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. Kendrick Johnson Case Audio Confession Probed As Possible Hoax | Crime News [30] After the Justice Department's motion was denied, Johnson's parents dismissed their own wrongful death lawsuit, saying that they hoped to refile it after the conclusion of the federal investigation. 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. In June 2018, Kendrick Johnsons body was exhumed for a second time and a third autopsy was performed. Lowndes County is in southern Georgia. Unsatisfied with the result of the investigation, they hired an independent autopsy conducted by William R. Anderson with Forensic Dimensions in Heathrow, Florida, on June 15, 2013. in Georgiais now being vetted by authorities, police said this week. The Johnsons did try to sue the funeral home for mishandling their sons body, and perhaps having done so in order to cover up his true cause of death, but this case was dropped. 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, . Kendrick Johnson: A second local investigation into the death of - CNN Police focus on timeline in Kendrick Johnson gym mat death - CBS News "[18] The Johnson family subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against the funeral home, seeking monetary damages. Possible Audio Confession In Kendrick Johnsons Death Investigated, A recordingthat reportedly contains an emotional confession of an individual who may have been involved in the suspicious 2013 death of teenager. The three teens were classmates. Kendrick Johnson was black and the Lowndes County Sheriff, Chris Prines, and his investigators were all white. 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. On Jan. 11, 2013, Johnson's body was discovered in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School. [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." 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. Kendrick Johnsons casket was unearthed for a second time for a third autopsy. You do not believe there was anything criminal? Thomas asked Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. [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. Lowndes County Sheriff's findings on death of Kendrick Johnson by Jennifer Smith on Scribd. 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. [Kendrick Johnson: Ep 141] Very disappointed with this episode - reddit But you have to wonder. 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. Time stamps between some separate camera systems differed by as much as twenty minutes for the same time period, giving the impression of a gap for portions of the footage where no gap existed. 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. Kendrick Johnson's death made national news, not on the day his body was discovered, but in weeks . [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. indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Kendrick Johnson's case closed after authorities say no crime found The teens parents say they are not convinced. 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. But investigators quickly closed their case on the theory that Johnson had simply fallen into the mat while reaching for one of his sneakers. You cant do an investigation with the same investigators who covered it up. That initial investigation concluded that Johnson accidentally slipped into the center of the mat while reaching for a shoe and got stuck. Johnson's mother told Channel 2s Tony Thomas . A private pathologist was hired to carry out a second autopsy. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. But it is what it is.. Kendrick Johnson's Family's Quest For Answers Moves To Georgia Capitol", "National Civil Rights Attorney No Longer Involved In Kendrick Johnson Case | Valdosta Today", "Kendrick Johnson family holds rally after filing complaint about missing organs", "Parents of Georgia teen found dead in gym mat sue funeral home", "No Wrongdoing Detected in Kendrick Johnson Funeral Home Probe", "Kendrick Johnson footage released; expert finds it 'highly suspicious', "Rose, Touchton believe no coverup in Johnson case", "Georgia school officials sued in Kendrick Johnson's gym death", "Local, federal investigations into gym mat death continue", "FBI agent, wife file $5 million defamation suit against Ebony.com and crime writer for KJ stories", "Parents File $100 Million Suit in Gym-Mat Death of Georgia Teen Kendrick Johnson", "Second U.S. Attorney in charge of KJ case resigns", "Kendrick Johnson probe: Attorney exits mark shift", "KJ Family Drops $100 Million Wrongful Death Suit | Valdosta Today", "US Justice Department: No criminal charges in gym mat death", "Judge: Parents owe $292,000 for suit in son's gym mat death", "Investigation into death of Georgia teen found in a rolled-up gym mat 8 years ago will be reopened", "Georgia sheriff vows to personally, thoroughly investigate re-opened case of teen found dead in gym mat", "Sheriff reopens Kendrick Johnson case in Valdosta", "A second local investigation into the death of a Georgia teen found in a rolled-up gym mat has closed with no charges filed", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_of_Kendrick_Johnson&oldid=1136987199. Nonetheless, the investigation cleared the funeral home of any wrongdoing. 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. The Grizzlies played in Denver on Friday night and are scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Saturday . The Johnsons were also sure that their sons body had been moved, which was corroborated by Lowndes County Coroner, Bill Watson. 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 next day, a teacher found his body inside one of the rolled-up wrestling mats. 'Finding Kendrick Johnson' Documentary Shows Facts, Not Conspiracies We dont know whether its credible or not, hesaid. But Johnsons parents would still not give up. I wont deem it credible until I can look at the source, find out where [he] got it from.. The Johnson family spoke Thursday in front of the sheriffs department, criticizing the report released Wednesday. [PHOTOS: Images included in Kendrick Johnson death findings report]. I just keep waiting for someone to be honest with [the Johnsons], Karen Bell, the mother of Brian and Branden Bell, said. His family says despite the setback, they are not giving up hope. Crime Weekly: Tragic Accident or Police Cover-Up?: Kendrick Johnson Kendrick Johnson was a Georgia teen, who was found dead inside a rolled up wrestling mat. [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. FBI agent, sons countersue parents of Kendrick Johnson, Georgia teen Given the slender opening in the gym mat, this is certainly plausible, even though Kendrick was exceptionally physically fit. We already knew what team you were on. 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.. The video was streamed by Morant to his Instagram page, and it was not archived once he stopped the stream. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Kendrick Johnson with his mother and father, Kenneth and Jackie Johnson. "Eight long years the crying, the tears, the backlash, being talked about, ridiculed it has not been easy," Johnson added. No further information was readily provided by law enforcement. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office reopened Kendrick's case last March. They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. 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. We provide you with a list of the top 15 best true crime documentaries that every true crime fan will thoroughly enjoy. 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.