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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

No U.S. Charges in Georgia Gym Mat Death

(CN) - The Justice Department announced Monday that it will not pursue federal charges in the death of a Georgia teen found rolled inside a gym mat.

The body of Kendrick Johnson was found rolled up in a gym mat at a high school in Valdosta, Georgia on Jan. 10, 2013.

A medical examiner determined Johnson died of "positional asphyxia."

State and local officials concluded Johnson's death was the result of a freak accident in which he got stuck upside down in the middle of the rolls mat, could not breathe and could not get out.

He parents have consistently maintained they believe their son was murdered and have repeatedly tried to have the investigation reopened.

In a statement released Monday the Justice Department said after an extensive investigation, "federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnson's civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime."

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