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

[alp227]

Source: CNN

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.

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

[Clown is Down]

1. Nine Months for an autopsy report? wtf? n/t

[dmr]

4. It was a second and independent autopsy.

Welcome to DU!

[Clown is Down]

5. Thanks for the welcome. :) n/t

[gvstn]

2. Thanks

I was just about to post this story. It seemed fishy from the beginning. There was a segment tonight on AC360 that I only half paid attention to where the guest (I believe another reporter from CNN) said the original coroner had given an interview but later wrote to CNN and said please don't ever air that interview, let's put this behind us. WTF? I haven't had a chance to look into the full story and interview (which CNN apparently aired) but know there is something very wrong with this whole situation.

[lib87]

3. The Crime Scene Pictures...

from a few months ago looked like he'd been beaten about the head. Very sad and I hope the family gets justice.

[Swede Atlanta]

6. This is a case of dueling autopsy reports....

a gruesome form of "he said, she said".

I live in Georgia and there is still a "good ole boys" club. It is subtle but it is there.

I would certainly hope that the GBI autopsy was conducted in a totally professional and un-biased manner and that this difference is the result of different interpretations of the same evidence by different qualified coroners. It does happen.

But this does deserve more investigation, especially if the coroner that did the state autopsy has expressed concerns about his autopsy report.

[Historic NY]

7. Well its not natural to be rolled up in a gym mat....

not unless someone is trying to conceal a crime.