Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: UNSOLVED: The School Gym Murder 2

Host: Carter Roy / Crime House
Date: December 11, 2025

Overview

This episode is the second part of a two-part deep dive into the unresolved death of Kendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old high school student from Valdosta, Georgia, found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in 2013. The story unfolds through the Johnson family's unrelenting pursuit of justice, casting doubt on the official accident ruling and probing the cascade of investigations, lawsuits, and theories that followed. This episode zeroes in on the second investigation, the mounting evidence of possible cover-up, the role of racial prejudice, and new revelations brought to light by public pressure and renewed inquiry.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

The Discovery and Initial Investigation

• Timeline recap:

  • January 11, 2013: Kendrick Johnson’s body found upside down in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School.
  • Initial autopsy: Ruled accidental asphyxia while reaching for a sneaker.
  • Family’s rejection: Johnson family suspicious, seeking an independent second autopsy.

• Medical contradictions:

  • Second pathologist, Dr. William Anderson, finds injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, contradicting asphyxia ruling. (06:03 - 06:13)
  • Family pressures for reopening the case, citing possible racial bias.

Advances in the Case — The Second Investigation

• Federal Inquiry Launched:

  • October 31, 2013: US Attorney Matthew Moore announces a second investigation, forming a task force including DOJ, US Marshals, and DC police. (07:17 - 07:40)
  • Family's relief: “The announcement felt like a huge victory for the Johnson family. They hugged each other and cheered...” (07:40)

• Scrutiny on School Relationships:

  • Focus on students William and Sean Clark (pseudonyms; sons of local FBI agent “Scott Clark”) due to past conflicts and rumors of possible involvement.
  • Suspicion that local authorities gave special treatment to the Clarks due to Scott’s status in the FBI.
  • Quote: “Kenneth thought the authorities were letting his sons off easy.” (09:30)

• Discrepancies in Police Theories:

  • Geometry of mats: Gym mats' openings (14 inches) seemingly too small for Kendrick (shoulders nearly 19 inches) to crawl into unaided. (10:59 - 11:13)
  • Investigation skepticism: “Students told police that when they retrieved their gym shoes, they usually tipped the mats over or unrolled them. They never stuck their whole bodies inside of them.” (10:07 - 10:13)

Apparent Cover-Ups and Tampered Evidence

• Compromised Surveillance Footage:

  • Review by CNN and a forensic analyst revealed that hours of gym surveillance video were missing/corrupted during key times. (13:16)
  • Quote: “Some footage was completely missing...these cameras should have been recording...but somehow they were all missing about an hour of tape during the crucial time period...” (13:22 - 14:06)

• The Blood-Stained Shoe Mystery:

  • A clean Adidas sneaker found on top of Kendrick’s pooled blood, countering police theory that Kendrick was reaching for it.
  • Quote: “If Kendrick was positioned right over the shoe, the dripping blood should have soaked the Adidas. Instead, his blood had pooled on the floor first. Then it seemed like someone had placed the shoe on top of it.” (11:50 - 12:14)

Legal Battles and Public Conspiracies

• Wave of Lawsuits:

  • July 28, 2014: Johnsons file wrongful death suit against Lowndes County Board of Education for surveillance and failure to protect Kendrick. (17:12 - 17:19)
  • Defamation suit: Scott Clark sues Ebony magazine after rumors implicated his sons, despite evidence the sons weren’t present.
  • $100M civil suit: Johnsons sue Clarks, school, police, and officials for homicide cover-up. Local judges all recuse themselves due to conflicts, suit moved to neighboring county. (21:19 - 22:14)

• Accusations, Retractions, and Witness Trouble:

  • Anonymous email accuses Sean Clark, but claims are retracted and found unreliable.
  • New witness (Ryan Domak Hernandez) later arrested on unrelated charges, fueling further conspiracy beliefs by Kendrick’s family.

Ongoing Obstacles and Stalled Justice

• Investigation Roadblocks:

  • Missing evidence: Original autopsy resulted in lost organs; key physical evidence lacking.
  • Task force fails to directly tie suspects to the crime scene; legal and procedural shifts with resignations of US attorneys on the case.
  • Quote: “They felt like they were being stopped at every turn. And instead of helping them get justice, the system was standing in their way.” (25:37 - 25:54)

• Public Re-engagement and a Third Investigation:

  • 2020: BLM protests re-energize case; 1.7 million signatures on a petition to reopen.
  • 2021: Sheriff Ashley Paulk reopens case, personally offers $500,000 reward for info.

• Documentary Revelations:

  • “Finding Kendrick Johnson” documentary exposes overlooked FBI report: footage places William Clark on campus during the window of Kendrick’s disappearance, contradicting prior alibis. (33:29 - 33:54)
  • Quote: “The fact that the FBI had evidence that contradicted what the brothers and their father had said was damning, especially because it seemed like the Bureau never did anything about it.” (34:00 - 34:05)

Final Outcomes and Unresolved Questions

• 2022 Closure:

  • Sheriff Paulk closes third investigation, stating again there was no homicide or cover-up.
  • Quote (Sheriff statement): “There was no homicide, no cover up, no conspiracy. It was simply a tragic and bizarre accident.” (34:42)

• Johnson Family Perseverance:

  • Family refuses to give up, exhuming body for a third autopsy, which again suggests blunt force trauma.
  • Johnson family faces legal and financial hardship but maintains advocacy through the Kendrick Johnson Foundation, committed to transparency and justice.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “The announcement felt like a huge victory for the Johnson family. They hugged each other and cheered as Matthew Moore answered questions on the screen.” (07:40)
• “Students told police that when they retrieved their gym shoes, they usually tipped the mats over or unrolled them. They never stuck their whole bodies inside of them.” (10:07 - 10:13)
• “If Kendrick was positioned right over the shoe, the dripping blood should have soaked the Adidas. Instead, his blood had pooled on the floor first. Then it seemed like someone had placed the shoe on top of it.” (11:50 - 12:14)
• “The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department claimed the footage was raw and unedited, but the analysts discovered the videos were altered to make the image quality worse...some footage was completely missing.” (13:22 - 13:48)
• “They felt like they were being stopped at every turn. And instead of helping them get justice, the system was standing in their way.” (25:37 - 25:54)
• “The fact that the FBI had evidence that contradicted what the brothers and their father had said was damning, especially because it seemed like the Bureau never did anything about it.” (34:00 - 34:05)
• Sheriff Paulk: “There was no homicide, no cover up, no conspiracy. It was simply a tragic and bizarre accident.” (34:42)

Key Timeline & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Event/Summary | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:39 | Kendrick's body discovery, shock and first autopsy | | 06:13 | Second autopsy: evidence of blunt force trauma | | 07:40 | US Attorney Moore launches second investigation | | 10:07 | Students’ gym mat routine vs. official police accident theory | | 11:50 | Adidas shoe blood/pooling contradiction | | 13:22 | Surveillance video tampering revelation | | 17:19 | Family files wrongful death lawsuit | | 22:14 | Johnsons’ $100M civil suit moved to another county | | 24:07 | FBI agent Scott Clark's house is raided by the US Marshals | | 25:54 | Family expresses frustration with perpetual obstacles | | 31:06 | Third autopsy: further evidence of blunt force trauma | | 33:29 | FBI report: William Clark on campus during Kendrick's disappearance | | 34:42 | Sheriff Paulk's closure statement |

Final Reflection

Despite a decade and three separate investigations, Kendrick Johnson's death remains unresolved, mired in alleged cover-ups, conflicting evidence, problematic procedures, and deep family loss. The Johnson family’s advocacy forced repeated reexaminations of the case, drawing national and governmental attention. With each new finding—surveillance gaps, contradictory autopsies, and disputed alibis—the case highlights systemic challenges in American death investigations, especially where race and official relationships intersect. The family’s ongoing campaign serves both as a search for justice for Kendrick and fuel for reform in handling of suspicious deaths.

If you wish to learn more or support the cause, visit justiceforkendrickjohnson17.org.