Was Kendrick Johnson’s death a tragic accident or a murder cover-up?
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| 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson |
Kendrick Johnson was a 17-year-old student and athlete at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA. He had just returned to school from Christmas break and was planning to attend a basketball game the day he died, January 10, 2013.
Around 9:30 p.m., Kendrick’s mother, Jackie began to worry when Kendrick did not arrive home. She knew he was planning to attend the basketball game after school, but he was never this late without letting her know. At 12:30 a.m., she contacted the police to report him missing. She had already driven the route Kendrick would have taken between the school and his home but was unable to find him.
Around 10 a.m. the next morning, classes were going on as usual at Lowndes High School, until a group of students met in the gymnasium for class. One of the students noticed a pair of white socks sticking out from one of the rolled-up gym mats that were stored vertically in the corner. The student went to investigate further and looked down into the mat. Here, she saw the lifeless, upside-down body, of who would later be identified as Kendrick Johnson.
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| Kendrick’s lower half inside the mat |
Philip Pieplow, the school’s coach, immediately overturned the mats while a student dialed 911. As he attempted to pull the student from the mat, he realized that the boy was already deceased and there was nothing to be done to save him. When local law enforcement and medical personnel arrived at the scene, they immediately locked down the school.
Police Investigation
Police reviewed security footage from around the school, focusing especially on those recording movements in the gym. They determined that on January 10th, Kendrick attended two morning classes and then arrived at the gym at 1:09 p.m. Even though there were several cameras assigned to the gym, unfortunately, none of them were focused on the corner where Kendrick’s life ended. They do show Kendrick walking towards the corner of the gym and other students entering the gym minutes later.
Police interviewed the students seen on the video and were informed that often, students used the mats to store their belongings so that they wouldn’t have to pay for the use of a locker. Kendrick and another student shared a pair of gym shoes and would take turns wearing them. They were usually left inside the mats, which were typically turned on their side. However, over the Christmas break, the mats had been turned vertically.
After reviewing video footage and taking statements, police stated that Kendrick’s death was an accident. They believed that Kendrick climbed on top of the mats and reached down to get his shoes. When he fell into the mat, he became stuck and was unable to free himself. His death was ruled as “positional asphyxia”. Since there was no evidence to support this.
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| Jackie and Kenneth Johnson, Kendrick’s parents |
Jackie Johnson, Kendrick’s mother never believed that
Kendrick’s death was an accident, but instead a murder that was covered
up.
On May 8, 2013, a second autopsy was conducted on Kendrick by private pathologist Dr. William Anderson. He concluded that Kendrick’s death was not an accident but had been caused by a karate-like chop to the neck based on hemorrhaging found on the right side of the neck.
During this autopsy, it was discovered that Kendrick’s internal organs were missing. His body cavity was filled with newspapers. The explanation by the funeral home was that organs were “destroyed through natural process” due to the position of Kendrick’s body when he died and was discarded by the prosecutor before being sent to them. The Johnsons attempted to sue the funeral home for the mishandling of their son’s body, but the case was dropped.
A formal review of the case was granted by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Michael Moore. The hope was that a coroner’s inquest would be granted, which could allow Kendrick’s death to be re-classified as non-accidental and would reopen the case. Unfortunately for the Johnson family, the request was denied.
As of today,still Kendrick’s parents are finding answer to what exactly happened with their son...
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