KENDRICK JOHNSON: Death of teen at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA - 2013 - murder or accidental?

Johnson’s family has long-suspected the teen was killed by classmates and theorized that their parents conspired with school and law enforcement officials to cover up his death. If authentic, the audio may be one of the first significant clues to emerge since the case’s reopening earlier this month by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators declined to comment on what's said in the audio but confirmed they’re now tracking down the individual who allegedly sold the tape to Johnson’s mother.

'A Burden Like Hell': New Audio May Contain Confession In Kendrick Johnson’s Mysterious Death | Oxygen Official Site

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.

www.oxygen.com

 

[Regina]

I'm not opposed to the idea there could have been shoes in there but they would have been inside the mat at his head's end. And they aren't.

Evidence of a shoe at the 'head-end' is the photo of the black shoe in and near a pool of blood. (I don't know if you've seen it, but the rim of that mat is bloodstained where it touched the floor.)
The white shoes he'd been wearing aren't situated in any way that I wouldn't expect...
The fact that the mate of the black shoe was on the gym floor in front of one of those off-white color mats causes me to suspect that- prior to discovery- it had actually been on the top of one of those mats before they were pulled down to the floor...it causes me to think that somehow- for some reason- he'd been able to retrieve it.

 

[Ranch]

Evidence of a shoe at the 'head-end' is the photo of the black shoe in and near a pool of blood. (I don't know if you've seen it, but the rim of that mat is bloodstained where it touched the floor.)
The white shoes he'd been wearing aren't situated in any way that I wouldn't expect...
The fact that the mate of the black shoe was on the gym floor in front of one of those off-white color mats causes me to suspect that- prior to discovery- it had actually been on the top of one of those mats before they were pulled down to the floor...it causes me to think that somehow- for some reason- he'd been able to retrieve it.

From the link I posted above.

“Imagine the coach, these kids are saying there’s a kid in there,” said Edwards. “OK, so the coach goes over and starts pulling all of the mats out. He’s determined he’s going to get to the young’un. When he flipped the mats over, a shoe and some of Kendrick’s books slid off the top of the mat. We don’t know if he retrieved one shoe and went for the second, but the one shoe and his books all landed in the same area and we have the crime scene pictures. Nothing was touched.”

 

[GrandmaBear]

Timeline of a tragedy

The DNA testing of a speck of blood on the gymnasium wall, 50 feet from where a Lowndes High School student’s body was discovered, was one of many time-consuming steps

www.valdostadailytimes.com

Thursday, Jan. 10

Following the Christmas break, school resumed on Jan. 9. On Jan. 10, Johnson disappeared from video surveillance at approximately 1:09 p.m. after he entered Lowndes High School’s old gymnasium, according to reports. Footage from the school’s motion-controlled camera depicted another student going into the gym ahead of Johnson, but he went in another direction in the gym and authorities confirmed that the student headed straight to the next class.

Thanks. This does confirm that school was just back in, that seems late to me but okay. That's answered.

The rest doesn't mean much to me because to my knowledge no video is shared. It sounds like it means the other student cut through the gym to another class or something? So he wasn't even in gym or anything just went into the gym for the sole purpose of getting his shoes at 1:09? I think I"m just going to have to wait for when I some day have more time as I'm getting more confused.

In the article disputing a lot in this case, they place the student who didn't see him or so he said near him on surveillance. And said it was known and had in the file the whole time. I also thought this was class and he was getting his shoes after gym class or something.

I'm not trying to be difficult, its just that every time I think I know something, I feel it changes. So is this saying that he came from some class say history (Kendrick I mean) and entered the gym for the sole purpose of getting his shoes?? For what? Was it the day end for him that early?

And the sole other student entered the gym to cut through to another class? It really doesn't say. But so the gym was empty but for Kendrick and then someone passing through?

Truly sorry. I'm going to have to look harder and deeper some other time I think.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Because I'm just not getting it.

 

[Regina]

Timeline of a tragedy

The DNA testing of a speck of blood on the gymnasium wall, 50 feet from where a Lowndes High School student’s body was discovered, was one of many time-consuming steps

www.valdostadailytimes.com

Thursday, Jan. 10

Following the Christmas break, school resumed on Jan. 9. On Jan. 10, Johnson disappeared from video surveillance at approximately 1:09 p.m. after he entered Lowndes High School’s old gymnasium, according to reports. Footage from the school’s motion-controlled camera depicted another student going into the gym ahead of Johnson, but he went in another direction in the gym and authorities confirmed that the student headed straight to the next class.

Wow, what a well-written article, impressively comprehensive, informative... I only wish I'd read it before I posted!
Thanks so much for finding and sharing that!

 

[Ranch]

FBI video analysis: Brian Bell not near Kendrick Johnson - Valdosta Today

Share with friends VALDOSTA – In a partially redacted analysis report containing previously unreleased photographs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has concluded former Lowndes High student Brian Bell and another student unrelated to Bell were at another part of the campus when Kendrick...

valdostatoday.com

The analysis concluded “the victim (Kendrick Johnson) and both persons of interest were in different areas of the LHS campus during the time in question” and the two persons of interest “were not in the general vicinity of the old gym where Johnson was last seen,” the report stated.

 

[Ranch]

Kendrick’s Final Walk

A review of Lowndes High School video footage shows more than the moments Kendrick Johnson entered the old gymnasium where his body was discovered Jan. 11 in a rolled wrestling

www.valdostadailytimes.com

No camera shows footage of Kendrick leaving the old gym through the rear entrance or the two doorways that lead into the hall. Kendrick’s next class was weight training in the school’s field house, but he was marked absent during fourth block on Jan. 10 in the attendance records included in the case file.

 

[Ranch]

New federal KJ suit filed

VALDOSTA — The parents of a Lowndes High School student who died in 2013 have filed another lawsuit in federal court alleging their son's death was due to foul play.

www.valdostadailytimes.com

The Johnson family insists their son died of foul play and there was a conspiracy to cover up the details of his death. They have filed multiple lawsuits against dozens of defendants through the years, winning none of them.

In January 2015, a federal lawsuit was filed seeking $100 million from more than 40 defendants, but the Johnsons later withdrew the case. In 2017, the family was ordered by the court to pay the defendants almost $300,000 in legal fees.

"This matter has been litigated and adjudicated against the Johnsons several times," said Jim Elliot, county attorney. "We still haven't even seen the $300,000 (in legal fees) they were ordered to pay."

 

[noZme]

Sheriff offers $500K of own money for information in Valdosta teen’s death​

After Kendrick Johnson’s family called Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk a liar last week when he said he found no foul play in the 17-year-old’s death, Paulk put up $500,000 of his own money for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The case captivated the small South Georgia community, so when Paulk returned for his sixth term as sheriff, he reopened the case.

Paulk wasn’t in the job when Johnson died.

“A lot of people said that they felt like it needed looking into ‘cause there were a lot of questions unanswered,” he said last week. “I just wanted to know the truth — the public needed to know the truth, so I tried to break it down into a very simple format where people could understand. I tried to address all the rumors I’d heard.”

After 14 months of poring over 17 boxes of investigative files from the FBI, Paulk released a 16-page report addressing specific rumors or questions about the case.

Still, the Johnsons were not convinced.

“After the release of my synopsis of the federal files on the Kendrick Johnson case, his parents have called me a liar and continue to state that Kendrick was murdered,” he wrote. “Because of these statements, I am personally — with my own funds — offering a reward of one-half million dollars ... to anyone who comes forward with information that results in the arrest and conviction of a person for the alleged murder of Kendrick Johnson at Lowndes County High School.”

Paulk urged anyone, including the Johnson family, to add to the reward if they desired. The Johnsons did not return a request for comment Monday.

Georgia sheriff offers $500K reward for new information in 2013 death of teen found in gym mat

In a 16-page report last week, the sheriff announced he found no foul play in the 2013 death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson. In response, the teen's family called him a liar. Now, the sheriff is offering his own money for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.

www.ajc.com

 

[Ranch]

I know that Kendrick's family has suffered a great loss but they need to stop calling people liar's and murderers without any evidence to support those claims.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Sheriff offers $500K of own money for information in Valdosta teen’s death​

After Kendrick Johnson’s family called Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk a liar last week when he said he found no foul play in the 17-year-old’s death, Paulk put up $500,000 of his own money for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The case captivated the small South Georgia community, so when Paulk returned for his sixth term as sheriff, he reopened the case.

Paulk wasn’t in the job when Johnson died.

“A lot of people said that they felt like it needed looking into ‘cause there were a lot of questions unanswered,” he said last week. “I just wanted to know the truth — the public needed to know the truth, so I tried to break it down into a very simple format where people could understand. I tried to address all the rumors I’d heard.”

After 14 months of poring over 17 boxes of investigative files from the FBI, Paulk released a 16-page report addressing specific rumors or questions about the case.

Still, the Johnsons were not convinced.

“After the release of my synopsis of the federal files on the Kendrick Johnson case, his parents have called me a liar and continue to state that Kendrick was murdered,” he wrote. “Because of these statements, I am personally — with my own funds — offering a reward of one-half million dollars ... to anyone who comes forward with information that results in the arrest and conviction of a person for the alleged murder of Kendrick Johnson at Lowndes County High School.”

Paulk urged anyone, including the Johnson family, to add to the reward if they desired. The Johnsons did not return a request for comment Monday.

Georgia sheriff offers $500K reward for new information in 2013 death of teen found in gym mat

In a 16-page report last week, the sheriff announced he found no foul play in the 2013 death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson. In response, the teen's family called him a liar. Now, the sheriff is offering his own money for any information leading to an arrest and conviction.

www.ajc.com

Well, I'm not going to weigh in about the family because I don't know. It saddens me they have to pay the attorney fees, it seems wrong but I guess if people had to defend against suits then I can understand to a point. I just don't know enough of their claims and what they have used for facts to back them up or how far they have went with lawsuits to have an opinion on that. So I'm not commenting on the family other than on the points of the case...

And that is that I can totally understand why a family looks at this case the way they do or feels the way they do. I haven't yet been convinced of anything to speak of. It isn't like their son died in a car accident and it was somewhat easy to be sure that is what happened. Even if there weren't questions with the investigation, this was a highly unusual way to die, and at school no less...

I don't like to see a family who has lost someone to be come down on and I feel there is a hint/element of that in the article. It is great of the sheriff to put up half of a million dollars of his personal money but honestly, I expected a lot more from that synopsis and didn't even feel it provided a little and all it did was cause more questions. If I feel that way, I can only imagine how the family feels. I also find the words putting it into a "very simple format" for people to understand a choice of words that could be taken in more than one way... But I am not going to dwell on that as who knows.

The reward is I guess meant nicely(?) but pretty doubtful to bring fruit 8 to 9 years after the death. There is just something about the tone of the entire thing there that seems to come down on the parents...

I did read the article in post 185 Regina says is so good. And it is. Very good. Best I've read. I too wish I'd read it earlier on. It is without doubt the best written one I have read and more thorough than that synopsis but it still has things in it that I found didn't quite add up or didn't fully address something, but far less than others. It did however say more than others had.

One day maybe I will comment on what in it didn't quite wash, can't delve deeply now or go into much but it went down far better than that synopsis.

I know one thing was about not calling the medical examiner as required by law. It is explained away like it is always done or all do it or some such, made light of, and all but that is the last thing they should have let happen in a case like this and it just shows what not following correct procedure caused. The shoes and the mat I know were also not matching up with something again or caused further questions but another day, no time to look back to see.

So anyhow, I don't know but I do feel sorry for his parents. Maybe if I knew more I wouldn't but I don't and I do. I hope I remember to come back and look at this one hard when more time. For now, I remain convinced of little.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Wow, what a well-written article, impressively comprehensive, informative... I only wish I'd read it before I posted!
Thanks so much for finding and sharing that!

This was a good one. Your words on it had me take the time to read it when I couldn't read everything. Best one I've seen I think.

 

[Ranch]

Well, I'm not going to weigh in about the family because I don't know. It saddens me they have to pay the attorney fees, it seems wrong but I guess if people had to defend against suits then I can understand to a point. I just don't know enough of their claims and what they have used for facts to back them up or how far they have went with lawsuits to have an opinion on that. So I'm not commenting on the family other than on the points of the case...

And that is that I can totally understand why a family looks at this case the way they do or feels the way they do. I haven't yet been convinced of anything to speak of. It isn't like their son died in a car accident and it was somewhat easy to be sure that is what happened. Even if there weren't questions with the investigation, this was a highly unusual way to die, and at school no less...

I don't like to see a family who has lost someone to be come down on and I feel there is a hint/element of that in the article. It is great of the sheriff to put up half of a million dollars of his personal money but honestly, I expected a lot more from that synopsis and didn't even feel it provided a little and all it did was cause more questions. If I feel that way, I can only imagine how the family feels. I also find the words putting it into a "very simple format" for people to understand a choice of words that could be taken in more than one way... But I am not going to dwell on that as who knows.

The reward is I guess meant nicely(?) but pretty doubtful to bring fruit 8 to 9 years after the death. There is just something about the tone of the entire thing there that seems to come down on the parents...

I did read the article in post 185 Regina says is so good. And it is. Very good. Best I've read. I too wish I'd read it earlier on. It is without doubt the best written one I have read and more thorough than that synopsis but it still has things in it that I found didn't quite add up or didn't fully address something, but far less than others. It did however say more than others had.

One day maybe I will comment on what in it didn't quite wash, can't delve deeply now or go into much but it went down far better than that synopsis.

I know one thing was about not calling the medical examiner as required by law. It is explained away like it is always done or all do it or some such, made light of, and all but that is the last thing they should have let happen in a case like this and it just shows what not following correct procedure caused. The shoes and the mat I know were also not matching up with something again or caused further questions but another day, no time to look back to see.

So anyhow, I don't know but I do feel sorry for his parents. Maybe if I knew more I wouldn't but I don't and I do. I hope I remember to come back and look at this one hard when more time. For now, I remain convinced of little.

Do you think I'm being too hard on Kendrick's family?

 

[GrandmaBear]

From the link I posted above.

“Imagine the coach, these kids are saying there’s a kid in there,” said Edwards. “OK, so the coach goes over and starts pulling all of the mats out. He’s determined he’s going to get to the young’un. When he flipped the mats over, a shoe and some of Kendrick’s books slid off the top of the mat. We don’t know if he retrieved one shoe and went for the second, but the one shoe and his books all landed in the same area and we have the crime scene pictures. Nothing was touched.”

This is one of the things that is problematic for me... However, it at least addresses it somewhat or at least partially as opposed to many articles.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Do you think I'm being too hard on Kendrick's family?

No, I was typing that long before you ever commented. Look at the length of my post lol. Been thinking about it and working on it.
I don't know. I really don't know enough about if the family is too overboard about this or not or if they sued beyond what most would, etc. My post had absolutely nothing to do with your remark. I saw that once I posted.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Been playing catch up. Read a post or two and then the sheriff's remarks and then spent time on my post to that and then was going back and reading what I missed. And yes, if they are calling individuals murderers and such, that's pretty strong if they did that. I don't know enough and haven't read enough about that to comment or feel informed.

 

[Ranch]

No, I was typing that long before you ever commented. Look at the length of my post lol. Been thinking about it and working on it.
I don't know. I really don't know enough about if the family is too overboard about this or not or if they sued beyond what most would, etc. My post had absolutely nothing to do with your remark. I saw that once I posted.

The reason why I asked is from reading this comment you made.

I don't like to see a family who has lost someone to be come down on and I feel there is a hint/element of that in the article

I think the sheriff is more than justified in saying what he did seeing that he was called a liar by the family. That's why I came down on them.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The reason why I asked is from reading this comment you made.



I think the sheriff is more than justified in saying what he did seeing that he was called a liar by the family. That's why I came down on them.

I see how you took it but it wasn't your remark I was addressing, again hadn't seen it. I had just read the thing about the $300,000 the family owed people for attorney fees, that they hadn't paid a cent, then the sheriff's remarks. So I started an answer which was on my screen that I came back to as I did other things around here. So I was commenting on those two things but I also thought I tried to make clear I really don't know enough to say. And even with the sheriff that I thought there may be a hint, hard to know how to take the reward, etc... Again, hadn't seen your remark.

And then after saying I really don't know I more wanted to say I understand them not being satisfied yet with the answers. That I know more about that part of things to comment on. And I feel bad for their loss. But maybe they have oversued or called people murderers, I don't know again is my point.

So nope, not at you at all and not even really at the sheriff, just pondering how he meant it all. Etc.

I may just agree with you, I don't know. Don't know enough at the moment about the family and their actions. Mostly been reading the events and explanations, etc.

 

[noZme]

This is somewhat local to me & I have followed since it happened. Area newspapers & tv covered the story extensively all along. I believe Kendrick was alone in the gym & died in a tragic accident.

Attorney Ben Crump has been on the case since early on & supported the accusations against the Bell brothers, the multiple lawsuits & the Johnsons' year-long protest on the courthouse sidewalk. If you are not familiar with Crump, the internet should be helpful as he is now a national figure.

For many reasons, some very gruesome, I think the parents just cannot leave this alone. They need someone to blame for their devastating loss.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is somewhat local to me & I have followed since it happened. Area newspapers & tv covered the story extensively all along. I believe Kendrick was alone in the gym & died in a tragic accident.

Attorney Ben Crump has been on the case since early on & supported the accusations against the Bell brothers, the multiple lawsuits & the Johnsons' year-long protest on the courthouse sidewalk. If you are not familiar with Crump, the internet should be helpful as he is now a national figure.

For many reasons, some very gruesome, I think the parents just cannot leave this alone. They need someone to blame for their devastating loss.

It is good to know this.

You know, even knowing that, for me it is the things that don't add up. It isn't that I think the Bells did it, it isn't that I think the family is right and it isn't that I think anyone is corrupt because I don't know any of those things. It's the case, the details, the facts or lack of them just don't come together for me or add up. I don't know a thing about the family other than what is said here or in links here that I have read and I haven't read all. They could be saints or they could be felons, I have no idea but I can see how they don't accept the findings because I have trouble with them.

I think if they called the cause of death or maybe I mean manner of death undetermined, I'd feel it was at least accurate then. They say they don't have enough to charge anyone but I don't see where they have enough to say this was an accident and be certain of that either beyond a doubt. If I heard them say you know, we just don't know what happened folks and we may never know and they put the cause down like that, I think it would be far more accurate. In fact, now I have myself after saying that wondering why they don't/didn't... The autopsies differ and nothing is proven as to what exactly happened either...