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]

Did this same camera that saw Kendrick heading for the mats capture when he was found, the unrolling of the mat, moving of it and more?

 

[Ranch]

So are you saying it is a fact that LE placed the shoes tucked up behind his legs to one side in the mat to take this picture? Why? They would be going for a picture as he was found if anything and where the shoes were. Or that the coach or student did it? Why? Take shoes from down near his head/arms (the shoes he allegedly was going to retrieve and from the other end) and move them from his body to the feet end and tuck them there? Why? That makes no sense to me.

Those shoes are the ones he was wearing when in went into the gym and not the ones he was trying to retrieve.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Was there any evidence found that the FBI agents sons were responsible for Kendricks death? I've seen some alibi evidence for the one son who had been in a fight with Kendrick years before but I haven't heard of any evidence that implicates him.

I honestly don't know. I also don't know more detail than I gave. It seems to be the case in this case so to speak. It seems to indicate there were reasons and there were things found, they had enough for a warrant after all, it seems to indicate that, but perhaps they just never had enough to charge. I mean an FBI agent's home is going to be searched without him ensuring it is a warrant legally issued for good cause? I doubt it.

I'm not really saying anything other than that was said in an article, it gives NO further explanation nor have I see it even mentioned by these LE quotes or articles. I think it was in the Crime Online one if I recall correctly...

I haven't read it but is this addressed in the synopsis?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Those shoes are the ones he was wearing when in went into the gym and not the ones he was trying to retrieve.

And all four were found and none of them on the end his head was. One pair on his feet and the other pair separately outside the mat all together. You are talking about two shoes he was wearing and two he was trying to retrieve right? Then why were none of those FOUR found where he was trying to retrieve them but in the WRONG place all together? Capitals are to emphasize my point, not directed at you.

 

[Ranch]

And all four were found and none of them on the end his head was. One pair on his feet and the other pair separately outside the mat all together. You are talking about two shoes he was wearing and two he was trying to retrieve right? Then why were none of those FOUR found where he was trying to retrieve them but in the WRONG place all together? Capitals are to emphasize my point, not directed at you.

The shoes where moved when the coach moved the mats.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I just love when police departments investigate themselves.

"Hey guys. Did we do any cover-up or shitty investigating?" "Nope we sure didn't!" "Well alright then!"

Ya'll, I'm not even convinced there was foul play. But at least let an outside agency investigate.

 

[Ranch]

I honestly don't know. I also don't know more detail than I gave. It seems to be the case in this case so to speak. It seems to indicate there were reasons and there were things found, they had enough for a warrant after all, it seems to indicate that, but perhaps they just never had enough to charge. I mean an FBI agent's home is going to be searched without him ensuring it is a warrant legally issued for good cause? I doubt it.

I'm not really saying anything other than that was said in an article, it gives NO further explanation nor have I see it even mentioned by these LE quotes or articles. I think it was in the Crime Online one if I recall correctly...

I haven't read it but is this addressed in the synopsis?

The probably cause for the warrant does not mean there was incriminating evidence found during the search. I think the warrant was issued on the basis of false claims that BB and Kendrick had a problem with each other.

Paulk dispelled some alleged rumors regarding tensions between Johnson and a classmate. The two allegedly got into an altercation on a bus trip before a football game in 2011 and both were told they could not ride the bus back home.

"Testimony by other students stated that this fight did not appear to cause any animosity between the two; in fact, they later did a class project together," Paulk said.

Kendrick Johnson: Sheriff says investigation into Georgia high school athlete's death a 'witch hunt'

'WITCH HUNT': Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk released a synopsis of the case file of 17-year-old Lowndes County High School student Kendrick Johnson’s death. His body was found inside an upright wrestling mat in January 2013.

www.fox5atlanta.com

 

[Ranch]

In the synopsis, Paulk drew attention to the "witch hunt" that ensured after the FBI told the U.S. Department of Justice they found no evidence of criminal activity.

"I am quite sure that there will still be a contingent that will believe there was foul play," Paulk states in the document. "I encourage everyone to study ALL the evidence in this file before forming an opinion."

Kendrick Johnson: Sheriff says investigation into Georgia high school athlete's death a 'witch hunt'

'WITCH HUNT': Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk released a synopsis of the case file of 17-year-old Lowndes County High School student Kendrick Johnson’s death. His body was found inside an upright wrestling mat in January 2013.

www.fox5atlanta.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

The shoes where moved when the coach moved the mats.

That could very well be but I have yet to see that nor which ones nor any detail at all about them being moved.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I just love when police departments investigate themselves.

"Hey guys. Did we do any cover-up or shitty investigating?" "Nope we sure didn't!" "Well alright then!"

Ya'll, I'm not even convinced there was foul play. But at least let an outside agency investigate.

That's exactly it or a big part of it! With all of the doubts and questions, they keep doing things like that which just creates more doubt and doesn't answer that very type of question, WHY are you investigating yourself in such circumstances?

I don't know that there is one bit of foul play but they in no way have evidence to conclude what they have concluded. Not that I have seen yet anyhow. Two other autopsies as well...

 

[GrandmaBear]

There is no comparison at all in the cases but it is like Arbery. His mother tried to get attention and make some noise, faint at first, and they sent it to another of their "own" basically, Barnhill, who came back more or less confirming D.A. Jackie Johnson's decision and giving more "reasonable" reason for the decision... So when pushed they had one of theirs review the decision of another of theirs... And look what happened in that case! And if that video had not come out, they would have kept sweeping it back under the rug... TWO D.A.s did that.

They are both Georgia, is this a "thing" in this area? Investigating oneself? I'd like to see all video in that school of at least two days, at least around and in the gym area. Have they provided any? Surely it was preserved. This was the death of a child.

 

[Ranch]

That could very well be but I have yet to see that nor which ones nor any detail at all about them being moved.

Do you think the scene was staged or manipulated? I haven't seen anything to suggest that happened but maybe I miss something.

 

[Ranch]

There is no comparison at all in the cases but it is like Arbery. His mother tried to get attention and make some noise, faint at first, and they sent it to another of their "own" basically, Barnhill, who came back more or less confirming D.A. Jackie Johnson's decision and giving more "reasonable" reason for the decision... So when pushed they had one of theirs review the decision of another of theirs... And look what happened in that case! And if that video had not come out, they would have kept sweeping it back under the rug... TWO D.A.s did that.

They are both Georgia, is this a "thing" in this area? Investigating oneself? I'd like to see all video in that school of at least two days, at least around and in the gym area. Have they provided any? Surely it was preserved. This was the death of a child.

I'm satisfied with the results from the DOJ/FBI investigation in this case. No evidence of criminal activity.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Do you think the scene was staged or manipulated? I haven't seen anything to suggest that happened but maybe I miss something.

I honestly don't know. I'm not saying it was or wasn't and I'm not saying even that this couldn't have been an accident. But I see nothing but questions, mess-ups and absolutely no evidence nor facts to support their conclusion and rather, I see just the opposite, that the facts that are known don't support it.

It isn't like I'm looking for it or want to be right. I don't know the kid, am not from the state, don't know the LE and have no personal stake in it.

I'm just calling it like I see it. They may not have anything to charge anyone on, or enough, but they also don't have anything or enough to call this an accident imo. And two autopsies that found the first wrong, I think that is a bit significant as are some other things. The warrant on the agent's home. The shoes...

Why to this day are there still questions like that and more of them even... How much video is there of that area at all parts of the day...? Release it. Why not.

But again, I haven't read that 16 page finding yet so maybe some of my many questions are answered in it.

I'd much rather believe this was an accident than that someone did this to him, believe me. I just can't buy it on what I see thus far though.

 

[Guess Who]

I've read that students had to pay for lockers, but regardless of whether that's true, I can see where stashing them there might have been just simply more convenient.

That makes no sense to me, but teens aren't noted for making sense

 

[Guess Who]

I just love when police departments investigate themselves.

"Hey guys. Did we do any cover-up or shitty investigating?" "Nope we sure didn't!" "Well alright then!"

Ya'll, I'm not even convinced there was foul play. But at least let an outside agency investigate.

exactly!

 

[Ranch]

Unless some new evidence comes out I think that having another federal investigation would be a waste of taxpayer money.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The probably cause for the warrant does not mean there was incriminating evidence found during the search. I think the warrant was issued on the basis of false claims that BB and Kendrick had a problem with each other.

Kendrick Johnson: Sheriff says investigation into Georgia high school athlete's death a 'witch hunt'

'WITCH HUNT': Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk released a synopsis of the case file of 17-year-old Lowndes County High School student Kendrick Johnson’s death. His body was found inside an upright wrestling mat in January 2013.

www.fox5atlanta.com

Then why did the agent resign? I guess it just shows the questions that are still rampant. I'm not arguing, just saying there is so much.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm satisfied with the results from the DOJ/FBI investigation in this case. No evidence of criminal activity.

And I respect your opinion on that. I'm not there. If there is one thing I need to do, it is to go read that synopsis. I will say though before I get a chance to that if the things I have posed aren't answered then I am still on my page and opinion as well.

You have provided a lot of info and that I truly appreciate. Haven't been able to go hunting for it. I try to return the favor when I have time and post links when I see something on a case. Recently is not one of those times for me.

 

[Ranch]

Then why did the agent resign? I guess it just shows the questions that are still rampant. I'm not arguing, just saying there is so much.

I've read that he resigned with no explanation and I've also read that he retired. Either way I haven't seen any evidence that the FBI agent committed any criminal acts.