Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. One such student wasBrian Bell, who allegedly confessed to killing Johnson. Touchton, who is white, reviewed case files and conducted interviews with students and medical personnel and law enforcement to look for evidence of murder and a cover-up. The bouncer even admitted he was under the influence and they still didnt test him for anything. Wouldnt it be something that we are two years into this (investigation) and all that we get out of this are some allegations of witness tampering or witnesses may have had conversations with the Bells related to grand jury testimony. Taylor Eakin slept with Kendrick and Brian Bell then beat him to death with a gym weight. ]); You cant tell me that this case was looked into or executed properly. The bouncer said that after he pushed Christopher out the door of the bar, it made Christopher drop his phone, and upon Christopher picking up his phone, it annoyed Christopher so much that the bouncer's perception is that Christopher swung at him first, yet he said Chistopher never made contact. Works at Piedmont. The Bells countersued and also filed libel and defamation suits against Ebony magazine and a freelance journalist for portraying their sons as murderers. Coming Monday: A deeply divided Valdosta deals with the aftermath of KJs passing. Gary Hilyer came there that morning with a weapon; with a gun. Lives in Columbus, Georgia. Benjamin Crump, co-counsel for the Johnsons, who also has represented the family of Trayvon Martin in the George Zimmerman case, of Michael Brown, who was killed by police in Ferguson, Mo., and Tamir Rice, who was shot to death by Cleveland police for holding a toy gun, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that federal prosecutors are convinced Kendrick Johnsons death was not accidental. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. In October 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice began a federal investigation. Facebook: @JoshShapiroPA and @PAAttorneyGen cnx.cmd.push(function() { / CBS News. As well as reviewing possible mishandling of evidence & inappropriate behavior on behalf of law enforcement. This bouncer was under the influence (admitted to police), had no formal training to be a bouncer, has a history of domestic violence and has gotten into other altercations at bars he's worked at. The suit also alleges local officials tried to cover up the crime. Article states Kendrick rolled himself. These two witnesses, Ryane Conroy said were too drunk to take their statements seriously. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. Publicly, at least, no evidence has surfaced that links the Bells to Johnsons death. rally in memory of Kendrick Johnson, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Atlanta. ET. https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-joann-matouk-romain-part-1/ Randell Meyers was fatally shot by Gary Hilyer. Yet, what he told police is that Christopher wasn't much trouble, that he was very intoxicated and couldn't stand up straight. But what is the source of this information? cat: 'news', Taylor Eakin. Mail: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney, General Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120 Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The incident sparked racial strife in the community and gained national attention when Florida State withdrew a football scholarship offer to Bell, who is white. However, he is enrolled at a school and hopes to play this fall. The local sheriff's department ruled the 17-year-old Johnson's January 10, 2013 a freak accident, saying he fell head-first into an upright mat in the gymnasium at Lowndes High School in Valdosta while trying to retrieve a shoe, and became trapped. Two and a half years ago, Brian Bell, a former football star at Lowndes High School in Valdosta Ga., first was investigated in the death of a classmate. Randell Meyers service was held on January 8th, 2022. In an August 11 letter made public by the Valdosta Times on Tuesday, Ellen Glasser, national president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, asked U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to urge U.S. Attorney Michael Moore, of the Middle District of Georgia, to complete his investigation into Johnson's death. How could I be in two places at once?. Brians mother, Karen Bell, said theyll likely move again, off the grid where theyll be difficult to track. "This is a great player with nowhere to go.". Contact Those officers should be punished for possible obstruction of justice and not complying with orders by a judge to test the blood and urine of the bouncer. via his Instagram. He is missed by everyone so deeply. I always have my .38 ready, she said. Rev. "I want everyone to know the truth," Branden Bell told WSB-TV in an on-camera interview. We are so happy you are here to start this new chapter in our lives with us. Floyd Rose, who is black, is president of a local civil rights organization and originally backed the Johnson family. Id. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying, Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murders of wife and son, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, a federal investigation initiated in October 2013 by U.S. Attorney Michael Moore is ongoing, at least one of the Bell brothers - Branden - was not on campus, contend both Bell brothers were on campus, The Bell family earlier this year filed a countersuit. The residence of 18-year-old Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, was also searched, according to Paul Threlkeld, an attorney representing the Bell and Eakin families, and, according to the. It doesn't take a brainiac to know that one punch can do serious physical damage. Stephanie Slifer covers crime and justice for CBSNews.com. They are hurt and heartbroken over the loss of their loved one. After FSU withdrew its offer to Brian Bell, the linebacker struggled to find another school where he could play football. Twitter: @MichelleMRomain His murderer was my mom's boyfriend. A message needs to be sent that we will not tolerate the abuse of children in this state. rally in memory of their son, Kendrick Johnson, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Atlanta. He blames Moore, the U.S. attorney, for allowing the case to drag on and says several black leaders in the community have backed away from support of the Johnsons. Blame the warm weather, The Jolt: Busy, long day at the Georgia Legislature. - so, it's HIS opinion. The worst part is to have to bury him a third time like another whole funeral and hes leaving us again.. What Involvement Did a FBI Agent and His Sons Have in the Death of Kendrick Johnson? "You won't find a person of any reputation in this town who says that boy was murdered," he tells USA TODAY Sports. King Jr., an attorney in Albany, Ga., who filed the suit, said by phone that the Johnsons were not available to comment. cnx({ Log in to see their photos and videos. And even if the FBI has cleared Bell, that doesnt necessarily mean federal prosecutors have. One has to wonder how a young man is found dead, rolled up in a gym mat, and no one is responsible. I have this entire conversation on audio recording. First published on July 23, 2015 / 12:59 PM. Investigators think Johnson got stuck after he went headfirst down into the center of the standing mat to retrieve a shoe. https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-joann-matouk-romain-part-2/ According to a report released Monday by WALB News 10, the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office has reopened the Johnson case. You bet there are. 99 votes, 21 comments. in 2013 is HORRIFIC, yet his killer was never held accountable. The Bell family earlier this year filed a countersuit in response to the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Johnson family. It was then that a private pathologist concluded the teen died of blunt force trauma to the neck. Eakin allegedly liked Johnson. Yet, he did not consult with any of Christopher's neurosurgeons from that night. The Bell family countersued, accusing the Johnsons of using others as their authorized agents to post messages on various social media, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs, instant messaging, and the like, that were defamatory of the Bells. The Bells also sued Ebony magazinein a $5 million slander and libel suit, based on articles accusing their sonsthrough the use of aliasesof being involved in Kendrick Johnsons death. On September 4, 2002, at approximately 7:55PM, Great Bend Police Department responded to a call at Dolly Madison Bakery, 1004 Harrison, Great Bend, Ks. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. It states that Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, confessed to sleeping with Kendrick Johnson. His parents moved out of state and, because of the death threats, are under the protective custody of the FBI. / CBS News. Bell had become toxic. There are new developments in the case of Kendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old Black student found dead in a school gym in Lowndes County, Ga. in 2013. It strongly suggestspolice corruptionand thereare obvious signs of deceptionand liesamongst people suspected in JoAnns disappearance. By singing this petition you will help JoAnn and her family find answers, peaceand Justice! In January 2013, Kendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old black student, was found dead in a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes High. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Lives in Lufkin, Texas. No other questioning happened after that. The family sued him for wrongful death. However, they state utilizing familial DNA is not an option. This case was thrown to the side at the start of a global pandemic. Instagram: @JusticeforJoAnn On Tuesday at 3.30am, U.S. marshals served a search warrant at the homes of Brian and Branden Bell as well as their parents' The Bell brothers were classmates of Kendrick Johnson, who was. Wilke, Clint and Meghan to Eisenreich, Michael Kaine and Meggie Jean, 8520 N. 172nd Circle, $330,000. When pressed, Johnson said, The evidence that I have at this time, I do not have any at this time.. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. Sheriff Paulk from Lowndes County has reopened the Kendrick Johnson case. Some bills to watch, Atlanta neighbors want to reclaim and revitalize the Joyland neighborhood. Furthermore, the projection is based on Bell's senior year in high school eight years ago. I'm desperate. The countersuit alleges defamation and denies allegations the Bell brothers and their father were involved in Johnson's death in any way. INFORMATION A terrible accident, to be sure, but an accident all the same. It worked. He has not been cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice, Coleman said. Josh Shapiro is planning to run for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2022 our hope is everyone can persuade Josh Shapiro that he cannot sweep Ellens case under the rug as he seeks a higher office. "I do not want to minimize the grief this family has been through," Rose says, "but you cannot make a murder out of an accident.". Taylor Eakin. Relationship between Taylor Eakin and Kendrick Johnson It was rumored that Brian Bell was angry with Kendrick Johnson because he had a relationship with Taylor Eakin. Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton, is the co-founder, and owner of TheIndustryCosign.com. Hall, 19, told The Valdosta Daily Times he was at his residence when agents knocked on his door, pushed their way inside and handcuffed him. The attorney representing the family of Floyd, in 2012 is HORRIFIC, yet his killer was never held accountable. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agreed, citing asphyxiation as the cause of death. The lawsuit also alleges that the Bell brothers acted on a "command" from their father, who is an FBI agent, and that law enforcement made a "deliberate and malicious effort" to withhold evidence of their son's death from the family. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. On Sunday, January 2nd, 2022, Gary Hilyer murdered Randell Meyers in cold blood in Fort Payne, AL. Date of Death: January 10, 2013 Birthday: October 10, 1995 Age at Incident: 17 Race: African-American / Black Gender: Male Hair Color: Black What's Left to be Uncovered Take Action Follow On Social Visit and share the Johnson family's Facebook page for Kendrick. Anderson told USA TODAY Sports that Johnson suffered a single blow or pressure to the head or neck and that he did not find the typical signs of positional asphyxia, including fluid accumulating in the lungs, in his autopsy. Count yall days!!! Download our newest episodes now! Randell Meyers only intention was to grab his belongings after Gary Hilyer let him know he could. McPherson, whose Valdosta teams have won multiple state championships, says Bell is among the best to play for him. Jorgensen said Eakin is a lot smarter than his. Brian and his older brother, Branden, appear to have solid alibis for the time when Johnson was seen on school surveillance footage entering the gym on the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2013. Please sign this petition & spread the word that federal authorities need to reopen this case, so Kendrick & his family can get the justice they deserve!, Disbarred South Carolina Attorney Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty Of Double Murder Of Wife & Son, George Floyds Brother To Lawmakers: & He Didnt Deserve To Die Over $20. "We thought we were making progress," says Leigh Touchton, a former president of the Valdosta-Lowndes NAACP. "I wanted him back in the program. Delong has been reprimanded by LMPD for not having his body camera on. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Read More: Georgia GOP leaders who stood up to Trump back voting bills, Lord to have to disturb his resting peace breaks my heart into so many pieces but it has to be done,Jacquelyn Johnsonposted of her son on Facebook at the time. Johnson's family does not believe the official version. VALDOSTA, Ga. - Government agents this week executed search warrants at the home of two brothers accused in a civil suit of killing Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teen found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in his high school more than two years ago. Follow us on: I am glad to share great news with you all, since we all did this together and stuck by each others side despite the trolls. In a letter dated August 10, 2020, from Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine, he wrote "it is our opinion that the one blow will not meet the elements of either extreme indifference to human life or conduct which creates a grave risk of death or serious physical injury." We thank you in advance for your full cooperation and support throughout the years and ask that you please sign and share to finally bring Justicehome!! Johnsons parents, who also filed a lawsuit against the Lowndes County Board of Education and the board members, have been fighting for over two years to establish the truth and seek justice for their son. masculine culture countries; schuchard elementary staff; azkar al masa; what are swarovski crystals; is black tip ammo legal; biosafe anemia meter australia. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Management According to Brandon Bell, Brian Bell had told Ryan that if he did not keep quiet and help him move Kendrick Johnsons body, his father, who isRick Bell, who is a retired F.B.I. Please help me in signing this petition to get the attention of the District Attorney. That upsets King, a Johnson family attorney, who says, "It is a mystery to me, his conduct.". baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Randell Meyers believed in God and shared his love with everyone he met. "Yesterday [Tuesday] at 3:30 am, the Bell family was awakened at their home by government agents, executing search warrants in a federal Grand Jury investigation about the death of Kendrick Johnson which is almost 2 years old - a case in which no one has been indicted and in which there is no evidence to implicate involvement of the Bells or any member of the Bell family. Local and state police investigators said Johnsons death was accidental, concluding he crawled inside the standing gym mat to retrieve a shoe and became stuck and asphyxiated. tude.cmd.push(function() { Please sign this petition & spread the word that federal authorities need to reopen this case, so Kendrick & his family can get the justice they deserve!, Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. See Photos. Touchton says Egan mentioned Crump at the meeting. Nothing about the investigation has been fair, ethical or just. A massive cover-up to protect the killers ensued, the suit alleges. ", "Why is Florida State willing to fight to the end of time for Jameis Winston," she asks, "and not Brian Bell?". I am asking for one of two things from their office things that Christopher deserves. Witnesses and surveillance footage place the brothers away from the old gymnasium at Lowndes High where, on Jan. 10, 2013, Kendrick was last seen alive. Crump did not return phone messages seeking comment. 1.) Stop the mishandling of evidence in the Dolly Madison Bakery Murders. Then he was out. The suit, which names local law enforcement and the city of Valdosta as defendants, alleges a female lured their son into the gym, where two brothersformer classmates of Johnsonbeat the Black teen to death at the behest of their father Rick Bell, a local FBI agent. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', When asked for the primary evidence linking Bell to the death of Johnson, King referred to a "video" but declined to be more specific. Wine did not review the evidence, clearly. 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bell threatened Johnson and later killed him. The suspect confessed and failed the lie detector test that was administered at the time. at 9-10, 16. Brian Bell has also stated that he killed Kendrick Johnson multiple times over the phone. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Brian Bells Instagram (Photo: Instagram). Bell was in. Both brothers confessed numerous times to the murder. Agents are poor to communicate & Desiree even called them at on their poor investigation at a press conference. There is a timeline of events in this case that isvery troubling. And his name remains sullied to this day, linked to the tragic death of Kendrick Johnson, 17, whose body was found in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High in Valdosta in 2013. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Sheriff Ashley Paulk told WALB News 10 the officers received 17 boxes of documents along with computer towers and hard drives of data and information that had been collected during previous investigations. agent would make sure that he would pay for it, the petition stated. They are now comparing the old information to new information learned about the case. Randell Meyers was a good man. Taylor Eakin. It definitely raises an eyebrow because that is now home for Brian Bell, Marcus Coleman, a spokesman for Kendricks parents, said of the transfer of the case to Ohio. Subscribe to Newsletter How could I have cheated on Brian if we werent dating at the time? Eakin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His killer, Gary Hilyer, is still free. Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, was 16 when she was called before a federal grand jury in April 2014. The petition,created byJay Holden, notes how Johnsons popularity as a high school athlete made him a favorite with the ladies. I had no idea what was going on, she said. env: 'prod', It all started with a fight on a school bus, more than a year before Johnsons death, Kirby Smart: No culture problem, no policy change as a result of fatal crash, The Jolt: Behind the scenes of the Buckhead City defeat, Thirty-nine years at the AJC, and I owe it all to Guy McIntyre, Darnell Washington is a unique NFL prospect, Felony charges dismissed against Georgias Rara Thomas, South metro Atlanta leaders to talk development on Wednesday, Atlanta mayor looks to cultivate citys future while outsiders threaten to pull it apart, Clayton County Commission to meet Thursday in special-called meeting, Itchin mad about the early pollen in Atlanta? aid: '670899', Brandon Bell, who is both a student at Valdosta High School and the brother of Brian Bell, had got drunk at a party on July 4 of 2013 and told people that Brian Bell killed Kendrick Johnson, the petition alleged. Now, it seems government agents may be investigating the Johnsons' allegations. But answers may never come. "The Sheriff's Office and Lowndes County have fully cooperated and provided them with the requested information," Jim Elliott, who represents the sheriff's department as the attorney for Lowndes County, told Crimesider Thursday. ]); Jun 26, 2020 This statement was made by Ryan Anthony Domek-Hernandez-Hernandez. When the case was brought before the DA at the time he cited a lack of evidence and statute of limitations as the reason he wouldn't prosecute. Similar searches were conducted on the two brothers, who live elsewhere and a girlfriend of one of the brothers, according to the Associated Press. An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agreed, citing asphyxiation as the cause of death. "a petty crime"? And how are (prosecutors and the Johnsons attorneys) all on the same page when its not the truth?. A petition on Change.org that has been posting updates about the case shared the following on Tuesday: Hello hello hello, everyone!!! Reopen Kendrick Johnsons Case #J4Kendrick. And how well did she know Kendrick? All Moore has said about the case is that it "has proven more complicated.". In a YouTube video posed Jan. 14, 2013, Eddie Tooley, KJs grandfather, discussed the familys suspicions, saying, They heard this had something to do with a GBI agents son who had an altercation on the bus some time ago.. In 2010, a pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed while in his home. Government agents early Tuesday morning searched and seized property, including cell phones, computers, and other electronics, from the Jacksonville, Fla. area home of FBI agent Rick Bell, whose two sons went to school with Johnson. VALDOSTA, Ga. Brian Bell is a linebacker without a team, just the latest twist in a complicated tale in which race and class intersect with a mysterious death that authorities call accidental but that an aggrieved and grieving family allege was murder. Hall told The Valdosta Daily Times that, after he was handcuffed and agreed to talk to the agents without a lawyer, he was driven two hours to Macon, Ga., and interrogated for four hours.