Kendrick Johnson death investigation remains open as family releases new photo they say purportedly shows his body being dragged

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The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office said that as of April 20, 2026, the case of Kendrick Johnson’s death remains open.

The update follows renewed public interest after the Johnson family released a photo they say purportedly shows Kendrick’s body being dragged inside Lowndes County High School after hours.

Sheriff Confirms Case Status and Reward

The sheriff’s office did not acknowledge the Johnson’s new photo release but did reaffirm that the case remains active.

Officials also said the $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction still stands, according to a public statement on Facebook.

The KENDRICK JOHNSON case remains ACTIVE with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

If anyone has any information, come to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, 120 Prison Farm Road or if you reside in another jurisdiction–go to your local law enforcement agency to make a statement in reference to this case.

Sheriff Ashley Paulk reopened the case in 2021 after receiving 17 boxes of evidence from federal investigators. However, he later said the evidence did not show foul play.

Family Releases Alleged New Image

On April 16, the Johnson family released a photo on social media saying the image was allegedly provided by a former Lowndes County Schools IT employee. They also said a preliminary third‑party analysis found the photo “not likely to be AI‑generated or a deepfake.” The family said they will continue to investigate the image’s authenticity and is urging anyone with information to come forward.

Source: Kendrick Johnson’s parents

Longstanding Dispute Over Cause of Death

Kendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead inside a rolled‑up gym mat at Lowndes High School in 2013. Investigators initially ruled the death accidental. The family has long disputed that conclusion and continues to allege a cover‑up.

A second autopsy found blunt force trauma, which fueled further questions. Officials closed the case in 2017 and reopened it in 2021.

Ongoing Legal Battles

The Johnson family has filed several lawsuits over the years. The most recent filing is a $10 billion lawsuit the Johnsons filed in March accusing several judges in the Northern District of Georgia of joining a long‑running conspiracy to hide the truth about their son’s 2013 death, according to the complaint. The suit followed after the Johnson’s $1 billion lawsuit against Georgia agencies was dismissed.

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