GA - Kendrick Johnson, 17, Suspicious Death, Jan. 10/11, 2013, #2

[iSleuth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikOTD9Urh0A

From Cnn AC360 at 2:29- 2:31

" we examined the blood dna and it was not KJ's- it does not appear to be connected to Our Crime in any way" Lt Stryde Jones

admits early on this is a crime not an accident.
JMO if it was an accident the school would be much more forthcoming from the beginning. If people think broad coverups don't happen think again and look at the Sandusky case or the abuses of the RCC or at several private schools on record Horace Mann- Deerfield. These are cultures of different abuse yet were covered up institutionally. Why not rexamine Florida A& M student, Robert Champion who was beaten to death in a hazing on the university bus.
The circumstances surrounding KJ's death are simply suspicious enough for a federal investigation because it is beyond suspicious. If you look for stats for student deaths at school they support it too. foul play.

Identified School-Related Violent Deaths: 2009-2010 School Year
Total Deaths: 11
Breakdown by Type:
Shooting: 7
Suicides: 0
Murder-Suicide: 0
Fight-Related: 1
Stabbing: 3
Other: 0
http://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/school_violence09-10.html

 

[Kimberlyd125]

The circumstances surrounding KJ's death are simply suspicious enough for a federal investigation because it is beyond suspicious.

Snipped by me.

This case is getting a federal investigation/review isn't it?

 

[Tawny]

I always had the feeling the federal review/investigation was into the investigation itself (how things were handled, the funeral home, etc) rather than his actual death. JMO, I could be completely off base with that.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I always had the feeling the federal review/investigation was into the investigation itself (how things were handled, the funeral home, etc) rather than his actual death. JMO, I could be completely off base with that.

I did read the funeral home is under investigation.
http://m.cbsnews.com/fullstory.rbml?catid=57610769&feed_id=999&videofeed=999

(CBS) - The Georgia Secretary of State is investigating the funeral home that handled the remains of a Georgia teen found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in his high school gym, according to a spokesperson for Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
Cody Whitlock said the office of the Secretary of State could not comment further due to its ongoing investigation into the Harrington Funeral Home in Valdosta, Ga. It is unclear when the probe began.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

I'm pretty sure they are reviewing everything with the case. They need to do this to try and bring some sense of peace for all.

They did say they have received many calls but all were speculation and they needed people to call in with facts or evidence.

I don't anticipate them finding any evidence of cover up by LE or the school, or any evidence a murder was committed. I do hope they clarify the many questions that people have proposed. Someone needs to separate the fact from fiction in the reporting of this case.

 

[Karmady]

I'm pretty sure they are reviewing everything with the case. They need to do this to try and bring some sense of peace for all.

They did say they have received many calls but all were speculation and they needed people to call in with facts or evidence.

I don't anticipate them finding any evidence of cover up by LE or the school, or any evidence a murder was committed. I do hope they clarify the many questions that people have proposed. Someone needs to separate the fact from fiction in the reporting of this case.

The Feds have very limited jurisdiction. I think Moore mentioned that himself in his statement. They can *look* all they want, I suppose. But I doubt they'll look at anything beyond the scope of their jurisdiction and hope that they won't. I don't know what type of Federal issue they'd be looking at here, but I'm thinking it must be civil rights.
jmo

 

[mimimama5]

Just a personal story that I hope helps the clothing debate. When my son died, his case was investigated by the local pd's homicide division. My son was not a homicide, but at the time of death there was no way that le could have known that as fact. They bagged everything he was wearing, as well as everything that was surrounding his body. Photographed everything in the room. All of my sons personal effects were returned to us by the police department. including the clothing he was wearing, which was cut off of him by the emt or hospital personel. His clothes were wrapped in hospital johnies, and placed in a brown paper evidence bag, marked and sealed. Same with his bedding. Even his diaper was preserved in the refrigerator of the crime unit. Every piece of clothing was returned to me, carried to my car by a police detective.
There should have been no reason that KJs clothing even went to a funeral home? That just isn't standard operating procedure as I understand it. they should keep that for evidence until the case has been thoroughly investigated and a determination has been made. I didn't get to have my sons things until after the autopsy report and toxicology reports came back.
I feel his parents' pain , I know too well what they are feeling and I can only sympathize with needing to find the answers they so desperately seek. I will condone and support any means they deem necessary to find out what happened to their beloved son.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Just a personal story that I hope helps the clothing debate. When my son died, his case was investigated by the local pd's homicide division. My son was not a homicide, but at the time of death there was no way that le could have known that as fact. They bagged everything he was wearing, as well as everything that was surrounding his body. Photographed everything in the room. All of my sons personal effects were returned to us by the police department. including the clothing he was wearing, which was cut off of him by the emt or hospital personel. His clothes were wrapped in hospital johnies, and placed in a brown paper evidence bag, marked and sealed. Same with his bedding. Even his diaper was preserved in the refrigerator of the crime unit. Every piece of clothing was returned to me, carried to my car by a police detective.
There should have been no reason that KJs clothing even went to a funeral home? That just isn't standard operating procedure as I understand it. they should keep that for evidence until the case has been thoroughly investigated and a determination has been made. I didn't get to have my sons things until after the autopsy report and toxicology reports came back.
I feel his parents' pain , I know too well what they are feeling and I can only sympathize with needing to find the answers they so desperately seek. I will condone and support any means they deem necessary to find out what happened to their beloved son.

I am so sorry for your loss.

But you know, I think you are right. The Coroner would not redress the body so it would go to the home in the body bag, so the clothes should be with police as evidence and then kept until they are returned to the family. That makes sense to me.

Thank you for sharing your story.

 

[gxm]

IMO, the circumstances vary according to jurisdiction and case specifics. My uncle's clothing was never returned to us. He was so badly decomposed that I imagine they were in terrible condition and were discarded. Only his valuables (wallet, keys, etc.) were returned to us.

 

[BitsyB]

The Feds have very limited jurisdiction. I think Moore mentioned that himself in his statement. They can *look* all they want, I suppose. But I doubt they'll look at anything beyond the scope of their jurisdiction and hope that they won't. I don't know what type of Federal issue they'd be looking at here, but I'm thinking it must be civil rights.
jmo

According to his statement when he announced the formal review, Mr. Moore is seeking to answer 4 questions: 1)what caused the death of KJ, 2)was the death the result of a crime, 3)if a crime was committed, who did it, and 4)who has jurisdiction to prosecute said crime.

His office would only have jurisdiction to prosecute a civil rights crime, but if he finds evidence of another crime I am sure that will be relayed to the appropriate place.

 

[Karmady]

According to his statement when he announced the formal review, Mr. Moore is seeking to answer 4 questions: 1)what caused the death of KJ, 2)was the death the result of a crime, 3)if a crime was committed, who did it, and 4)who has jurisdiction to prosecute said crime.

His office would only have jurisdiction to prosecute a civil rights crime, but if he finds evidence of another crime I am sure that will be relayed to the appropriate place.

Well, that's what I'm saying. Most of that, if he said it, is well beyond his jurisdiction. So he can "relay" to local LE all he wants about what he thinks are problems with theirr investigation, but if he does, it will just be fuel on a fire that's out of his control. He needs to be looking at whether there's a civil rights violation or not, and imo there clearly is not. Imo, the case should have been closed months ago when the GBI investigation was concluded.

 

[Tawny]

I should add I absolutely welcome further investigation, mainly to help the family to heal and begin to try to move on with their lives (as unimaginable as that is). Unfortunately, due to outside forces using the death in ways I don't necessarily agree with, I fear they are not going to find it easy/possible to accept what an investigation MAY conclude.

 

[Reader]

[modsnip] I have a lot of questions as mentioned above. It's hard sometimes to think LE would prejudge a case for nefarious reasons, however reading in the Crimes in the News forum* will show this does happen. Ironically, the sheriff in this case convinced me something is hinky by his own attitude and efforts to conceal information.

*I just posted about a rape case in Tallahassee that involves a football player at FSU. The victim was discouraged to follow through on the case by a detective and LE did not provide the case material to the prosecutor for 11 months.

 

[Salem]

This is about Kendrick, not other posters. Let's stay on topic, please.

Salem

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I am not sure whether this source is considered MSM or not, (if so please somebody alert the mods) and I will say myself that I've seen other articles in which the author got his facts wildly wrong, but this is quite an interesting read that I haven't seen posted here yet.

http://www.ebony.com/news-views/kendrick-johnson-tweets-from-possible-suspects-405/2#axzz2lFvXnqP3

ETA: Even discounting everything else in the article as pure fabrication, this in particular struck me as significant. If true, the 10-minute window just expanded.


According to police files, "Detective Priddy spoke with Lieutenant Stryde Jones and advised him that the surveillance video showed Kendrick Johnson entered the old gym at approximately 1:09PM and that the time on the surveillance system is not accurate." ...

Per the Lowndes County High School website, third block ends at 1:23PM. Since Johnson attended his third block class, and it would have taken him a few minutes to walk to the old gym, he would have went into the gym sometime around 1:30PM.


Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/news-views/kendrick-johnson-tweets-from-possible-suspects-405/2#ixzz2lFwxSetn
Follow us: @EbonyMag on Twitter | EbonyMag on Facebook

 

[Karmady]

I am not sure whether this source is considered MSM or not, (if so please somebody alert the mods) and I will say myself that I've seen other articles in which the author got his facts wildly wrong, but this is quite an interesting read that I haven't seen posted here yet.

http://www.ebony.com/news-views/kendrick-johnson-tweets-from-possible-suspects-405/2#axzz2lFvXnqP3

ETA: Even discounting everything else in the article as pure fabrication, this in particular struck me as significant. If true, the 10-minute window just expanded.


According to police files, "Detective Priddy spoke with Lieutenant Stryde Jones and advised him that the surveillance video showed Kendrick Johnson entered the old gym at approximately 1:09PM and that the time on the surveillance system is not accurate." ...

Per the Lowndes County High School website, third block ends at 1:23PM. Since Johnson attended his third block class, and it would have taken him a few minutes to walk to the old gym, he would have went into the gym sometime around 1:30PM.


Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/news-views/kendrick-johnson-tweets-from-possible-suspects-405/2#ixzz2lFwxSetn
Follow us: @EbonyMag on Twitter | EbonyMag on Facebook

No, it just shows that the time stamps on the entire video are off by about 20minutes. Relative time stays the same. He didn't enter the gym at 1:09, he entered close to 1:30. And things shown on the video at 1:30, actually happened at 1:50 or so.

 

[iSleuth]

~bbm I doubt it. He isn't a Dr. and has no training in law enforcement or crime scene investigation that I'm aware of. I think the explanation they gave for not calling him sooner is logical and probably the truth of the matter. The coroner would have wasted several hours cooling his heels in the parking lot drinking coffee for 5 minutes of "work."

----snipped


Here's what he had to say about the pending petition for a coroner's inquest:

"Coroner's inquests are not something you do every day. I cannot tell you the last time a coroner's inquest was done in this office," Lowndes County Coroner Bill Watson said.
"I want to do the right thing by the people and the county and all concerned; I'm just not sure we have enough information. I'm not about to refute anybody's findings because I'm not a doctor," said Watson.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/us/georgia-teen-death-autopsy/

jmo

Thanks Karmandy, I appreciate and respect your view and side of this discussion very much. I still have so many questions about how this case and how the investigation, and findings proceeded, as well as the reporting. It seems to me JMOO so many aspects were unusual from protocol on state and federal levels - just about everything else ( video, organs , witnesses) is missing,possibly redacted. In some ways I am :fence: trying to believe this was veritable accident. But, IMO
Regardless of speculation about the coroners role ( (he had met certification requirements to be Coroner and carry out the duties of his oath and job) to me Watson's insistence where he clearly is overstepping on why Coroners Inquests being rare he should have been on the scene, (with all due respect -drinking as much coffee as he needed to)
:truce:

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

(8) “Local medical examiner” means a person meeting the requirements and authorized to perform the duties specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-16-23.

(9) “Medical examiner” means:

(A) The chief medical examiner;

(B) A regional medical examiner;

(C) A county medical examiner;

(D) A local medical examiner; or

(E) Any person who is employed by the state and appointed as a medical examiner as of December 1, 1989, who continues to perform the duties and exercise the powers of a medical examiner under this article when such performance and exercise are within the scope of such employment.

(10) “Medical examiner’s inquiry” means an inquiry made by a medical examiner into the circumstances surrounding a death which is required to be reported under the provisions of Code Section 45-16-24, which inquiry may include, but is not required to include, a scene investigation, an external examination, a limited dissection, an autopsy, or any combination thereof.

(11) “Medical examiner’s investigator” means a person meeting the requirements and authorized to perform the duties specified in subsection (d) of Code Section 45-16-23.

(12) “Peace officer in charge” means any peace officer of the Georgia State Patrol or agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, sheriff or sheriff’s deputy, peace officer assigned to the coroner’s office, county policeman, city policeman, or city detective who may be in charge of the investigation of any case involving a death covered by Code Sections 45-16-27 and 45-16-32.

(13) “Regional medical examiner” means a medical examiner who is employed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and who is a pathologist appointed by the chief medical examiner pursuant to Code Section 35-3-153.

(14) “Scene investigation” means an examination by the medical examiner or medical examiner’s investigator of the area surrounding a dead body or area where a death or agonal event occurred.

(15) “Unattended death,” “died unattended,” or “died unattended by a physician” means a death where a person dies of apparently natural causes and has no physician who can certify the death as being due to natural causes. If the suspected cause of death directly involves any trauma or complication of such trauma, the death must be reported to the coroner or county medical examiner. An unattended death also occurs when a person is admitted in an unresponsive state to a hospital and dies within 24 hours of admission.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

No, it just shows that the time stamps on the entire video are off by about 20minutes. Relative time stays the same. He didn't enter the gym at 1:09, he entered close to 1:30. And things shown on the video at 1:30, actually happened at 1:50 or so.

OK, but I thought the next class was in full swing in the gym by 1:50 or so.

 

[MissJ]

BBM. I find a contradiction in these two statements.

If the coroner's only job is to pronounce the person dead and designate a homicide or natural causes, then why would he feel left out of the proceedings and his role minimized?

As far as I recall he wasn't a newbie to the position he held, and therefore must have been well aware of what his "only" job was. So why would he have felt left out of the proceedings enough to complain publicly about it if normal protocol was being followed?

I agree. In the states I have lived in (and there are many) whether or not the coroner is an MD or is elected he still must perform an investigation if it is not an attended death or it is an accident or appears suspicious. That means he wants the body left in the position it was found. There are coroner's representatives in some states who can assess the situation if it is a natural or expected death. Even so they all have experience and most have extensive training in medico/legal death investigation. In this training we were told, the body belongs to the coroner and is not to be moved or even touched. They take pictures in suspicious deaths and do an exam of the body and surroundings are noted in their report. It is much more than pronouncing a person dead. His ability to accurately do his job was compromised.IMO

 

[scmom]

About the position of coroners in Georgia. They are either elected or appointed by a judge of probate court. There seem to be no medical credentials required.
http://georgiacoronersassoc.org/legislation-title-45