UPDATE: August 30, 2013
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL)--The results of a second autopsy are now in. This after a 17-year old Lowndes High student was found dead in a rolled up gym mat back in January.
The family's attorney did confirm the autopsy has been finalized, but wouldn't comment any further than that on what the actual results are.
Kendrick Johnson's father did tell me quote "all our thoughts from the beginning have been true and we are going to fight until the end until we get justice for our son."
Johnson was found dead in a rolled up gym in January at Lowndes High School. The first autopsy report performed by Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed his death was accident and that he died as a result of asphyxia.
Investigators believe he reached inside the gym to retrieve a shoe and got stuck.
The family believed foul play was involved so they hired a their own pathologist in Orlando to conduct a second autopsy.
The attorney says he will release information on the autopsy next week.
UPDATE: May 6, 2013 6:30 p.m.
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL)--Kendrick Johnson's death has been front and center on the minds of many people in Valdosta.
In recent weeks, Kendrick Johnson's parents have told me they don't believe their son's death was an accident, which is how it was ruled officially last week after the release of a full autopsy report.
Now the parents' attorney is pressing forward asking the U.S.Attorney's Office to get involved.
"What we are hoping is that by knocking on more than one door that is a part of the Department of Justice that we will get Kendrick's case re-examined," said C.B. King.
Johnson's family members have been protesting for weeks.
That all culminated this weekend in a rally in Valdosta featuring civil rights activist Al Sharpton.
Despite the official autopsy report now being out, King says this is just the beginning. The attorney sent a letter to the Lowndes High principal in February.
"What that letter does is that it requests any pertinent or potentially pertinent information and evidence be preserved in an anticipation of a potential suit being investigated and or filed," said Warren Turner, the attorney for the Lowndes County School system.
C.B. King says filing suit against the school is not a priority right now.
Deputies with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office say they conducted more than 100 interviews in the case.
They tell us the case is closed unless they have more witnesses come forward.
UPDATE: April 25, 2013
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL)--"We're not going to stop until they tell me what happened to my child," said Jacquelyn Johnson, Kendrick Johnson's mother.
The parents of the teen found dead inside a rolled up gym mat at Lowndes High School are arrested during a tense protest.
Family and friends of the late Kendrick Johnson marched to the Lowndes County Judicial Complex.
The family was trying to put more pressure on investigators for information on the 17-year old's death.
Family members stretched across the front of the judicial complex.
The video shows them blocking the entrance of the public building so people could not enter or leave, which is against the law. A total of seven people were arrested including the teen's parents Jacqueline and Kenneth Johnson. Lowndes County investigators say they're all charged with obstruction.
The family believes Johnson was murdered but deputies aren't releasing details about the investigation until they get the final autopsy. Then they'll know his exact cause of death. The district attorney says it's taking so long because the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is not properly funded.
"Everybody should be able to get timely results," said David Miller, the district attorney. "Everybody should get this information back so that we can see how our children are dying in this state," said David Miller, the district attorney.
The district attorney tells us the GBI has been asked to expedite this case because of all the attention it's received.
We called the medical examiner's office at the crime lab in Macon. We were told they are not allowed to talk to reporters. We will update you as soon as we know the results of the autopsy.
The Valdosta State University and Morehouse College NAACP chapters helped in organizing the protest.
April 9, 2013 5:05 p.m.
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL)--Family members are protesting the death of a teenager found dead at his high school.
Investigators believe 17-year old Kendrick Johnson died after he fell and got stuck inside a rolled up wrestling type mat at Lowndes High school nearly three months ago.
"He ran track," said Jacquelyn Johnson, Kendrick's mother. "He played basketball. Football was his passion. He wanted to play for the gators."
17-years old Kendrick Johnson is supposed to be alive, dreaming of football.
"That's my child first of all he mean the world to me," said his mother.
Now all that's left are the memories and pain of losing him.
The family has all along believed that someone killed him.
They hope this demonstration in downtown Valdosta will help bring justice.
"It should make people come forward with information to tell what really happened," said Kenneth Johnson, Kendrick's father.
Based on the preliminary autopsy report, investigators with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office say there weren't any injuries that showed signs of foul play.
This after a couple of students found Johnson dead inside a rolled up gym mat.
"This is an open case," said Lowndes County Lt. Stryde Jones. "It's not closed. We've not made a final decision."
Sheriff deputies say they are still waiting on the final autopsy which includes a toxicology report to show them what exactly Kendrick Johnson died from. Meanwhile his family is filled with grief and anger.
"We know you are hurting but we want to give you the correct information," said Lt. Jones.
The family hopes they'll soon know exactly what happened to their son inside the school's old gym back in January.
The answer lies at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab. No word on when the final autopsy will be completed.
