Investigators tested the blood which revealed that it did not belong to Kendrick Johnson. We know that.. The father of the kid who had a motive is allegedly an FBI Agent, with enough pull to supposedly save his son. Parents' lawsuit in Georgia gym mat death is dismissed. The body of 17-year-old Johnson was found upside down in a mat in Lowndes County High School in January 2013. 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. All Rights Reserved. County authorities are currently combing through a trove of boxes of evidence, including computer hard drives, documents, and other files relevant to the investigation. [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. Kendrick Johnson: A second local investigation into the death of - CNN Nonetheless, the investigation cleared the funeral home of any wrongdoing. First, no one heard him? Sheriff says case closed after his investigation finds Kendrick Johnson [39] He further stated that two brothers, named in previous legal actions by the Johnsons, are not suspects. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. He also stated thefuneral home never had Johnsons organs, saying they were discarded by the prosecutor before the body was sent back to Valdosta for burial. We knew what the outcome would be from the very beginning, Kendricks father, Kenneth Johnson, told CNN. They also reported that the blood had likely been there for a long time. The family, together with the NAACP and other civil rights activists, then held a rally at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. [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. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. A private pathologist was hired to carry out a second autopsy. Investigators did not take the hoodie and orange and black gym shoes into evidence. 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. 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. They purchased this from an individual and he did not give them his true name. "If it's a hoax, it's a very, very cruel hoax to do to Mrs. Johnson," he said. 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.. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. You're in for a treat! Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Attorneys for the Johnson family expressed fears that the camera footage was edited as part of a cover-up. High-traffic streets like Norman Drive in. Possible Audio Confession In Kendrick Johnson's Death Investigated. They soon discover that not only is something wrong, but things go much deeper than they ever imagined. "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. The Johnson family spoke Thursday in front of the sheriffs department, criticizing the report released Wednesday. 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. Johnson, 17, was found dead in Lowndes High School's gymnasium in January 2013. After this sad look at the case and death of Kendrick Johnson, read up on another mysterious disappearance, that of Elisa Lam. Paulk said it could take up to two weeks before results come back. [15], Johnson's family filed a legal action to open a coroner's inquest into his death. His parents believe Kendrick was murdered. Kendrick Johnson: Sheriff puts up $500K reward for information on We have a good picture of him and a pretty good description. [2], Authorities hypothesized that Johnson had fallen into the mat while looking for a shoe and died after being unable to get out. 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. 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. [6] That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. "This week we are trying Kendrick Johnson as the shooter, the organizer and the planner of Delindsey Mack's murder," she told . [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. He wrote that the FBI reviewed footage from 62 cameras on campus, and Johnson never crossed paths with the brothers. [Kendrick Johnson: Ep 141] Very disappointed with this episode - reddit The FBI had previously said the siblings were in separate parts of the Valdosta-area high school at the time of Johnsons death. For a brilliantly done docuseries on Kendrick Johnson, watch Ashes to Ashs vlogcast! August 17, 2021. MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Kendrick Johnson Episode Summary In 2013 a 17-year-old boy's body was found rolled up in a high school gym mat. 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. The public was horrified by the photo and began to rally around the Johnsons in their quest for the truth. 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. The origin and credibility of the recording which was provided to the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office after being purchased by Johnsons family are bothnow being investigated. 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. The sheriff described the re-examination into Kendrick Johnsons death as afinal effort to bring some closure to the teens family. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants were negligent and violated Johnson's constitutional right to equal protection based on race. 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. Kendrick Johnson: Latest Probe Finds 'No Coverup or - Crime Online A Warner Bros. He was just in his socks. It does appear, however, that their quest for answers has only led to more questions. . Death of Kendrick Johnson - Wikipedia The dead teens mother, Jaqueline Johnson, told the TV station she is not surprised by the sheriffs findings. 1 of 2. 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. Indeed, in 2013, racism in Valdosta, Georgia, was still very much alive. [17] A spokesperson for the Secretary of State said that the investigation found that the funeral home "didn't violate any rules. Earlier in March, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk announced that officials were reopening the investigation and reevaluating the previously-sealed evidence. They were sued for more than $850,000 in attorney fees and more than one million in defamation charges. The sheriff says his office will not be releasing the audio recording at this time. But it is what it is.. The Bell family has previously deflected blame in the incident; now, Karen Bell says she's upset by the renewed investigative efforts. Policeand eventually the state's Kendrick Johnsons shoe laying in the pool of blood. The suit alleges the boys family conspired with former Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine and county school officials to cover up the death. Nearly a decade after Kendrick Johnsons body was found in a high school gymnasium, investigators have announced a new probe into the Black teenagers mysterious death. You cant do an investigation with the same investigators who covered it up. Verifying the tapes authenticity is indispensable, he added. Crime Weekly: Tragic Accident or Police Cover-Up?: Kendrick Johnson [14] The governor's office released a statement indicating that they would await the report of the U.S. This is how you roll in Valdosta. She and her family maintain that young Kendrick was murdered. Camera systems were motion-activated, using a change in light pixels to turn recordings on and off. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Young Thug Trial: Court Slowdowns, Prosecution Delays - Rolling Stone Then, in 2014, Kendrick Johnsons parents filed a wrongful death suit against the schools officials, alleging that Johnson had been harassed by a white student which went neglected by the school, perhaps due to his race. Kendrick Johnson: Federal lawsuit DROPPED in death of - Crime Online 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. The sheriff released a 16-page summary of his investigation on Wednesday including pictures from the Lowndes County gym. The post Kendrick Johnsons case closed after authorities say no crime found appeared first on TheGrio. 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. Thing is, he wasn't just found dead. Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk told WSB-TV his office reviewed the FBIs findings, as well as 17 boxes of evidence, and reached that decision. Investigation into death of Georgia teen found in a rolled-up gym mat 8 years ago will be reopened. Did you encounter any technical issues? Nobody wants Kendrick to get justice. 2. Share. Johnson was the main "sniper" for the 103 gang, Seely said. Despite these resignations, the Department of Justice investigation continued. Johnsons parents were suspicious of the investigation from the beginning. [31] They were subsequently sued for more than $850,000 in attorney fees[32] and $1,000,000 in defamation damages. 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 Lowndes County Sheriff's Office reopened Kendrick's case last March. 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. 'Finding Kendrick Johnson': True crime doc with a message - AIPT [11] Some of the apparent lapses in coverage were found to result from camera systems that were not synchronized with one another. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. Kendrick Johnsons body inside an upright mat. Listen Now Episode Info "[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. [2][13], After the opinion of the private pathologist was released, Johnson's family stated that they believed Johnson had been murdered. 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. Though it was quickly ruled an accidental death, Kendrick's family thought something was wrong. And now, authorities say they have an audio recording of someone admitting to Johnson's death. You do not believe there was anything criminal? reporter Tony Thomas asked Paulk. 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 sheriff says case closed again but he will reopen it if someone brings him verified new information. [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. 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. 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.. 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. Sheriff says case closed after his investigation finds Kendrick Johnsons death was no crime, Sheriff says recording thought to show proof Kendrick Johnson was murdered, was a cruel hoax. Authorities were tight-lipped about whether the Bell brothers were suspects in Kendrick Johnsons death. Whitlock: Nikola Jokic's NBA dominance teaches Kendrick Perkins and But Johnsons parents would still not give up. Investigators ruled it an accident but his family and other people nationwide believe he was murdered. The case was. Kendrick Johnson's body was found in a rolled-up gym mat in January. 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. Kendrick Johnson case: Video expert finds surveillance footage 'highly

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