Kendrick Johnson decision disappoints family

Kendrick Johnson’s body was found in a rolled-up gym mat in January.

There will be no charges filed in the 2013 death of Kendrick Johnson, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday, citing insufficient evidence in the Valdosta, Georgia, case.

Johnson was found dead inside of a wrestling mat at Valdosta High in January 2013.

Local and state authorities have determined that Johnson’s death was accidental.

Prior to this time, Johnson’s parents were convinced beyond reasonable doubt that their son was murdered and even named suspect in a civil lawsuit.

On Monday, Kenneth and Jacqueline Johnson said federal prosecutors didn’t entirely rule out the possibility that Johnson’s death was a homicide, they simply concluded there was not enough evidence to prove it. Shortly thereafter, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office closed its investigation. Almost four months later, on May 2, 2013, the GBI Medical Examiner issued her autopsy report, concluding that Kendrick died from “positional asphyxia” – essentially, that he became entrapped upside-down in the rolled-up mat and had suffocated. The family has since dropped the lawsuit, but a spokesman said they plan to re-file it against Bell as soon as the federal investigation is complete. Local and state investigators said the death was an accident. They convinced a judge to exhume their son’s body and performed in June 2013, only to learn Johnson’s organs had been removed and his corpse stuffed with newspapers, according to CNN.

Federal investigators say they interviewed almost 100 people, read thousands of emails and texts, and viewed all available surveillance video before the department decided not to bring charges.

“The Department of Justice, in particular the lawyers and investigators who have worked tirelessly on this investigation, express their most honest condolences to Kendrick Johnson’s parents, family, and friends”, said Acting United States Attorney Carole Rendon.

The US Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia launched its investigation in in October of 2013.

The private pathologist hired by Johnson’s family reported finding hemorrhaging beneath the skin of Kendrick’s jaw and neck and concluded he suffered a fatal blow near his carotid artery that appeared to be “non-accidental”. Moore resigned his post in last November, and the case was turned over to the USA attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The family counter-sued the Johnsons in May 2015, denying the accusations.

By news release, Johnson’s family said they expect to speak to the media after their meeting at the federal courthouse in Macon, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.