September 3rd, 2013
04:50 PM ET

Georgia teen Kendrick Johnson's death was not accidental, family's autopsy finds

Georgia teen Kendrick Johnson, who was found dead in a rolled-up gym mat at his high school in January, died as the result of "unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma," according to a newly released, independent autopsy report.

The report, obtained exclusively Tuesday by CNN, directly contradicts the finding of an autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that determined that Johnson's death was the result of positional asphyxia. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office determined that his death was accidental.

Johnson, 17 and an athlete, was found January 11 headfirst in a rolled wrestling mat at a Lowndes County High School gym in Valdosta, Georgia.

Inconsistencies in official reports on the condition of Kendrick's body have led the family and community to question the official cause of his death.

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soundoff (9 Responses)
  1. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    Gee–who do you think might be able to explain it, then?

    September 3, 2013 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  2. banasy©

    Yes, he accidently rolled hinself head first into a mat, where he died. It is so clear.

    September 3, 2013 at 10:34 pm | Report abuse |
  3. banasy©

    I mean, who could possibly be suspicious of those circumstances?

    September 3, 2013 at 10:37 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Rascal Rabble

    looks like another initiating hazing prank gone wild...

    September 3, 2013 at 11:56 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    Today we add Spring, Texas, to this honor roll.
    These are not really high schools. They are clubs of some sort, and many of the teenagers appear to be too old for that level of education. Many of the students–pupils, I mean–really are too old not to be in college.

    September 4, 2013 at 3:40 pm | Report abuse |
  6. chrissy

    Not really high schools??? If they aren't then WHAT are they? And they're the same age we were in high school.

    September 4, 2013 at 6:58 pm | Report abuse |
  7. banasy©

    16 and 17 year olds are typical high school ages. Doogie Houser was fictional, as I suspect the images of some long-ago golden age of education is.

    September 4, 2013 at 10:59 pm | Report abuse |
  8. banasy©

    Good evening, KR. I don't know; it's still under moderation. The only thing I can think of is that I wrote about Doogie Houser, and I didn't html it.

    September 4, 2013 at 11:35 pm | Report abuse |
  9. scottA

    Why haven't I heard anyone question why he wouldn't have just turned the mat over on it's side if his shoe was in there. Why would anyone try and go to the trouble to climb on top of one and then go through the center. It's a mat. Just lay it over on it's side and grab your shoes.

    I just saw a new piece on Anderson Cooper and the Sheriff was very evasive and kicked the crew out of his office after 1 minute. That child was murdered.

    Nothing in any of the explanations makes any sense. I hope in addition to finding the murderer that all of those involved in the cover up are brought to justice.

    October 8, 2013 at 8:59 pm | Report abuse |
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