The events at Lowndes County High School in 2013 were unfortunate and ill-timed. No findings of that investigation have been released. ), The brothers told investigators and the media that they did not see Kendrick on the day of his death. I think it was just a look into it just to quiet down the family, quiet down some of the media, Credle told CrimeOnline. brian bell and branden bellwaterrower footboard upgrade. Through interviews, police documents, and forensic evidence, Finding Kendrick Johnson illustrates how a 17-year-old boys disappearance and death sparked years worth of investigations, controversies, and a possible cover-up. (Their father, Rick Bell, was an FBI agent who resigned after his house was raided for evidence. Johnson was found dead on January 11, 2013, on a rolled-up gym mat at his Georgia school. Read the original version of this article, FBI video analysis: Brian Bell not near Kendrick Johnson, TPD pulls over car near FSU and finds gunshot victim, TPD responds to questions about recently terminated officer, Car crashes into R. Frank Nims Middle School causing damages, Josh's First Alert Forecast - Saturday, March 4, Cleaver and Cork hosts chef Michael Symon, publicfile@live5news.com - (843) 402-5555, Johnson had entered the old gym area en route to his fourth block class, for which he never arrived. Ill never let them forget, Jacquelyn told filmmakers. Brian and Branden Bell, along with their father, FBI agent Rick Bell, denied the allegations contained in a wrongful death suit filed earlier this year by Kenneth and Jackie Johnson. Jacqueline is sceptical of that effort but says: I remain hopeful. Finding Kendrick Johnson is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Google Play. The killers were never brought to justice but the searing image was galvanising for the civil rights movement. During an interview with WSB-TV 2, the boys say they were friends with Johnson and had nothing to do with his death. Credle, a veteran homicide detective from Washington, D.C., is referring to his work investigating the death of Kendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old boy who was found dead in a rolled-up wrestling mat at his Valdosta, Georgia, high school on January 11, 2013. Pollock told CrimeOnline that the lungs of someone who asphyxiates are heavier because the lungs fill with fluid, causing death. Listen to the latest episode: Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. As Pollock explained to CrimeOnline, the bombshell evidence did not come from an anonymous source or undercover sleuthing it was plainly stated in the FBIs 2014 analysis report. because the lungs fill with fluid, causing death. He reportedly had beef with him due to his athlete status winning him girls. Jacqueline and Kenneth Johnson have filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming Kendrick was beaten to death, Johnson's parents believe that their son was beaten to death by the Bell brothers per request of their father, In a countersuit, the Bells denied all allegations, accusing the Johnson family of using others as their authorized agents to post messages on various social media, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs, instant messaging, and the like, that were defamatory of the Bells, Harrowing discovery: The teen's body was found in the old gym at Lowndes High School in the south Georgia town of Valdosta, Devastated: Johnson's parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn, believe he was killed and are taking action to prove it, 05:58 18 Aug 2015, updated 16:09 18 Aug 2015, 'She had been told it was dangerous but being slimmer was worth the risk': Mother's heartbreak as she warns against the toxic slimming pills which killed her 21-year-old daughter, Phones and computers seized by police from Georgia classmates of teen whose body was found in a rolled up gym mat TWO YEARS ago. James A Clark, 72 of Brandon, MS passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Brian Bell and Branden Bell were classmates of Kendrick Johnson. They have made similar statements to other colleges offering Brian Bell a scholarship, including the University of Louisville and Clemson University, the counterclaim states. Subsequent testimony placed Branden Bell on a school bus on the way to a wrestling tournament at the time Johnson was last seen alive. More from Spin: Weezer Touring With Modest Mouse, Spoon, White Reaper and . The scouting magazine documented his hiring as a backline from Valdosta, Georgia. Last November, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported exclusively that Brian and Branden Bell had received notification from U.S. Attorney Michael Moore that they were targets of the federal grand jury's investigation into Kendrick Johnson's death. The county medical examiner concluded Johnson died of positional asphyxia and deemed his death accidental. 2023 The Talk of Delmarva. The sheriff has said he suspects Johnson became trapped trying to retrieve a shoe that fell into the center of the large, rolled mat. Although the local law enforcement offered a different ruling, his parent was unconvinced by the results. He told WCTV, Were starting fresh, so its like a brand new investigation, no predisposed opinions, cant have that.. Surveillance footage showed his younger brother in class on the other side of the schools campus. Georgia police announced on Tuesday that they are reopening the investigation into the 2013 death of a teen boy whose body was found in his high school gymnasium. They fingered Bell and his brother, Branden, both of whom had airtight alibis. Current relationship and dating history, Kim Kardashian Looking for Love Again, Wants to Date Someone Who Isn't Famous, Nyce Wanjeri Shiros Rise from Auntie Boss Actress on NTV to Content Creator, Pastor Ng'ang'a, Wife Loise Pay Tribute to Home He Grew up In, Joseph Gatiba: Meet Upcoming Kenyan Musician Who Works as Driver for Super Metro, George Wajackoyah Offers to Reconcile Diamond Platnumz with His Abandoned Dad: "Kaburi Ni Tajiri Kukuliko". Kendrick was found dead in the gymnasium at 10:30 a.m. on January 11, roughly 10 hours after his family reported him missing. I hope this piece of art puts a human face on the trauma., reportedly considered persons of interest. The Bell brothers were named in a $100 million civil suit filed by Johnsons parents that was later voluntarily dismissed. The case was closed after Brian Bell's statement on Kendrick Johnson refuting the murder claims. Were Kendricks mother and father and family and friends, and they treated us like weve committed a crime. The sheriff has said he suspects Johnson became trapped trying to retrieve a shoe that fell into the center of the large, rolled mat. Bell is observed in the same location at this time.. The body of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was discovered in the center of an upright mat propped against the gym wall at Lowndes High School on January 11, 2013, and ruled an accident following a lengthy investigation. Brian maintains he was in class at the time that Johnson died and that he has proof. I would say two or three years old, he was out there playing football with his dad and brothers, and then when he was old enough to get on the field, he was playing football ever since he was four years old., When she thinks of Kendrick now, Jacqueline says, its so much hurt, so much pain. Subsequent testimony placed Branden Bell on a school bus on the way to a wrestling tournament at the time Johnson was last seen alive. Subscribe. Ladson said he's concerned that devices seized from the family include communications that are protected by attorney-client privilege in relation to the civil lawsuits surrounding Johnson's death. Bell seemed a bit off as the track warmed up. Brian and Branden Bell, white classmates of Kendrick, were reportedly considered persons of interest in the FBI investigation. The films producer, Jason Pollock, told CrimeOnline that he spent six years examining Kendricks case; an independent investigation he said authorities did not know about. Brian and Branden Bell were classmates of Kendrick Johnson, who was found dead on January 11, 2013, in a rolled-up gym mat at his Georgia school. Kendrick reportedly walked away from Rick, who has denied this encounter ever transpired. He said the shot of him in a white sweater, which lead many to speculate that it appeared to have blood on it, was actually just a logo that said 'RLX'. Joel Christie For Dailymail.com Fellow students found Kendricks body in the gymnasium at Lowndes high school in Valdosta a town in the deep south where Confederate monuments still stand - at around 10.30am on 11 January 2013. They say it gets easier, but it dont., Finding Kendrick Johnson is available to rent now in the US with a UK date to be announced, What does this say about where were at?: how America deals with school shootings, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Finding Kendrick Johnson: We cant even really begin to grieve or mourn because of the fight weve had to endure., mericas recent focus on 22-year-old Gabby Petito, whose body was found last month in a remote part of Wyoming, revived criticism of. However, video footage shows Brian Bell and Hall elsewhere in the school when Johnson is believed to have died; Branden Bell was at a wrestling tournament in Macon at the time, according to the Atlanta Journal-Consitution. The Johnsons wrongful death suit claims that an unnamed female lured their son into the gym where he was fatally beaten by the brothers by request of their father. 800 Followers, 151 Following, 205 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Brian Bell (@therealbrianbell) Where is Charlie Tan now, and what happened to his mother and brother? Surveillance footage showed his younger brother in class on the other side of the schools campus. The 17-year-old was a well-liked honor roll student, an athlete, and his parents said he always helped out at home. Despite this, the, Department of Justice closed the investigation. Builder | Investor | Learn more about Brian Bell's work experience, education, connections & more by visiting their profile on LinkedIn ', 'Neither me or my family had anything to do with his (Johnson's) death.'. In March, the Bells countersued Kendrick's parents, Kenneth and Jackie Johnson, who filed a wrongful death suit earlier in the year alleging a vast cover-up implicating the GBI, local law enforcement and school officials. You see the imbalance right there. It wasnt like I did anything nefarious to find it. Thats another red flag.. The analysis concluded the victim (Kendrick Johnson) and both persons of interest were in different areas of the LHS campus during the time in question and the two persons of interest were not in the general vicinity of the old gym where Johnson was last seen, the report stated. Brian Bell had been living under the radar until his arrest. He is one of the most outspoken actors in the 80s films. The $100 million lawsuit claims that Johnson was beaten to death by two classmates, according to CNN. Pollock believed the evidence was so crucial that he flew to Georgia to show Kendricks parents. Kendricks father was shocked by his sons disfigured body. He also said Brian Bell had struck Johnson in the neck with a 45-pound dumbbell during a roid rage episode and that someone who witnessed the murder was threatened with violence if they told. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. Brian Bell, a star college football player, said he broke down when his dorm room was raided last month. The Johnsons have rejected that conclusion and have made repeated claims their son was murdered by classmates and the incident was covered up by numerous local and state officials. Over the years, the Johnsons have publicly implicated brothers Brian and Branden Bell in Kendricks death. Kenneth also said lacerations and bruising to his sons face made him think Kendrick was in some sort of fight. While Brian told the media that he considered Kendrick a friend, Austin, another one of Johnsons friends, alleged that a year before his death, Brian and Kendrick had an altercation on the bus as they headed to a football game that was being played out of town. CrimeOnline has chosen not to publish the most graphic of those images. They wanted to make this look like it was an accident because they didnt want to do an investigation.. Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said that this week, a federal judge approved his request to obtain evidence in Kendrick Johnsons case. Similar to Kendricks mother, Tills mother, Mamie Till Mobley, wanted to call attention to what happened to her son, so she held an open-casket funeral and allowed Jet magazine to publish photographs of her childs disfigured and bloated corpse. Every Weezer Album, Ranked. Brian had told local media in numerous interviews that he had not seen Kendrick on the day he vanished. Finding Kendrick Johnson presents police documents that state that Kendrick is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and his shoulders measured 19 inches. Lowndes County police said they believed Kendrick crawled into the mat to retrieve his shoes, became stuck, and continued to burrow into the mat until he became completely trapped and died. I could start and stop my list with this record. Moving on, a man pretending to be the Bells' second cousin and provided the Johnsons with a recording. The Johnson family also pursued various civil lawsuits without success; they were even countersued and face potential legal costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars. We are calling on President Biden and his team to review the malpractice at the FBI and the DoJ with the Kendrick Johnson case and unless Washington DC starts looking at this case, the state of Georgia is never going to deal with this. Bells family has repeatedly denied the brothers involvement in Johnsons death. The No. They also claim to have alibis for the time that he went into the school gymnasium and did not return. Brian and Branden Bell have been targets of suspicion in Johnsons death since shortly after his body was found upside down in a vertically stored gym mat at Lowndes High School on January 10, 2013. If a white kid had been rolled up in the gym that day, I wouldnt have had to do this, he says by phone from California. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This is eight years worth of pain and it iss growing stronger and stronger every day.