Federal Judge Admits to “Inconsistencies” in Gym Mat Death Case as Johnson Family Files $10B RICO Suit.
On Monday, March 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sarah Geraghty dismissed the family’s long-standing lawsuit against the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies.
In a notable move, Judge Geraghty did not provide a blanket defense of the original investigation. Instead, she explicitly stated that the case still contains significant “holes” and inconsistencies. According to court documents, the judge noted:
- Physical Discrepancies: Official diagrams suggested the gym mat opening was only 14 inches wide, while Kendrick’s shoulder width was measured at 19 inches.
- Evidence Handling: The judge cited a coroner’s report stating the investigative climate was “very poor,” noting that the body had been moved and a sealed body bag had been opened before the coroner arrived.
- Missing Organs: The court order acknowledged the “concerning” fact that Kendrick’s brain and other internal organs were missing when his body was returned to the family.
Despite these admissions, the judge concluded that the claims could not proceed due to legal immunity for the GBI and procedural errors, such as the family failing to properly serve Lowndes County within the 90-day deadline.
The $10 Billion Counter-Strike
Less than 24 hours after the dismissal, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson filed a new 35-page federal complaint seeking $10 billion in damages.
This new action takes the unprecedented step of suing the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the judges involved, including Judge Geraghty and Chief Judge Leigh Martin May. The family alleges a “racketeering-influenced corrupt organization” (RICO) conspiracy, claiming the court system has joined local and state authorities in covering up what they maintain was a “premeditated murder.”
“Anyone, regardless of who you are… if you choose to join the murder cover-up scandal of my son, Kendrick, you do so at your own peril,” Kenneth Johnson stated following the filing.
A Case That Refuses to Close
Kendrick Johnson was found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes County High School in January 2013. While state investigators ruled the death an accidental “positional asphyxia,” an independent autopsy commissioned by the family pointed to “unexplained non-accidental blunt force trauma” and a potential skull fracture.