Death of teen found in rolled-up gym mat was accident, report finds

A black Georgia teenager discovered useless inside a rolled-up gymnasium mat at his highschool 9 years in the past was killed in a weird accident, a brand new report concluded.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk dominated out any crime associated to the 2013 loss of life of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson at Lowndes Excessive College in Valdosta.

Paul reopened the case in March within the face of theories that somebody killed the teenager and officers lined up the reality.

“The entire proof, testimony, interviews, grand jury testimony and even the blunt coercion and intimidation of some individuals being questioned doesn't produce something to show something that will have resulted within the loss of life of Kendrick Johnson,” Paulk wrote in a 16-page abstract of his investigation.

The sheriff added he discovered it “disturbing and unethical” that the investigation was a witch hunt after the preliminary probe was closed with none felony fees. Paulk, who was not in workplace when Kendrick died, based mostly his reopened case on 17 packing containers of fabric offered by federal authorities.

Kendrick Johnson’s mom, Jacquelyn, promised she would proceed to push for a federal investigation to be reopened following the ruling that her son’s loss of life was unintended.

AP

Rumors that Kendrick was murdered have been sparked after a second post-mortem discovered proof of blunt power trauma on his neck.

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Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk mentioned it was “disturbing and unethical” that the investigation was a witch hunt after the preliminary probe was closed.

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He dismissed the theories of a coverup, saying he reviewed testimony of 58 individuals and a number of other autopsies.

“Any one who appears to be like at this case objectively would know that it could be unattainable to hide any proof because of the involvement of so many businesses and investigators,” he wrote within the report, launched Wednesday and obtained by WCTV.

Kendrick was discovered head first in a rolled-up gymnasium mat on Jan. 11, 2013 and his loss of life was dominated unintended by native authorities a number of months later. The primary of three autopsies on the teenager confirmed he died from asphyxiation with authorities figuring out he had doubtless gotten trapped within the mat whereas attempting to retrieve footwear he had saved there.

Kendrick was discovered face first in a rolled-up gymnasium mat and his loss of life was dominated unintended by native authorities.

Lowndes County Sheriff's Workplace

The US Division of Justice closed its personal investigation in 2016, saying it “discovered inadequate proof to assist federal felony fees.”

However a second post-mortem on the exhumed physique of the teenager discovered proof of blunt power trauma on his neck and theories have floated that Kendrick was murdered.

Paulk urged individuals to learn the findings earlier than arising with a judgment on what occurred.

Authorities believed Kendrick had develop into trapped within the mat whereas attempting to retrieve footwear he had saved there.

Lowndes County Sheriff's Workplace

“In closing, I'm fairly positive there'll nonetheless be a contingent that may imagine there was foul play,” the sheriff mentioned in his report.

Kendrick’s mom Jackie Johnson instructed WSB-TV she would proceed to push for a federal investigation to be reopened.

“You didn’t discover nothing in 17 packing containers?” she mentioned. “That’s the craziest lie you might have instructed. We already knew what crew you have been on. You aren't on the crew of righteousness.”