VALDOSTA, Ga — The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that it has reopened the investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson, whose body was found inside a rolledup gym mat atKendrick Johnson, 17, was found dead and rolled up inside a high school gym mat back in 13 Investigators claim that in the findings of the initial autopsy, Johnson's cause of death was ruled by accidental asphyxiation when he got stuck in the mat while trying to retrieve a shoeKendrick Johnson's body has been exhumed twice in recent years In 18, an independent autopsy indicated signs of foul play in the teen's death, the Atlanta JournalConstitution reported "Eight long years — the crying, the tears, the backlash, being talked about, ridiculed — it has not been easy," Johnson added School Attorney Others In Surveillance Footage Of Gym Mat Death Case Cnn Kendrick johnson case solved