SUSPICIOUS DEATH
CASE #: 2013-42
Kendrick Lamar Johnson
Also Known As:
Kj
Status:
Open
Date of Death:
Date of Death:
Jurisdiction:
Death Location:
Valdosta,Georgia
Reward:
up to $500,000
via Lowndes county sheriffs office
Not from STC, Conditions and restrictions apply
Summary:
On January 11, 2013, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found deceased inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the gym at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. While state investigators ruled the death an accident from positional asphyxia, a separate independent autopsy commissioned by his family found evidence of blunt force trauma. The local sheriff's office reopened the case file in 2021 and maintains it as an active investigation with a standing $500,000 reward for information leading to an
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Death:
On January 11, 2013, Kendrick Johnson's body was discovered upside down inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the Lowndes High School gymnasium. The state's official autopsy concluded that he died from accidental positional asphyxia after getting stuck while trying to retrieve a shoe. However, an independent autopsy requested by his family strongly disputed this, finding that his death was caused by non-accidental blunt force trauma to his neck and jaw.
Additional Details:
Kendrick Johnson's family has tirelessly fought for justice for over a decade, continuously challenging the state's official ruling. An independent autopsy commissioned by the family revealed that Kendrick's body had been stuffed with newspaper prior to burial, a discovery that fueled widespread concerns of a systemic cover-up and mishandling of evidence by local authorities. Furthermore, the family recently engaged in high-profile legal battles, filing a massive civil rights complaint in federal court accusing officials of a conspiracy to suppress the truth. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office maintains an active investigation and a standing $500,000 reward for information.
Case Last Updated:
Case Content Disclaimer: The details on this case page are sourced from numerous locations to include family, friends, news postings and government public releases. Solve the Case, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of any content as case pages are living documents that frequently update as case details expand.
