GA - Kendrick Johnson, 17, Suspicious Death, Jan. 10/11, 2013, #1

[BeginnersLuck]

True, the school I attended was strict about using your own lockers or it will be tossed out.
Looks like they'll have to tighten up the rules.
I am still not 100% convinced it was an accident w/o footage of the mats I am still on the fence.
yes, people do die doing something dumb. It's really unfortunate.

I don't think a lot of people are going to be convinced, unless they see actual video (which doesn't exist) of the event. A lot of families are left with unanswered questions when they loose a loved one under odd circumstances. Moving beyond that, has to be terribly difficult.

After researching and reading all the official documents, I don't feel that there was anything shoddy done here and anything that was brought up, I don't feel would have had any impact on the investigation. I imagine if any case in existence were scrutinized like this, there would be bits and pieces that could be picked out and questioned.

The crime lab report lists all of the LE officers that were there and there were a lot. Plenty to conduct a thorough investigation. Including the GBI.

Some questions will never be answered, such as his tennis shoes being off in the mat. It can only be speculated that he kicked them off or they fell in or were put in.

Old blood found on a wall, but with no other trail or any injury to any other student that day, amounts to nothing.

There are easy medical and professional explanations for a lot of the other points that they have brought up. There are answers to some of the things they are stating as questionable, in the reports and in the procedure code of officials such as the coroner.

I'll agree they didn't follow protocol by not calling the coroner immediately but I don't agree that it would have changed any of the circumstances.

Info on coroner:

http://georgiacoronersassoc.org/legislation-title-45

(d) The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is authorized to perform a post mortem examination and autopsy on a person whose death occurs within a state owned or leased building or on the curtilage of such building. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation shall have jurisdiction relating to the investigation of such a death, and this authority and jurisdiction shall supersede any other authority or jurisdiction provided for by this article relating to a post mortem examination or autopsy.

All the BS needs to be weeded out by the attorneys, MSM and others and they need to stick with the facts, so the family and community can get to a point of understanding and acceptance, regardless of the circumstances of KJ's death. By not doing so, it's a disservice to the family.

It seems as though the attorney for the family, is not explaining how procedures work and I find that to be an injustice to them and very self serving. Afterall, it is his job to walk them through the legal process and not mislead them off track.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

BBM

Yep. Did you see this part of that article?

...Stuffing a body with old newsprint and department-store circulars — “like he was a garbage can,” as Jacquelyn Johnson put it — isn’t exactly standard practice in forensic pathology or the mortician’s trade. Vernie Fountain, the founder of a Missouri embalming school, called it “not consistent with the standards of care” in the industry. Dr. Gregory Schmunk, the president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, told CNN, “I have never heard of this practice.”...



This has hinky written all over it.

That's on the funeral home. From what I have read bodies are normally stuffed with sawdust, cotton, or some other type of filler. Not something most people are aware of! I find it tacky as heck that they stuffed him with newspapers, but if there is no protocol a mortician has to follow when it comes to packing material used, I don't see how there could be a lawsuit or how this pertains to what happened to KJ in the gym.

 

[x_files]

I don't think a lot of people are going to be convinced, unless they see actual video (which doesn't exist) of the event. A lot of families are left with unanswered questions when they loose a loved one under odd circumstances. Moving beyond that, has to be terribly difficult.

After researching and reading all the official documents, I don't feel that there was anything shoddy done here and anything that was brought up, I don't feel would have had any impact on the investigation. I imagine if any case in existence were scrutinized like this, there would be bits and pieces that could be picked out and questioned.

The crime lab report lists all of the LE officers that were there and there were a lot. Plenty to conduct a thorough investigation. Including the GBI.

Some questions will never be answered, such as his tennis shoes being off in the mat. It can only be speculated that he kicked them off or they fell in or were put in.

Old blood found on a wall, but with no other trail or any injury to any other student that day, amounts to nothing.

There are easy medical and professional explanations for a lot of the other points that they have brought up. There are answers to some of the things they are stating as questionable, in the reports and in the procedure code of officials such as the coroner.

I'll agree they didn't follow protocol by not calling the coroner immediately but I don't agree that it would have changed any of the circumstances.

Info on coroner:

http://georgiacoronersassoc.org/legislation-title-45




All the BS needs to be weeded out by the attorneys, MSM and others and they need to stick with the facts, so the family and community can get to a point of understanding and acceptance, regardless of the circumstances of KJ's death. By not doing so, it's a disservice to the family.

It seems as though the attorney for the family, is not explaining how procedures work and I find that to be an injustice to them and very self serving. Afterall, it is his job to walk them through the legal process and not mislead them off track.

LE botched The Ramseys case so it does happen, but the DA was friends with The Ramseys so refused to indict them.
I'd love to know more about this case especially the boys that bullied him.
Without footage I am not buying he climbed into a mat headfirst willingly.

 

[Salem]

The GBI autopsy report does include the neck area. That's why I don't understand why the hired pathologist says it wasn't tested.

http://valdosta.sgaonline.com/2010vdt/pdfs/kendrick-johnson.pdf

Why were KJ's jeans unzipped and his pockets pulled out, do you think? That's kind of odd for a kid who allegedly is diving for his shoes, isn't it? Struck me as odd.

Salem

 

[vlpate]

LE botched The Ramseys case so it does happen, but the DA was friends with The Ramseys so refused to indict them.
I'd love to know more about this case especially the boys that bullied him.
Without footage I am not buying he climbed into a mat headfirst willingly.

Boys that bullied him? Is this new today? I haven't been paying attention to the news.

 

[x_files]

Boys that bullied him? Is this new today? I haven't been paying attention to the news.

It's been in the news since the story broke.

 

[Tawny]

It's been in the news since the story broke.

I must also be missing that.

 

[x_files]

I must also be missing that.

Let me hunt it down, there was a statement made that he was bullied since 2011 by one student.

 

[vlpate]

Why were KJ's jeans unzipped and his pockets pulled out, do you think? That's kind of odd for a kid who allegedly is diving for his shoes, isn't it? Struck me as odd.

Salem

Maybe he pushed his shoes off and was trying to push his pants off to make it easier to get out - maybe in his mind it would be easier to slide without his bulky pants.

 

[vlpate]

Let me hunt it down, there was a statement made that he was bullied since 2011 by one student.

He had a fight with a w*** kid in 2011. This is the kid they are saying might be suspect. Crump said there is talk that the parents invited Kendrick over to fight the kid and Kendrick never went. Then there's the "talk" of a school bus fight. Bus video is not regulated under FERPA and they could easily prove or disprove that bit of "talk".

 

[x_files]

Not to me. I have yet to see how tall and wide Kendrick was in order to make a determination. He was a basketball player.



Kendrick Johnson Dead in gym mat HS Student Parents Justice for MURDERED Son Disturbing Evidence - YouTube

How did the police determine at the scene it wasn't blood on the sneakers without testing it in a lab? I guess you could look at it and think it's paint or something, but then the question is why not collect it.

The blood on the door is a lot greater in quantity than the written reports made it sound. Why didn't the police try to find the DNA match and ask them how it got there? I can't believe that much blood would end up that high without someone sustaining a serious injury that would have been reported. Also, if it had been there for quite some time the school has the worst janitor.



Tilt the mat. However his body was found inside the mat, with the mat standing up. If the shoe was stuck inside the mat that would make me believe it was wrapped too tight for someone to fit into it.



Where else could they put it? They couldn't carry it out into the hall. JMO



I logged out of Youtube to keep from skewing the results, maybe something different will come up for others.

When I typed in stuck in mat this is what came up; http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...2j1.10.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.A4Y2nXuQkPw

This is what came up for rolled in mat; http://www.youtube.com/results?sear....5j2.7.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube._5Dgg6srX4s

This is what came up for kid stuck in mat; http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...9j4.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.i6cEHBlXSWE

Kid rolled in mat; http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...1j3.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.LU2eIm7vw0I

I don't remember what I typed to find this one;

Stuck in a mat - YouTube

In the following link this cheerleader looks a lot smaller than Kendrick appears to be. I forget what I typed in to find it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiqfACjebvk&feature=youtu.be

Kendrick was a basketball player.

http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim2/2013/10/31/final_244x183.jpg

This kid unrolled herself after the others, it appears, has already rolled her up. This begs the question of why didn't he fight to tip the mat and unroll himself?

Claire rolled in a mat haha - YouTube



Your video is the same one I found.



Can you post some more of those videos? TIA

Best video I've seen since, the Sheriff is an *******. Won't answer questions, acts weird when confronted, can barely speak.
I have no faith in this Sheriff.

 

[Salem]

Maybe he pushed his shoes off and was trying to push his pants off to make it easier to get out - maybe in his mind it would be easier to slide without his bulky pants.

I thought his arms were over his head? If he could move his arms to unbutton and unzip is pants, he probably could have pushed himself out, I would think...

Salem

 

[Tawny]

I had the thought that since he was going in to get his shoes, he intended to take his pants off to change his shoes. *shrug*

 

[x_files]

And I just don't see accident, I see foul play...

I agree
Why is their blunt force trauma on his head?
Why isn't their blood on the shoe he was reaching for? (b7w shoe)
Why are his shoes throw in the mat on top of his body? How is that even possible?
Why is his pants unzipped and pockets inside out?
Why wasn't a through investigation done? Why did it take them so log to call a corner?
I agree foul play possibly bullying gone way too far thought it would be funny to slam him on the back of the head and then shove him in the matt and then decided to run when the bell rang or a teacher entered the room and left him, assuming he'd crawl out or yell for help- or plain homicide.
The Sheriff is evasive and odd, he's body language bothers me.

 

[PMLsmom]

Just where are these "numerous" mats that were stored vertically?

I am only on page 37, but:

In the honor guard vid posted, I can only see four (three on one side, on on the other), that are horizontal...Everyone sounds like there were 10-50+ mats stored vertically...I just do not see it. The bleachers are almost 3/4 the size of the mats - stored HORIZONTALLY...

Anyone have a pic/video of the front of the gym? TIA

 

[Tawny]

I agree
Why is their blunt force trauma on his head?

The blunt force trauma was on the side of his neck, not his head.

Just where are these "numerous" mats that were stored vertically?

I am only on page 37, but:

In the honor guard vid posted, I can only see four (three on one side, on on the other), that are horizontal...Everyone sounds like there were 10-50+ mats stored vertically...I just do not see it. The bleachers are almost 3/4 the size of the mats - stored HORIZONTALLY...

Anyone have a pic/video of the front of the gym? TIA

The honor guard video is from about a year prior to the event, I believe.

 

[Salem]

I had the thought that since he was going in to get his shoes, he intended to take his pants off to change his shoes. *shrug*

Oh okay - I can see this. Getting ready to dress for class and then realized he didn't have his shoes... was just going to grab them quickly....

Salem

 

[x_files]

I'd call that a rush to judgement.



All they have to say is that he was found in a rolled up mat and they're not sure about the cause of death, but it appears to be an isolated incident. JMO

It seems people are ignoring the fact that the feds think it warrants more investigation. I think that says an awful lot.

CYA mode. The school doesn't want to be sued or lose funding. Sherriff is a good old boy refuses to admit he may be wrong.

 

[x_files]

I remember reading this morning an article by the parents that he was bullied by one kid since 2011, trying to find that link.

 

[Tawny]

CYA mode. The school doesn't want to be sued or lose funding. Sherriff is a good old boy refuses to admit he may be wrong.

This here is the exact reason I believe the 'shoddy' work was done. To cover their own asses, not necessarily to cover up a murder. JMO