Social Justice
New autopsy finds Kendrick Johnson’s death was not accidental, says family
Kendrick Johnson was found dead, rolled up in his high school’s wrestling mat in January in what authorities said was accidental.
An independent autopsy conducted at the request of Kendrick Johnson‘s family concluded the Georgia teen died from “unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma,” challenging the findings of state investigators.
The new findings directly conflict with an autopsy by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which determined Johnson died from positional asphyxia. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office ruled the death an accident.
Johnson’s family has long disputed that conclusion. They point to injuries visible in postmortem photographs and what they describe as inconsistencies in the official investigation.
Kendrick Johnson Found Dead Inside Wrestling Mat
Johnson, a 17-year-old student-athlete, was found dead in January 2013 at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. He was discovered headfirst inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the school’s gym.
His death quickly drew national attention and sparked questions from family members and supporters about how he died.
Authorities Ruled Death Accidental
Investigators said Johnson was attempting to retrieve a shoe that had fallen between the wrestling mats. Authorities alleged he slipped into the narrow opening while reaching for the shoe and became trapped.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation concluded Johnson died from positional asphyxia after becoming lodged upside down inside the mat. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office classified the death as accidental.
Family Seeks Federal Review
According to CNN, family attorney Chevene King sent the independent autopsy report to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Georgia’s Middle District and the Lowndes County coroner for review.
A spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the agency reviewed the independent findings and continues to stand by its original conclusions.
U.S. Attorney Michael Moore has reviewed the case but has not opened a formal investigation.
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