audio clip is authentic and that it could lead to criminal charges in the case. [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. 2:24 PM EST, Thu January 27, 2022, Justice Dept. 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. However, the coroner said these organs were not sent to the funeral home because they were too decomposed and were instead disposed of beforehand. [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. Parents' lawsuit in Georgia gym mat death is dismissed. In June 2018, Kendrick Johnsons body was exhumed for a second time and a third autopsy was performed. Kendrick Johnson was found dead in a gym mat at Lowndes High School in January 2013. Months after his death, Lowndes County Sheriffs Office investigators ruled it was an accident and closed the case. Nonetheless, the investigation cleared the funeral home of any wrongdoing. You do not believe there was anything criminal? Thomas asked Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. Johnson's family didn't accept the. [2][13], After the opinion of the private pathologist was released, Johnson's family stated that they believed Johnson had been murdered. Abducted in Plain Sight The sheriff says his office will not be releasing the audio recording at this time. His body was discovered by a teacher the next day rolled up inside the gym mat. The three teens were classmates. 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 Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously determined Johnsons death was accidental despite two independent autopsies finding the teen died of non-accidental blunt force trauma. Many speculate a darker reality. 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. Over the years, the Johnsons have publicly implicated brothers Brian and Branden Bell in Kendricks death. Discovery Company. Despite these resignations, the Department of Justice investigation continued. Published on February 1, 2022 08:45 AM. The suit alleges the boys family conspired with former Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine and county school officials to cover up the death. Eight years ago, classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson's body inside an upright mat. 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. 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. But investigators quickly closed their case on the theory that Johnson had simply fallen into the mat while reaching for one of his sneakers. Johnson's mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas . TheLowndes County Sheriffs Office reopened Kendricks case last March. 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. 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. His mother posted on her Facebook: No mother or father should ever have to bury their child under these circumstances. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. 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. 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. 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 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. Required fields are marked *. The Grizzlies played in Denver on Friday night and are scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Saturday . The post Kendrick Johnsons case closed after authorities say no crime found appeared first on TheGrio. They wont publicly say what that new info is. And, allegedly the FBI agents son told at least two people that he hit Kendrick on the back of the neck with a 45 pound weight. [5], 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. You cant do an investigation with the same investigators who covered it up. Justice denied. 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. 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 . LeBron James is still in the closet, but he will join Green and Perkins as an "America First" hoopster when Bronny James is toiling in a faraway foreign league.MAGA NBA players are annoyed that foreigners are taking over a . 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. We dont know whether its credible or not, hesaid. It seems so much more likely to me that Kendrick Johnson's death was a tragic accident. You are not on the team of righteousness, Jackie Johnson said. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Coleman called for the individuals immediate arrest. in Georgiais now being vetted by authorities, police said this week. The three teens were classmates. A number of community activists have also spoken out in favor of the forthcoming probe into the Georgia teens death. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. That students father is a retired FBI agent. The group is. We already knew what team you were on. He was found rolled up in a gym mat at Lowndes High School the next day. 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. Attorneys in Atlanta describe widespread delays and disruptions to other cases as the prosecution of Young Thug . 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, . "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. They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. The US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio declined to comment. 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. Lowndes County Sheriff's findings on death of Kendrick Johnson by Jennifer Smith on Scribd. [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. "[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. You didnt find nothing in 17 boxes? Kendrick Johnson was black and the Lowndes County Sheriff, Chris Prines, and his investigators were all white. And now, authorities say they have an audio recording of someone admitting to Johnson's death. 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. They were sued for more than $850,000 in attorney fees and more than one million in defamation charges. 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. 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. Johnson was the main "sniper" for the 103 gang, Seely said. We know that.. The new findings were the result of a second investigation by the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office following one by the FBI. He died on January 10 in the school's gym. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! However,. 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. The late teen's parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, filed the lawsuit in January, claiming their son was the victim of foul play. Johnsons mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas that shes not surprised by the findings. For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Authorities say they are working to verify an audio recording of someone admitting to Kendrick Johnson's death. His family says despite the setback, they are not giving up hope. Johnsons parents have said they think their son was killed. First, no one heard him? We have buried kj 3 times and it felt like 3 funerals and i lost him 3 times.. As far as the feds were concerned, the case was officially and finally closed. 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. The case was closed almost half a decade ago due to insufficient evidence of foul play, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They also reported that the blood had likely been there for a long time. State medical examiners concluded that. There are no suspects because we havent made a determination as to whether or not this was murder, Paulk added. Though it was quickly ruled an accidental death, Kendrick's family thought something was wrong. On Jan. 11, 2013, the body of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson, a popular student and promising athlete at Lowndes High School, in Valdosta, Ga., was found rolled up upside down in a . This is a very unusual accident. The sheriff described the re-examination into Kendrick Johnsons death as afinal effort to bring some closure to the teens family. 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. 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. I wont deem it credible until I can look at the source, find out where [he] got it from.. And potentially missing videotape? 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. Not a big deal, perhaps, except, Another student had an issue with Kendrick and had threatened him several times over a girlfriend. 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. In the latest report, Paulk dispelled rumors that Johnson and the Bell brothers had any contact on the day Johnson died. [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. [2] That left a void, which the funeral home filled. The YSL Case Is Stretching Fulton County's Justice System to Its Breaking Point. 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. The emotions are reflective of one someone who has a burden like hell on their shoulders.. "[11] Johnson's family questioned this hypothesis. In 2018, an independent autopsy indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. 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. Investigators did not take the hoodie and orange and black gym shoes into evidence. Download the FOX 5 Atlanta appfor breaking news and weather alerts. estimatingthat the reopened investigation could last a minimumof six months. "If it's a hoax, it's a very, very cruel hoax to do to Mrs. Johnson," he said. But still an accident? Thomas wondered. 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. True Crime Mysteries- episodes 1 de Manual Einstein en Libreras Gandhi . It includes photographs from the schools gymnasium. 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 mat in which Johnson was found was around six feet tall. Just after 24 hours of being found, the investigators ruled Johnsons death an accident. [12], The independent autopsy found that some time after Johnson's body was recovered from the mat and had passed through a funeral home, it had been stuffed with newspapers. Do not believe anything that this sheriffs department tells you, Kenneth Johnson said. Now, positional asphyxia is a legitimate cause of death. Adding to the confusion is the fact that in October 2013, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation told CBS thatJohnsons organs were returned to his body following the autopsy, as per protocol. [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. The Valdosta County Sheriff offered half a million dollars of his own money in response to the negative outcry about a recent report released . [17], Johnson's family requested that his body be exhumed for a second time and was granted permission by Valdosta city officials. Did you encounter any technical issues? On June 22, 2018, Johnson's body was exhumed.[19]. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. [40], "Kendrick Johnson" redirects here. 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.. 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? Video shows him walking into the Lowndes High gym on Jan. 10, 2013. The dead teens mother, Jaqueline Johnson, told the TV station she is not surprised by the sheriffs findings. No further information was readily provided by law enforcement. Ebony.com described the murder of Johnson to have been at the hands of two white brothers, though they did not include names. He was a three-sport athlete and dreamed of playing professional football. The case was. 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. "[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. Investigators tested the blood which revealed that it did not belong to Kendrick Johnson. [11] A student at the school said that he shared a pair of Adidas shoes with Johnson, and that after gym class Johnson would always "go to the mats, jump up and toss the shoes inside the middle of the hole. CNN has not independently inspected all the evidence that the sheriff reviewed. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia was recused from the investigation many years ago.. 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. Im going through everything myself, Paulk said,estimatingthat the reopened investigation could last a minimumof six months. His sneakers were shoved behind his knees. 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 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. Share. Crime Junkie did the same thing. 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. High-traffic streets like Norman Drive in. [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. We are cautiously optimistic now.. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! But his parents would later maintain that his size versus the size of the mat alone was enough to debunk the investigators case. He was found dead in a rolled up wresting mat. From there until now, we feel like this has been a cover-up at a very high level. But still an accident? Thomas asked Paulk. Paulk called the teenagers death a weird accident, telling CNN, there is nothing to substantiate a homicide.. 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. The pathologist concluded his death was not an accident. We knew what the outcome would be from the very beginning, Kendricks father, Kenneth Johnson, told CNN. 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. As he was upside down, blood would have rushed to Johnsons head and he eventually would have begun to bleed from his facial orifices. Kendrick Johnson (Part 1) Crime Weekly. [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 police took videotape from the school and could see him entering the gym, but they havent released video that shows anything else. 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. As parents, our hearts are broken, but we are determined to prevent a tragedy of this magnitude from occurring again., In March of last year, the family received an audio clip from a tipster who was paid for the information; in part, the voice said, I was just young and stupid. I do not, he replied. The next investigation was a federal one. 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. 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. Policeand eventually the state's The teens parents say they are not convinced. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. They do an excellent job digging in to places and topics that authorities seem to avoid, not just in this case but in the others theyve explored as well, like the case of Robert Bee that I wrote about here. On June 20, 2016, the Department of Justice announced that it would not be filing any criminal charges related to Johnson's death.
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