Episode 2: The Mysterious Death of Kendrick Johnson On January 10, 2013, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson walked into Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, and never came home. The following morning, his body was discovered upside down inside a rolled wrestling mat in the school's old gymnasium. Investigators ruled his death an accident caused by positional asphyxia. But a second autopsy commissioned by Kendrick's family reached a very different conclusion, sparking years of public debate, federal investigations, and continued calls for answers. In this episode of Missing In Color, we examine Kendrick's life, the timeline leading up to his death, the official investigation, the independent autopsies, the Department of Justice review, and why this case remains one of the most debated deaths in recent history. Follow Missing In Color for weekly MIC Alerts, case updates, and future episodes. Instagram: @missingincolor TikTok: @missingncolor U.S. Department of Justice. Justice Department Closes Investigation into the Death of Kendrick Johnson (June 20, 2016). https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/justice-department-closes-investigation-death-kendrick-johnson U.S. Department of Justice. United States Attorney Remarks Regarding Kendrick Johnson Investigation (Oct. 31, 2013). https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/united-states-attorney-remarks-regarding-kendrick-johnson-investigation Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Autopsy Report Lowndes County Sheriff's Office investigative records and public statements Valdosta Daily Times – Timeline of a Tragedy https://valdostadailytimes.com/2013/05/04/timeline-of-a-tragedy/ Valdosta Daily Times – Johnson Autopsies Compared https://valdostadailytimes.com/2013/09/05/johnson-autopsies-compared/ WALB News – Case of teen found dead inside gym mat remains active, sheriff's office says (2026) https://www.walb.com/2026/04/21/case-teen-found-dead-inside-mat-lowndes-high-school-2013-remains-active-sheriffs-office-says/ CBS News – Police Focus on Timeline in Kendrick Johnson Gym Mat Death https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-focus-on-timeline-in-kendrick-johnson-gym-mat-death/ CBS19 https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/police-focus-on-timeline-in-kendrick-johnson-gym-mat-death/501-266171761 CNN – Georgia Gym Mat Death https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/09/us/georgia-gym-mat-death ABC7 Chicago – Missing Organs, Newspaper Found Instead During Second Autopsy https://abc7chicago.com/archive/9282320/ Forensic Tales – The Death of Kendrick Johnson https://forensictales.com/death-of-kendrick-johnson/ VSU Spectator – Second Autopsy Reveals Foul Play in Johnson Case https://vsuspectator.com/2013/09/05/second-autopsy-reveals-foul-play-in-johnson-case/ CNN Interview/Coverage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIg2Np0Q-UY Public social media posts by Jacquelyn Johnson Public statements released by the Johnson family Sources & Notes: This episode was researched using official investigative records, Department of Justice documents, local and national news reporting, independent forensic reports, and publicly available statements from the Johnson family. Every effort has been made to accurately represent the available information and distinguish between official findings, independent medical opinions, and publicly reported allegations. Some source material contains graphic descriptions and crime scene photographs. Viewer discretion is advised. Because every case deserves to be seen. New episodes every Friday • MIC Alerts every Monday & Wednesday
