Former classmates of Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teen who was found dead in a gym mat at Lowndes High School, have been subpoenaed along with their parents.
It’s been four months since a federal investigation was launched into Johnson’s death after his family accused local investigators of covering up what really happened.
Initially, local investigators claimed Johnson’s death was an accident and that the 17-year-old suffocated while he was crawling into the middle of a gym mat to retrieve a shoe.
After Johnson’s family funded their own autopsy, however, a very different picture was painted.
The family was told that the cause of the teenager’s death was “apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma.”
On Thursday, sources from CNN reported current students at Lowndes High School, and both current and former students from Valdosta High School were seen entering the federal courthouse in Macon.
A full list of those who were subpoenaed has not been released, but Lowndes County Schools said they were only subpoenaed to provide surveillance footage from the school.
Source: CNN
County Coroner Bill Watson said he has not received a subpoena, although the FBI interviewed him twice.
The FBI also interviewed Johnson’s parents for three hours in December.
While the process is slow, Johnson’s family is relived that progress is being made to find the real answers behind his death.
“They answered a lot of questions about a lot of what we had heard,” said Kendrick’s mother, Jacquelyn Johnson, in January.
Kendrick’s father, Kenneth Johnson, said that while he his pleased to have the FBI investigating, he is eagerly waiting for justice for his son.
“We really won’t feel anything until justice comes for Kendrick,” he said. “We’re glad they’re here, but my feelings won’t be there until we get justice for our son.”
Kendrick’s body was found in January 2013 and sparked national debate and speculation that local investigators are trying to cover up what really happened.
