Georgia sheriff reopens Kendrick Johnson death investigation

ATLANTA (WSB) -- The Lowndes County sheriff said he is reopening the case of a South Georgia teenager found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in 2013.

Sheriff Ashley Paulk confirmed to WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News that he reopened the case into the death of Kendrick Johnson after federal investigators gave him documents requested in the case from two years ago.

Johnson’s body was found in January 2013, rolled up in a gym mat inside the Lowndes County High School gym. In May 2013, his death was ruled an accident.

Paulk said he requested documents from the federal investigation into Kendrick’s death in April 2019, but was told at the time he could not have them. That changed this week.

A federal judge released the documents and evidence in the case. Paulk said there were approximately 17 boxes of documents, including computer towers and computer drives.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Kendrick Johnson died after being trapped upside-down in the rolled-up gym mat.

Investigators said the sophomore died from positional asphyxia after he got stuck inside the mat, presumably by falling while reaching for a pair of sneakers, according to AJC.

Johnson's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2015, contending that two brothers and their friend allegedly killed the teen. The lawsuit claimed the crime was covered up by the Lowndes County Superintendent of Schools and the sheriff at the time.

A Lowndes County Superior Court senior judge ruled against the parents, accusing them of fabricating evidence, AJC reports.