Investigator presents Kendrick Johnson case at university
VALDOSTA, Ga. - A law enforcement official who led the investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teen found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in his high school gymnasium, presented evidence and photographs from the case to students at Valdosta State University this week.
Lowndes County Sheriff's Lt. Stryde Jones told 48 Hours' Crimesider that Phi Alpha Delta, a law fraternity on campus, invited him to come to the school to speak about the case.
"It was simply an opportunity to create dialogue with the community and present information," Jones says.
Kenny Holliday, who helped organize the private event, told the Valdosta Daily Times that the purpose of it was to "alleviate some rumors and give students the opportunity to ask questions."
The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office closed its investigation into Johnson's death on May 2, 2013, nearly nine months after the 17-year-old was found dead in the gymnasium of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, where he was a student. Authorities ruled his death a freak accident, saying he fell head-first into an upright mat while trying to retrieve a shoe, and became trapped. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation concurred.
But Johnson's family insisted there was more to the story. They had their son's body exhumed for a second autopsy and it was then that a private pathologist determined the teen died of blunt force trauma to the neck and that his organs were missing and his body had been stuffed with newspaper. On Oct. 31, 2013, one year ago today, U.S. Attorney Michael Moore ordered a federal review of Johnson's death. A grand jury is hearing evidence.
Lt. Jones said that the fact that the federal investigation is still ongoing doesn't prevent him from discussing the case.
"It's two separate investigations. Theirs is a civil rights investigation. Our investigation was a death investigation," he said.
But Pam Lightsey, a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Michael Moore of the middle district of Georgia, told Crimesider Friday that the investigation is not solely focusing on whether there was a civil rights violation.
"We're looking at everything," she says. "The findings of the investigation will determine whether it's a criminal or civil rights matter."
When asked for a response to this, Jones said in a second phone call that he hasn't inquired as to what the investigation is focusing on.
"I don't know what the investigation encompasses. I can't say I know for certain," he says.
