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

 

[GrandmaBear]

how would he have done that stuck like that? that makes no sense to me at all.

He wouldn't imo. It isn't logical at all. People can view things differently in all cases I guess but I think it is entirely obvious in no way did the victim get his white shoes into that position in the mat next to his body, much less together that way.

 

[Ranch]

Are these the images that you remember?

Kendrick was found headfirst in the vertical rolled up mat. He was wearing those white shoes when he went in. While struggling to get out he kicked off those white shoes and gravity caused them to end up near his knees.

 

[kdg411]

Kendrick was found headfirst in the vertical rolled up mat. He was wearing those white shoes when he went in. While struggling to get out he kicked off those white shoes and gravity caused them to end up near his knees.

Do you know if it has ever been determined who's blood was next to his other shoe?

 

[Regina]

While maybe being able to believe he took them off, he did not put them or get them into the position they are in. Why when he was stuck would he be "taking" his shoes off?

I'm seriously asking?

Well, it's a question that I think you could answer at least as well as I could. (Couldn't you? lol)
Of course, it's an aspect that we can only speculate about, but while I think it's possible that he may have been trying to draw attention, the autopsy report states that his belt was unbuckled, jeans unbuttoned and unzipped which leads me to believe he was trying to undress. You know, it would have been hot in there. There's a video on YouTube where a guy goes into a mat for seconds, comes out a bit rattled (my impression) and the thing that got him the most was how hot it was and as I recall, the guy was wearing a t-shirt. I don't know if you've read the autopsy report, but Kendrick was wearing a lot of clothes. Besides his pants, he was also wearing shorts and two other shirts, and so the idea that he'd try to get out of his clothes makes sense to me.

As far as the shoes being laced, if they are, I don't see where that means anything. My grandkids I don't think ever unlaced a pair of shoes in their lives on taking them off nor probably did my children, even with sports. Kids pull them off with their heel, always. To be fair, I do it too quite often. This is beyond common.

Well, the Adidas were unlaced, and so if I had to bet on whether Kendrick normally pulled shoes off using his heel, I'd bet no.

I enjoy friendly debate and I guess we are doing that so on that note, I will ask how can you look at that picture and think the shoes just came to rest there by activities of the victim? To me you can only think that if you are trying to make it fit the LE determination and saying "well it's possible" even if it is not in the least bit likely. To me the very first glance at that pictures says oh no, no way did he do that himself. You don't see that? To me it's obvious. And I guess that is why the case had and still has so much controversy when it is looked at, there is a reason for it.

First, why are you guessing whether what we're doing is friendly? Indeed, it's been friendly from where I sit!

As to your question, the way I'll answer is to say that when I see that photo, I can't come to a conclusion because I don't think it carries enough weight...

 

[Guess Who]

Kendrick was found headfirst in the vertical rolled up mat. He was wearing those white shoes when he went in. While struggling to get out he kicked off those white shoes and gravity caused them to end up near his knees.

that could make sense, but I would need to know if the shoes were still tied or not. It appears they are in that pick, but I can't say for sure because it gets too grainy when I zoom in enough. I have no idea if it was accidental or not, but I sure know that I would need far more info than it seems they sought at the time to write it off so fast. This kid deserved at least an investigation into it and these shoes seem to be a very big flag that should have signaled one by themselves.

 

[Ranch]

Do you know if it has ever been determined who's blood was next to his other shoe?

It's been years since I followed this case so I don't remember.

 

[noZme]

1 hour ago
A Georgia sheriff has concluded there was no evidence of foul play in the 2013 death of a Georgia teenager whose body was found inside a rolled-up gym mat at his high school.

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia sheriff who last year reopened an investigation into the 2013 death of a teenager found inside a rolled-up gym mat at school concluded there was no evidence of foul play after reviewing voluminous evidence collected by federal investigators.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk, who wasn't in office when Johnson's death was first investigated, agreed to take a new look last March after the teenager's parents helped him obtain the Department of Justice's case file on the death. Evidence in the file filled 17 boxes.

In a written report released Wednesday, Paulk said all of the physical evidence, interviews and grand jury testimony "does not produce anything to prove any criminal act by anyone that would have resulted in the death of Kendrick Johnson.”

The sheriff also bluntly dismissed allegations of a cover-up, saying: “Any person who looks at this case objectively would know that it would be impossible to conceal any evidence due to the involvement of so many agencies and investigators.”

https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-wor...ens-gym-mat-death/***BNUTUNBGR5CHC6IOKYWHJTM/

 

[Guess Who]

1 hour ago
A Georgia sheriff has concluded there was no evidence of foul play in the 2013 death of a Georgia teenager whose body was found inside a rolled-up gym mat at his high school.

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia sheriff who last year reopened an investigation into the 2013 death of a teenager found inside a rolled-up gym mat at school concluded there was no evidence of foul play after reviewing voluminous evidence collected by federal investigators.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk, who wasn't in office when Johnson's death was first investigated, agreed to take a new look last March after the teenager's parents helped him obtain the Department of Justice's case file on the death. Evidence in the file filled 17 boxes.

In a written report released Wednesday, Paulk said all of the physical evidence, interviews and grand jury testimony "does not produce anything to prove any criminal act by anyone that would have resulted in the death of Kendrick Johnson.”

The sheriff also bluntly dismissed allegations of a cover-up, saying: “Any person who looks at this case objectively would know that it would be impossible to conceal any evidence due to the involvement of so many agencies and investigators.”

https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-wor...ens-gym-mat-death/***BNUTUNBGR5CHC6IOKYWHJTM/

As long as it got a proper investigation, I am fine with their findings. I just knew this kid deserved this to be looked into, whatever outcome they came up with.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Your Post: Well, it's a question that I think you could answer at least as well as I could. (Couldn't you? lol)
Of course, it's an aspect that we can only speculate about, but while I think it's possible that he may have been trying to draw attention, the autopsy report states that his belt was unbuckled, jeans unbuttoned and unzipped which leads me to believe he was trying to undress. You know, it would have been hot in there. There's a video on YouTube where a guy goes into a mat for seconds, comes out a bit rattled (my impression) and the thing that got him the most was how hot it was and as I recall, the guy was wearing a t-shirt. I don't know if you've read the autopsy report, but Kendrick was wearing a lot of clothes. Besides his pants, he was also wearing shorts and two other shirts, and so the idea that he'd try to get out of his clothes makes sense to me.
*************************
Some of that might make sense or could make sense as for removing clothes so I can see some logic in some of the thoughts. Which brings me back to trying to recall how his arms were positioned when found and how much room he had. That would definitely be a key factor. Even if he kicked off or pulled off his shoes with this feet, I still don't see them ending up positioned that way. They are tucked behind and above his body/leg. How does that happen?

Hot or not though, the priority human response would be to try to 1) be able to breathe, did he have room and air to breathe in his head area and if not, that is where you would be panicking rather than unzipping pants, etc.?; and 2) get out. I can see possibly trying to kick shoes out to get attention (not convinced) but still don't see them coming to rest that way. This was on end wasn't it, with head down first to the floor I imagine? Was it straight up and down or angled, resting one end on a bleacher or something?

If I went head first into a standing rolled mat, my arms are going stretched out in front of me. No? How do you get those arms back down to unzip your jeans without breaking your arms?

There is a lot wrong here. Imo. These thoughts aren't all new to me, been through the case in the past, fresh again now, I'm already seeing the same things and coming to the same conclusion although not all do I remember freshly.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Your Post: Well, the Adidas were unlaced, and so if I had to bet on whether Kendrick normally pulled shoes off using his heel, I'd bet no. @Regina
****************************

I tagged you since I realized by copying and pasting parts of your post, it was not replying to you.

Different shoes maybe we were talking about. Anyhow, the white ones in the mat he couldn't have laced or unlaced as his hands wouldn't have reached, they would have to be how they were when he went in. That is if he got them into that position himself which I highly doubt. I'm not too focused or worried about unlaced or not at the moment or whether it means anything and in fact I'm not even sure how much one can tell from the pics about that. A kid might unlace or lace his sports shoes but never his everyday pair or never either or always both. I don't think it would tell much.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Your Post: First, why are you guessing whether what we're doing is friendly? Indeed, it's been friendly from where I sit! @Regina

As to your question, the way I'll answer is to say that when I see that photo, I can't come to a conclusion because I don't think it carries enough weight...

**********************

I meant up until then we were all remarking maybe not with certain positions or anything and about the time of that post, I realized we were in a friendly debate and not just exploring the case facts again. That I'd formed an opinion as had you. I didn't mean it wasn't friendly or hadn't been or I was guessing about that lol. I meant more like "I guess we have now entered into a friendly debate" meaning it had only just become a debate at all.

Well, we clearly don't see the photo the same then because I can't come up with a scenario where the shoes get where they are whatever the victims' activities and shoes without feet in them don't move. Hands could move them or place them but not his hands.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Kendrick was found headfirst in the vertical rolled up mat. He was wearing those white shoes when he went in. While struggling to get out he kicked off those white shoes and gravity caused them to end up near his knees.

And tucked behind that leg as well?

 

[Guess Who]

Your Post: Well, the Adidas were unlaced, and so if I had to bet on whether Kendrick normally pulled shoes off using his heel, I'd bet no. @Regina
****************************

I tagged you since I realized by copying and pasting parts of your post, it was not replying to you.

Different shoes maybe we were talking about. Anyhow, the white ones in the mat he couldn't have laced or unlaced as his hands wouldn't have reached, they would have to be how they were when he went in. That is if he got them into that position himself which I highly doubt. I'm not too focused or worried about unlaced or not at the moment or whether it means anything and in fact I'm not even sure how much one can tell from the pics about that. A kid might unlace or lace his sports shoes but never his everyday pair or never either or always both. I don't think it would tell much.

and the shoes on top (white/orange ones) are not Adidas. That is a Nike Swoop logo. Adidas logo has no swoop.

 

[Guess Who]

adidas logo

Nike logo

 

[Guess Who]

No Adidas shoe would be allowed to have any design near resembling a Nike logo

 

[GrandmaBear]

that could make sense, but I would need to know if the shoes were still tied or not. It appears they are in that pick, but I can't say for sure because it gets too grainy when I zoom in enough. I have no idea if it was accidental or not, but I sure know that I would need far more info than it seems they sought at the time to write it off so fast. This kid deserved at least an investigation into it and these shoes seem to be a very big flag that should have signaled one by themselves.

I'm not sure I'm following what it would mean as to whether they were tied or not? I'm assuming you mean the white shoes?

One thing maybe most of us can agree on is what you said, this deserved a far better investigation. I think all suicides, accidents, and unexpected deaths (especially of youth) need a pretty full investigation. I realize there are budgets, all areas do not have experienced coroners, etc. but too many families (and people like us as well) have questions that remain if something is highly unusual, not attempted to be satisfactorily explained and investigated, etc.

This was most definitely unusual with things that don't seem to add up. It should have been a far more thorough investigation. Here it is today with far bigger questions than the usual little lingering doubts that remain in any case.

 

[Ranch]

And tucked behind that leg as well?

I don't see that.

 

[GrandmaBear]

As long as it got a proper investigation, I am fine with their findings. I just knew this kid deserved this to be looked into, whatever outcome they came up with.

Just a couple of hours from where the death of Arbery and that shoddy investigation/cover up took place in Georgia. Some bad ones in office there. Not saying ti happened here but am saying that it does happen and in a nearby area of Georgia.

Not saying this isn't all kosher or in a different county but I do hope that these questions are answered adequately. Maybe they were back when, I don't know, I am going to have to take time to read on it including these newer findings. I do know at that time there was nothing for me that gave a satisfactory explanation for some of these things or how they think they came to be.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't see that.

One can't see the full bottom of the shoe behind his leg (the right shoe as we look at it, but the left shoe of the pair, the one closest to his leg). It is either tucked behind his leg or his body is on top of it even. In fact it is behind BOTH legs. It's pretty clear and easy to see. How does that happen? And that both end up in such a spot?

 

[Guess Who]

THIS is an Adidas shoe. That stitching is their logo.