Parents of Valdosta teen demand coroner’s inquest into son’s mysterious death
The parents of Kendrick Johnson, the Valdosta teen found dead inside a rolled-up mat in his high school’s gym, have petitioned a judge to order a coroner’s inquest into the cause of death.
“There are so many questionable circumstances in this case that beg to be examined,” Benjamin Crump, the attorney for Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday.
Kendrick Johnson, a sophomore at Lowndes High School, was last seen alive Jan. 10 as he walked into the campus’ old gym. His parents don’t accept the GBI’s autopsy that concluded the teen suffocated after he got stuck reaching into an upright mat for a shoe.
A private pathologist hired by the family confirmed their suspicions. Dr. Bill Anderson, in an Aug. 15 report, said Kendrick died from a blow to his face that caused a heart attack.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
