CREDLE:What he did was obstruction of justice. This white rehashing, of listening to what the other side has to say. Community. Kendrick Johnsons body was found in a wrestling mat Jan. 11, 2013, in the Lowndes High School gym in Valdosta, Georgia. Even bad people have consciousness, said Paulk. That organization has been engaged in a planned and coordinated attack againstBlack civil rights since the very beginningthat history is directly connected to Kendricks case. Kendrick was found dead in the gymnasium at 10:30 a.m. on January 11, roughly 10 hours after his family reported him missing. The body of Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found Jan. 11 in south Georgia, and Lowndes County sheriff's investigators concluded that he died in a freak accident - falling headfirst into an upright. It shouldnt have happened to Kendrick. weight or dumbbell. MITCH CREDLE: This is the first time Ive ever experienced any type of homicide investigation that was done this way. I spoke to both of Kendricks parents a few times, just the other day I spoke to Mrs. Johnson. CREDLE:During the investigation, we were deputized with federal powers and jurisdiction to do anything and everything we had to do from a law enforcement perspective. Coleman says he is cautiously optimistic about the tape and the reopening of the investigation. 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. Johnsons body was exhumed for the second time for the third autopsy in June. Kendrick Johnson, was a 17-year-old high school sophomore, found dead, inside of a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School gymnasium on January 11, 2013. Boy, 10, Vanished in 2016. Johnson was found dead in the early days of January 2013. Paulk wrote that video inside the gymnasium showed Johnson walking at a fast pace toward the area where the mats are stored shortly before 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2013. Kendrick Johnson's body was found upside down in a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga., on Jan. 11, 2013. In response to the claims it may be a hoax, Coleman says it was not a pieced-together recording, and the validity of the tape needs to be identified. The teen's father, Kenneth Johnson, spoke about the missing organs during the rally. The circumstances of his death have been a source of conjecture, gossip, allegations and lawsuits ever since. That was the last time he was seen alive. She checked in with his father to see if he'd been in contact and reached out to other family and friends, but when she discovered no one had heard from him, she quickly filed a missing persons report. As I noted earlier, the conspiracy narrative is constantly fed, most recently with a documentary that does deep into the familys assertions of intrigue. We do know there is what appears to be a Caucasian male admitting tearfully and fearfully to the killing of Kendrick Johnson, Coleman said. I saw allthe horrendous images she was sharing of him and I was traumatized by what I saw. We handed over what we believe is a Caucasian male stating his involvement," Coleman said. An excerpt from the document, where all names have been removed to protect identities, states "The person struck Kendrick Johnson in the neck with a 45lb. The family said they believe it is a confession of the killer. Joined by Coleman, they presented the audio recording to Ashley Paulk, Lowndes County sheriff. Did he hit his head going into the mat. On January 10, 2013, Kendrick Johnson, a Black 17-year-old junior at the Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga., didn't return home from school. And it was a big disappointment that we couldnt at least go after an agent who was obstructing justice and, as a result, improving the federal agency as a whole. In what appears to be an addendum to the second autopsy report, done in June of 2013, it was determined Johnsons cause of death was non-accidental blunt force trauma to his right neck and right thorax, which is the body cavity between the neck and abdomen. According to Lt. Stryde Jones, the athletic shoes he is wearing in this photo are the ones he was. I quote they are going to catch me anyway, I shouldve never done this. You have, As Courts Decline to Review Louisiana Solitary Confinement Laws, I remember My Time in A Louisiana Penitentiary, How to Recenter the Role of Prosecutors Around Accountability and Fairness, Longer Sentences & More Prisons Arent a Panacea for Crime in Southern States, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Former Ohio Judge Removed for Jailing Spectator Runs for Seat Again, Elizabeth Holmes Prison Sentence Delayed as Court Considers Appeal, Federal Gun Research Cutbacks Starting to Bite, say Researchers, Crime Victim Groups May Face Loss of Federal Funds, Guns in Schools: The Nuanced View From Trump Country, Tennessee Rethinks Bail to Avert Disaster of Biblical Proportions. Hell never have to pay. POLLOCK:And I feel that was by design. WALB has compiled a timeline of events since Johnsons reported death. Press Esc to cancel. Mr. Pollock, I was surprised to see the things youve worked on and the story you have regarding the FBI. Kendrick Johnson's murder was So, theres none of that in my movie because those are all lies. Type above and press Enter to search. One person said he saw a small bruise on Johnson's jaw, according to the report, while another person "who viewed the body" said he did not observe any signs of trauma. The Johnson family spokesperson said the audio was recorded secretly and sold to the family, by who they describe as an alleged family member, for $1,000. They also included federal grand jury testimony from 58 people, as well as additional autopsies by a doctor hired by the Johnson family and the Defense Department. Is 'Finding Kendrick Johnson' on Netflix? Where to Watch the - Decider The sheriff said he spent 15 months reading every page in that file, but found that they did not show any criminal action whatsoever.. How the body was found. Create new account. Hollywood is directly responsible for this kind of programming. State and local law enforcement officials ruled the death an accidental asphyxiation, saying Johnson died after he climbed into a rolled-up mat to retrieve his sneakers. If you look at how Black people have been represented in Hollywood for the last 20 years and up to today you see how difficult it is to just be Black and have these white programmers care about your story. Lowndes County sheriff's investigators concluded that he died in a freak accident, falling headfirst into an upright mat. $980,000 clubhouse for Putney Park set for a vote, The Kendrick Johnson Case: A timeline of events in the case. They gave them an impossible task and made it impossible for him to do his job. Investigators ruled his death an accident. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - Kendrick Johnsons family is full of hope after they brought a new recording to light with a possible confession to law enforcement. In 2013, authorities determined Johnson got trapped in the mat and asphyxiated while trying to retrieve a sneaker. An autopsy by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) ruled Kendricks cause of death as "accidental, positional asphyxia." $980,000 clubhouse for Putney Park set for a vote. Advertise to our national and international criminal justice audience at The Crime Report and support our mission. His Adoptive Mother, Who Pleaded for His Safe Return, Was Just Charged, 2 Killed in Suspected Rash of Druggings and Robberies in N.Y.C. Everyone should be treated the same, whether its a rich white kid or a kid like Kendrick. "Just completely alone and everything had fizzled for them, and nobody cared about them.". So many people in the South cant even admit the [regions] connection to slavery. They know my morals and values when it comes to doing the job. A South Georgia sheriff is putting up a $500,000 reward of his own cash for information leading to the conviction of anyone who killed Kendrick Johnson, the high school student found dead . Kendrick Johnson: A second local investigation into the death of - CNN While conspiracies surrounding Kendrick's death have been the subject of numerous investigative shows and documentaries, filmmaker Jason Pollock, who recently released Finding Kendrick Johnson, focuses on one fundamental question: What happened? "But these are the facts. 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. 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.. During the interview, my partner and I were very assertive, we were very professional, we were very thorough, but we were also somewhat aggressive. Most people in Hollywood, especially white people, hadnt heard about KJs story and we had a lot of doors closed because of that fact. The documentary repeatedly portrays images of lynchings, including the infamous murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955. The Crime Report: Jason, what prompted you to get involved in this story and what were some of the hurdles you encountered in making it? This case involves race, so no explanation can quell the endless accusations from some, including requisite allegations that this was a modern-day lynching. Sheriff Ashley Paulk detailed his findings in a 16-page document, concluding that evidence and other information do not produce anything to prove any criminal act by anyone that would have resulted in the death of Kendrick Johnson.. 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. His parents, however, felt he was killed. Paulk and his team are currently investigating the recording and verifying the voice. I have things from the Kendrick Johnson case, important things that nobody else is aware of. The Department of Justice announced today that the independent federal investigation into the 2013 death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson in Valdosta, Georgia, found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges. "There's no conspiracy theories in the film," he tells PEOPLE. See more of KENDRICK JOHNSON MEMORIAL on Facebook. The biggest problem was getting Hollywood to put it out. Community See All. A Georgia sheriff's office is reopening an investigation into the 2013 death of Kendrick Johnson, a Black teenager whose body was found inside a rolled-up gym mat in his high school . POLLOCK: Its worse than avoidance. Updated I wont take credit however, I prayed before I began this work, asked God to help me with this difficult task. I'm breaking into pieces because I know it's my child.". Paulk, a Democrat whos white, was sheriff years ago and got reelected in 2016. Georgia Sheriff Reopens Case Into Teenager Found Dead in a Gym Mat So sad when such a vital young person loses their life. "In closing, I am quite sure that there will still be a contingent that will believe there was foul play. "The counselor hadn't heard," Jacquelyn recalls. Finding Kendrick Johnson: Directed by Jason Pollock. Not now. Members of Johnsons family protested the original autopsy findings, believing he was murdered. 'FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON' is the feature documentary product of a 4 year undercover investigation into the facts of this case. It was unprofessional and they dropped the ball. A Warner Bros. And it was recorded last weekend. The body of 17-year-old Johnson was found upside down in a mat in Lowndes County High School in January 2013. Thats not the way a proper investigation goes. Gay Nightlife Scene, Sheriff Offers $500K of His Own Money for Info About Kendrick Johnson's Death After Releasing Unpopular Report, A Juror Reacts to Casey Anthony's New TV Interview: 'Once a Liar, Always a Liar', Producer of Casey Anthony's Peacock Interview Believes Her Grief Was 'Genuine', Victims in Virginia Walmart Mass Shooting Identified, Those Killed Include a 16-Year-Old Boy, Police Issue Arrest Warrant for Friend of Woman Who Died on Vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Remains Believed to Be Those of Missing Georgia Toddler Found in Landfill, Police Arrest His Mom. That was unbelievable to me, but I guess down there things work a little differently because, if he had been in D.C., he would most definitely have been charged. They treated everything as if it was an accident, which was improper and premature. I was there filming Stranger Fruit, which actually cracked the Mike Brown case open. But I just didnt let this die, I sat on my little egg all of last year just waiting for the right moment to figure out how to get it out because its a very important story in American history and one that has been completely forgotten about and covered up pretty much until now. Chilling photos show death scene of teen found suffocated inside Kendrick Johnson 's body was found in a wrestling mat Jan. 11, 2013, in the Lowndes High School gym in Valdosta, Georgia. Hours Later, Dead Bodies Were Found, Connecticut Man Who Vanished a Decade Ago Found Dead After Living Under New Name in New York, Ariz. I do find it disturbing and unethical that this investigation seemed to turn into a witch hunt after the FBI told (Moore in late 2014) that they had found nothing criminal and they consequently were closing the case, Paulk wrote. Show more 6:12 Missing video in teen gym-mat death? In place of the organs were crumpled pieces of newspaper. Affidavit in Kendrick Johnson Caseby To their horror, they discovered that their son's body and skull had been stuffed with newspaper before burial. The next day, he was found dead, his body rolled up in a wrestling mat that was standing upright in a corner of the school gym with his sock-covered feet sticking out of the top. Though they were initially denied, federal officials finally handed over 17 boxes of materials on the case to them last week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. WALB has . Like when you say that shouldnt have happened to Kendrick, youre exactly right. Paulk called the teenagers death a weird accident, telling CNN, there is nothing to substantiate a homicide.. After all, this is the South. Why has this Georgia man been behind bars for 10 years awaiting trial? On Jan. 10, 2013, when Kendrick didn't return home from school, his mom, Jacquelyn Johnson, wasn't worried at first. Johnsons family, however, has repeatedly said they believe he was killed, and they reiterated that Thursday afternoon after the release of the sheriff's report. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But then, unexpectedly, my partner and I were taken off the case and I found out later that instead of getting arrested he was allowed to resign. After three years of investigation, the feds dropped the case saying they could not prove a crime occurred. Family Spokesman Marcus Coleman and Jacquelyn Johnson, Kendricks mother, say theyre not cheering just yet. 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. The circumstances of his death have been a source of conjecture, gossip, allegations and lawsuits ever since.. But its not a building boom, OPINION: Tax giveaways, abatements or incentives? Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. When it came time to narrate the film, he turned to singer and actress Jenifer Lewis. Heres a copy of the transcript of the recording: Copyright 2021 WALB. "This change is attributed to the fact that additional materials were submitted for evaluation by the United States Department of Justice," the report says. Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Read through our advertising and sponsorship rates and contact us. Today we delivered what we have authenticated, make sure that is extremely clear. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much More than eight years had passed since Kendrick Johnson's body was found in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School in Valdosta. Thanks for reading The Crime Report! Kendrick Johnson Third Autopsyby Although there were additional findings in the autopsy done by Forensic Dimensions, that revealed blunt force trauma was found to Johnsons right chest, its one affidavit that makes its way to the forefront. Johnsons body underwent three autopsies, including one at the familys request. Yet to this day, despite multiple investigations, lawsuits and autopsies, no one can say for certain whether the death of Kendrick Johnson was an accident or a murder. Contact KENDRICK JOHNSON MEMORIAL on Messenger. The next investigation was a federal one. But a couple of other. CNN has not independently inspected all the evidence that the sheriff reviewed. Russ Bynum/AP. Possible new evidence presented in Kendrick Johnson case - WALB TCR: Why do you feel its so difficult for people to come to terms with the racist realitiesthat lead to crimes like this and how does that avoidance of reality precipitate theircontinuance? I just stuck to the facts of the case and I didnt let white arrogance enter the cycle. Police found his body rolled under gym mats, and after the first autopsy, his death was ruled to be an accident. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office reopened the case in March. The reality of whats going on is not understood in general, some things that would curl the toes even of a man like yourself. CREDLE:We were only down there three to four days a month. According to that affidavit provided by Johnsons parents, on February 9th of 2018, a witness gave their testimony stating that an acquaintance confessed that another person killed Johnson. How was he able to act with suchabandon and blatant disregard for the law? In 2020, people are still calling for the investigation into Kendrick Johnsons suspicious death to be reopened. Its an aggressive malpractice in the education system that is teaching white, racist communities a version of the history of our country that didnt exist. "It was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life, and that is the truth," the Black-ish actress tells PEOPLE. RELATED: Lowndes County reopens Kendrick Johnson case, teen whose body was found rolled up in gym mat. Another said he and Johnson had stored their shoes in the mat in the past and would retrieve them by tipping the mat. He added the feds didnt clear the Bells, they just couldnt prove a crime occurred. I will fight as long as I have to, to uncover what happened to Kendrick Johnson.. Kenneth Johnson, the teens father, told me Paulk couldnt have dug deeply into the files to come up with the conclusions he did. Potayto, potahto, OPINION: Police shootings: Why theres so often a fusillade of bullets, Torpy: Streetcar extension on Beltline - a costly and unvetted bet. K.J.s mother, Jackie Johnson says these documents, the autopsy, affidavits among other findings have been passed on to the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office, and is hoping to get the case re-opened. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia was recused from the investigation many years ago.". The third autopsy also contradicts the findings of the first autopsy, which determined the cause of death as positional asphyxia. The report also details the findings of several separate autopsies. One of the deepest, weirdest layers of the story is the fact that the city let it go on for this long. Then, he said, he and two other investigators pored through the case for 13 months before coming to his conclusions last month. His parents asked why the autopsy report did not mention bruising to their sons chin that responding paramedics put in their initial report. But his parents, Jackie and Kenneth Johnson never believed that. Coleman says a tipster sold the tape for $1,000 to the Johnson family. The body of Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found upside-down in a large mat in his high school gym in 2013. The clothing he was wearing when he was found also was missing. He said an FBI investigation also found that there was no cover-up or conspiracy. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office for Middle Georgia said in a statement: "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, which handled the matter. They would have never raided his house if (the Bells) had nothing to do with it, Mr. Johnson said. The U.S. attorney for Northern Ohio declined to comment Thursday. Investigation into death of Georgia teen found in a rolled-up gym mat 8 years ago will be reopened. On Jan. 10, 2013, when Kendrick didn't return home from school, his mom, Jacquelyn Johnson, wasn't worried at first. TCR: Mitch, as a homicide veteran of the DC police department, how does this story compare to other murder cases youve handled? One student testified that they would go down into the mats to retrieve the items, according to the report. I do believe he was found with his organs intact; taken out during the first autopsy. Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead in a mat at Lowndes High School in 2013. From the day you are born white in certain zip codes you are taught a lie about our nation. School video cameras and other evidence showed Johnson entering the gym at the same time one Bell brother was on the other side of the sprawling school and another was on a school bus headed to Macon. Anderson concluded Johnson died from unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma to the right neck and soft tissues, CNN reported. You cant do an investigation with the same investigators who covered it up. Johnson. Why has this Georgia man been behind bars for 10 years awaiting trial? Kendrick Johnson, was a 17-year-old high school sophomore, found dead, inside of a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School gymnasium on January 11, 2013. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted the initial autopsy Jan. 14, 2013, and listed Johnson's cause of death as positional asphyxia with the manner accidental, Paulk wrote in his report. The agency amended the autopsy in 2016 to say the cause and manner of death were undetermined, according to the sheriff. Third autopsy results show 'non-accidental' damage to boy - WSFA You believe that lie because youre taught it by your teachers, your parents, your pastors, and then you grow up and are told you bought into that lie and you get made about that. But, they say for the first time in eight years, they have hope for justice. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the cause of Johnsons death was accidental positional asphyxia. There are issues that arise after I solve a case, issues often from surprising sources. With Mitch Credle, Jackie Johnson, Kenneth Johnson, Jenifer Lewis. Paulk wrote that because so many federal and local agencies were involved, any person who looks at this case objectively would know that it would be impossible to conceal any evidence.. Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead in a mat at Lowndes High School in 2013. Its all about equal justice under the law which clearly this case was not. When will I get my Georgia tax rebate for 2023? Kendrick Johnson Case Reopened By Sheriff's Office, Possible Confession He worked on the film for four years, going to Valdosta, Ga., without alerting officials. State and local law enforcement officials ruled the death an accidental. Kendrick Johnson Case Will Be Reinvestigated By Georgia Sheriff's - NPR ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead in a mat at Lowndes High School in 2013. In 2015, the grieving family filed a $100 million lawsuit that accused the former sheriff, the school superintendent and an FBI agent of stuffing the body inside the mat in the school gym to disguise it as an accident. JACKSONVILLE, Fla A new piece of potential evidence has been brought to authorities in the high-profile death of a Valdosta teen. He wrote that a student was alleged to have left the school about an hour before Johnson was last seen alive for a wrestling tournament. Eight years after the body of Kendrick Johnson was found in a rolled-up gym mat at a high school in Georgia, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office has announced it is reopening the case after. 2023 Cable News Network. And then COVID hit and everything became even more impossible. CREDLE:In law enforcement, its all about how they deal with the culture of the environment that they are policing. I think an outside agency should investigate everything thatoccurred and, this time, the investigators should stay down there every day until its done. Example video title will go here for this video, The Jacksonville Jaguars Add A Toughness Trait In Draft. How and why he lost his life remains. On January 10, 2013, Kendrick Johnson, a Black 17-year-old junior at the Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga., didnt return home from school. The sheriff said verifying the voice and authenticating the recording is doable, and they have equipment that will help. Did you know Birmingham was home to the largest black Caribbean population in the UK? Undeterred, Johnsons father and Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk wrote a letter to the Justice Department in 2019 requesting documents related to the case. KJ Johnson is everybody's child.". But what-about-ism is propaganda and Kendrick was a victim of that for eight years down there. The report addresses a number of what Paulk calls "rumors and accusations," including claims of a cover-up.