Justice for Kendrick Johnson

Kendrick Johnson also known as “KJ”
photo credit: i.dailymail.co.uk.com

*Keep checking back… this blog will be updated regularly as more information surrounding Kendrick Johnson’s murder is released.*

*Scroll down for the latest updates*

Another Emmett Till? Another Trayvon Martin? No.. his name was Kendrick Johnson. A 17 yr old student and athlete at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia.  January 11, 2013, Kendrick was found dead in the gym of his school. His body was rolled up in a gym mat. It was reported that Kendrick was reaching for his shoes in the mat when somehow he got stuck and suffocated. His death was ruled an accident and the Lowndes County police dept closed the case. Kendrick’s body was laid to rest but his parents could not rest. Kendrick’s parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson refused to believe the story that was given to them. Kendrick’s father never believed his son’s death was an accident, he said police gave him two different accounts of how they found Kendrick’s body — they initially said he got into the rolled-up mat feet first, then said the next day that he entered headfirst. The Johnson’s order a second independent autopsy be performed on their son.  The second autopsy revealed that Kendrick died from blunt force trauma to his neck, not suffocation and even more shocking than that, many of Kendrick’s organs including his lungs and brains had been removed and replaced with newspaper without the knowledge or consent of Kendrick’s parents! The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the funeral home that prepared the body for burial both offer different accounts of what happened to the organs. The coroner says they sent the organs over to the funeral home with Kendrick’s body. The funeral home says they never received his organs.

So now we have a murdered teenager and missing/stolen organs you would think this would be MAJOR headlines news… but many people still have never heard of Kendrick Johnson and his story. Why all the silence around this murder? Why haven’t the police re opened this case for investigation? Why hasn’t the FBI gotten involved? Someone knows something and someone is hiding something or covering something up. I, myself (like Kendrick’s parents) am filled with unanswered questions. Such as, if Kendrick had gotten himself stuck in this mat accidentally, wouldn’t he have yelled out for help? Why are his organs missing? Is it an attempt to cover up or hide the truth surrounding Kendrick’s death?

In their fight for justice for their son, the Johnson’s have learned that there are surveillance tapes of the schools gym where Kendrick was murdered, however the school will only release the images of Kendrick on the tapes, not the entire tape which would clearly show what happened that day in Lowndes High School.

In September, the Justice Department refused to open a civil rights investigation into Johnson’s death.  I have a hard time understanding why this case has not been re opened as a criminal investigation. There have been so many conflicting reports and the newly released pictures of the “crime scene” show a different tale than what was given to the Johnson’s.  An investigation of the police dept who closed this case prematurely, the school where he died and the coroner who performed the first autopsy is definitely in order.

Ben Crump, attorney to Trayvon Martin’s parents has joined the team to fight for justice for Kendrick.

Kendrick entering the school gym before he was killed
photo credit: gstatic.com

This picture (above) is from the schools surveillance camera. It shows Kendrick going into the gym but the school refuses to release the entire video which could possibly show what happened to Kendrick after he entered the gym.

Kendrick Johnson’s body inside the rolled up gym mat
photo credit: i.dailymail.co.uk.com

It was initially reported that Kendrick dove into the mat to retrieve his shoes but this picture of Kendrick’s body rolled up in the mat shows his shoes are near his feet not his head where they would have been if he had been reaching for them if he went head first into the mat to get them. This picture does not line up with the story that was given to Kendrick’s parents.

Blood Stains on the walls
photo credit: i.dailymail.co.uk.com

This picture (above) shows blood stains on the walls of the gym where Kendrick’s body was found. “Officials” claim the blood is not Kendrick’s but have made no attempts to clarify whose blood it is and/or how it got there.

The most disturbing picture (below) is of Kendrick Johnson after he was killed. The picture shows his face swollen and bloody. It appears as if he has been viciously beaten and even looks like his teeth are missing. It definitely doesn’t look like someone who suffocated to death “accidentally”. Many people feel like this is our modern-day Emmett Till by the way the picture looks. It is truly heartbreaking.

Kendrick Johnson after his death
photo credit: gstatic.com

It has been reported that there was blood on the gym walls (as you see in the picture up above), blood on his clothes and shoes and even in his hair.  The shoes he went into the mat head first to retrieve were found at his feet not at his head. The police, the coroner and the funeral home were the only ones to handle his body and now his organs are missing, leaving Kendrick’s body stuffed with newspaper. These facts are not consistent with an accidental death and no one is providing Kendrick’s parents with any answers and definitely there is no justice in this apparent cover up.

I watched the world fall in love with Trayvon Martin over the last year. Trayvon deserved that love but we can not let the media determine who is worthy of our passionate attention and fight (together) for justice. The murder, cover up and theft of Kendrick’s organs warrants our passionate attention. We have to DEMAND that justice be served, we have to DEMAND a full investigation to the local “officials” in Georgia. We want to know who murdered Kendrick Johnson and we want to know who tried to cover it up and we want to know who stole his organs. Three crimes committed against this child in life and death.

Social media is now getting involved in spreading the word and bringing mass attention to the injustice.

There are several Facebook pages dedicated to justice for Kendrick.

R.I.P Kendrick Johnson has over 20,000 “likes” so far. (please click the link to “like” the Facebook page)

There are many petitions that have been created in attempts to demand justice.

Kendrick Johnson: Murdered at Lowndes High School petition has over 12,000 signatures. (please click the link to sign the petition)

Please “like” the Facebook page and sign the petition and continue to spread the word!

*Keep checking back… this blog will be updated regularly as more information surrounding Kendrick Johnson’s murder is released.*

Updated 10/31/13 @1:36pm

The final moments of teen who was found dead upside down in a gym mat: Video of Kendrick Johnson released as parents demand ‘justice’

The surveillance video shows Kendrick walking along a school hallway at 12:59 p.m. on January 10 wearing a white T-shirt, jeans and white sneakers. He is also carrying a yellow folder or book.

The next clip is 10 minutes later at 1:09 p.m. when Kendrick in the gym where he was later found dead. Another student is seen walking in ahead of him. It is less than two seconds long and shows Kendrick walk out of the shot before what appears to be a dissolve edit between that clip and another showing students playing basketball.

It’s unclear how much time has passed between the two clips.

The next step in the case would be to call a coroner’s inquest to decide the cause of death in a process resembling a grand jury. This may happen on Thursday.

click on the link to read more and to SEE THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO from the gym moments before Kendrick was killed: The final moments of teen who was found dead upside down in a gym mat: Video of Kendrick Johnson released as parents demand ‘justice’

Updated 10/31/13 @1:20pm

Teen death: Judge orders full release of investigative file

VALDOSTA, GA (CNN) – A judge ordered the public release of the full investigative file on the death of a Georgia teen found dead at his high school – including photographs and surveillance video.

It follows a closed door meeting Wednesday with attorneys and family members and is in response to an open records request.

click the link to read more: Teen death: Judge orders full release of investigative file

Updated 10/29/13 @11:46pm

Parents of teen found dead in rolled-up gym mat to meet with officials, plead for video release

Exceprts from U.S. News on NBCNews.com

On Wednesday morning in Valdosta, Ga., attorneys for Johnson’s family, the sheriff’s office and the school district are scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with Southern Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Harry Jay Altman.

Chevene King, the family’s lawyer, expects to discuss the release of the entire gym’s surveillance footage and the status of a coroner’s inquest, which the family filed a petition for last week.

In a coroner’s inquest, a six-person jury would hear evidence and determine whether a death was the result of natural causes or something else.

But if no resolution is reached at Wednesday’s meeting,  Judge Altman could schedule a formal hearing for a later date, a representative from his office said.

Lt. Stryde Jones with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office said there is no evidence to suggest that Kendrick Johnson was murdered.

“Based on the information, that we know now — the autopsy findings, our investigative findings — our case is closed,” he said.

In a written statement in September, the U.S. Department of Justice declined to pursue a federal criminal civil rights investigation — citing a lack of sufficient evidence — but said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore in Macon, Ga., would continue to “monitor” the case.

Moore has not responded to messages from NBC News seeking comment. His office will not confirm any ongoing formal investigation. Still, callers to his office are greeted with a recording asking anyone inquiring about the Kendrick Johnson case to leave a message in a specific voice mailbox.

click the link to read more: Parents of teen found dead in rolled-up gym mat to meet with officials, plead for video release

Updated 10/28/13 @7:15pm

“Breaking News” Attorney Crump Gives Us Update on Death of Kendrick Johnson

In addition “Breaking News “ Attorney Crump gives us exclusive insight on Kendrick Johnson being a star athlete and him dating a white girl. This may be something investigators can look into our Power talk Host stated.

Attorney Kings explains in the year 2011 Kendrick Johnson was involved in some sort of foul play with another young white male that attended the same school as Johnson. They got into an altercation or a fight and Johnson perhaps won the fight. The young white boy family then invites Johnson to their home to fight again but Johnson never came, no one has spoken to the family since. After that incident Kendrick was killed. This information was sent to the Sheriff department in Valdosta, GA and is in the Sheriff’s investigative reports.

Attorney King gives us more insight on this investigation the young white boy parents are members of the law enforcement, his father is a police official and perhaps his mother is as well. So far no one has detected this information has any connection to Kendrick’s death but this is an alert for more investigation.

to read more and to listen to Attorney Crumps interview, click the link: atlanta.cbslocal.com

Updated 10/24/13 @9:46am

Kendrick Johnson Family Sues Sheriff and Coroner 

Valdosta, GA – The Johnson family’s lawyers have announced they will be suing the Lowndes County Sheriff and the Coroner.
Kendrick Johnson’s grandmother said, “No matter what it is we want the truth to come out.” Demanding the truth Kendrick Johnson’s family has now filed lawsuits against both the Coroner of Lowndes County, Bill Watson and the Sheriff of the County Chris Prine saying they have a right to know how investigators determined Kendrick Johnson’s death was an accident.

Johnson Family Attorney Ben Crump said, “The scene investigation has been compromised. But, we believe there are some things that could speak to us like the video, DNA and blood evidence.” Both CNN and the Johnson family have filed suit requesting all investigative finds be released. Focusing on the full surveillance video from the gymnasium, Johnson family attorney Chevene King, “It should show either Kendrick entered the mats as theorized, or he was brought to they gymnasium other than his own power.”

Another lawsuit filed against the Coroner of Lowndes County requests he grant a coroner’s inquest. Where the coroner would present information on Kendrick’s death and jurors would decide based on that information how Kendrick died. “It’s going to be hard… Kendrick was my son… It can’t get no harder than that,” explained Kendrick’s father.

click the link to read more: Kendrick Johnson Family Sues Sheriff and Coroner

Why Excuse for Withholding Video in Kendrick Johnson’s Case Falls Flat

Although authorities have denied repeated requests by the parents to view the gymnasium surveillance video, a school official told CNN that other minors were in the gymnasium within 10 minutes of Johnson entering. The school is still refusing to release the recording, on the grounds that state law exempts the release of “education records of a minor child.”
As for the news that others were present in the gymnasium where Johnson died, Crump responded, “Blur out the faces of the children if you want to protect their identities, but we’ve got to see the video.”

click the link to read more: Why Excuse for Withholding Video in Kendrick Johnson’s Case Falls Flat

Updated 10/22/13 @8:05pm

Kendrick Johnson Family Files Petition For Coroner’s Inquest

On Tuesday, October 22nd,  Chevene King and Benjamin Crump, attorneys for the family of Kendrick Johnson, filed a petition for a coroner’s inquest in the Lowndes County Superior Court. The Johnson Family is seeking to have Lowndes County Coroner Bill Watson call a coroner’s inquest into their son’s death. At the center of the family’s concern is the difference in the initial autopsy report filed by the state and the second independent autopsy report.

Attorney Crump stated the main priority of this inquest is to gain access to the surveillance footage from the gymnasium the night of Kendrick Johnson’s death. “If that video shows others in that gymnasium as has been reported, then they have a right,” said Crump, “it is right and justice demands so.” Attorney Benjamin Crump stated the family has been told the video is an academic record. “When you think just common sense…common sense would suggest a video surveillance tape is not an academic record,” said Crump, “it is there for people to be able to look at the contents of it and decide if something has happened.”

click the link to read more and to hear the complete press conference: Kendrick Johnson Family Files Petition For Coroner’s Inquest

Updated 10/22/13 @8:25am

Kendrick Johnson Family to hold Press Conference Tuesday

Attorneys for the parents of Kendrick Johnson, the 17-year-old high school student who in January of this year was found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the Lowndes High School gym, will tomorrow announce that they have filed legal documents officially requesting that a judge order a Coroner’s Inquest into Johnson’s death.

Kendrick Johnson’s parents, along with family attorneys Chevene B. King, Jr. and Benjamin Crump, will address media tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the filing and their next legal moves in the case.

link to source: Valdosta Daily Times

Updated 10/19/2013 @8:40am

(CNN) — Surveillance footage shows other minors inside a Georgia high school gym at about the same time authorities say Kendrick Johnson suffocated in a rolled-up mat while reaching for a sneaker, an attorney for the school told CNN on Friday.

The attorney’s acknowledgement came in a response to a CNN open records request asking whether other minors were recorded in the footage inside the Lowndes County High School gym on January 10 between 1:09 p.m. and 1:20 p.m., a span of about 10 minutes after Johnson entered the gym.

“I answer your pointed question with ‘yes,'” L. Warren Turner Jr.. the attorney, wrote in the letter.

click the link to read more: School Attorney: Others in surveillance in gym mat death case

Updated 10/18/2013:

According to wabe.org the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP says it plans to call on the U.S. Justice department to investigate the death of a Valdosta teen who was discovered inside a rolled up wrestling mat at his high school in January.

click the link to read more: NAACP Will Call on Justice Department to Investigate Valdosta Teen’s Death

According to wtxl.com attorney Chevene King says the video has been withheld and that he nor the family was offered an opportunity to see the video from all four cameras. He says their position has not wavered or changed since they learned about the existence of the tapes. He wants to see all the tapes in the gym because it may serve as an eyewitness into Johnson’s death.

Meanwhile the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Floyd Rose hasn’t commented on Touchton’s findings but he does say an $10,000 reward is being offered if indeed Kendrick Johnson was murdered.

click the link to read more: Attorneys for Kendrick Johnson’s family want gym video

#JUSTICE4KENDRICK!

#Justice4KendrickJohnson
photo credit: gstatic.com

R.I.P Kendrick….

We WILL FIGHT for you!