United States Marshals made a significant move this week in the ongoing investigation into Kendrick Johnson’s death in Georgia. The 17-year-old died two years ago, but friends and family have been adamant since his passing that his death was not accidental. Many are hoping after these latest moves that answers may finally be on the way.
CNN reports that federal marshals have now seized emails from the Lowndes County sheriff’s office related to the Kendrick Johnson case . Though Georgia officials initially investigated Johnson’s January 2013 death and determined there was no foul play involved, others have felt certain that Kendrick’s death was a homicide.
Marshals arrived at the county IT offices earlier this week with a warrant for all of the emails related to Kendrick Johnson’s death. The warrant is said to be linked to the federal grand jury investigation into the teen’s death. Jim Elliott, the attorney for the county, declined to share specifics regarding the warrant or the emails seized.
The Lowndes County investigators said that Johnson’s death came from “positional asphyxia” that came as the teen was stuck in a gym mat after reaching in for his shoe. The family hired a forensic pathologist, however, who says that the death appeared to be a homicide and noted blunt force trauma on Johnson.
As the Inquisitr has previously reported, some video footage from the gym where Johnson died was released and there were many felt the footage raised additional questions. An expert analyst said that there was footage missing and many believe that the footage showed enough to indicate that there was more to this case than what the county’s investigation revealed.
CBS News adds that investigators also executed warrants at the homes of two young men who are named in the civil suit the Johnsons have brought forth. Kendrick’s family has filed a $100 million wrongful death suit over the teen’s death. They allege that Brian Bell, 18, and Branden Bell, 20, had been encouraged by their father, local FBI agent Rick Bell, to assault Johnson. The Bell brothers attended school with Johnson.
Attorney Paul Threlkeld is representing the Bell family as well as Brian Bell’s girlfriend’s family and he indicates that warrants were executed on the Bell home as well as girlfriend Taylor Eakin’s home. Brian Bell’s college dormitory room was also searched. Threlkeld says that cell phones, computers and other property were seized after the warrants were executed.
No charges have ever been filed in relation to Kendrick Johnson’s death. The Johnson family alleges that the Bell brothers were involved in the teen’s death and that local officials helped cover up what happened. The Bell family has also filed suit against the Johnsons, denying that the family was involved and claiming defamation.
So far U.S. Attorney Michael Moore, who is behind the federal investigation, has not shared specifics about the moves made this week in the investigation. Little has been revealed at this point regarding the ongoing grand jury investigation, but those close to Kendrick Johnson’s family remain hopeful that answers as to what happened on that January 2013 will be coming.
[Image via Rolling Out ]