Please take 30 seconds to sign this petition. Deputy Constable Eakin pursued him and a scuffle ensued, at which time he was shot in the neck. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. pos: 'right_rail_2', And my dads from Memphis anyway so I might come see u and did u like u did Kendrick.. A message needs to be sent that we will not tolerate the abuse of children in this state. You cant tell me that this case was looked into or executed properly. Nora Eakin, the parent of a student at Lowndes High School and a teacher's assistant, said she has talked to other parents about the tone and atmosphere of the grand jury proceedings and they described the questioning by G.F. "Pete" Peterman III, assistant U.S. Attorney, as aggressive and accusatorial. McPherson, whose Valdosta teams have won multiple state championships, says Bell is among the best to play for him. Randell Meyers death was the most unexpected crime they never saw coming. But Michael Moore, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced a civil rights inquiry in late 2013, and 15 months later the case is still being heard by a grand jury. Blame the warm weather, The Jolt: Busy, long day at the Georgia Legislature. "I want everyone to know the truth," Branden Bell told WSB-TV in an on-camera interview. She was asked whether Brian used steroids and whether she was intimidated by his size. This case was swept to the side from day 1 and I BELIEVE it was a cover-up by LMPD. Bell threatened Johnson and later killed him. THE JMR JUSTICE SQUAD Johnson's family, however, insists there was foul play involved. Jacquelyn Johnson, center left, with her husband, Kenneth, right, at a "Who Killed K.J." ", Ray Glier and Erik Brady, USA TODAY Sports, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Instagram: @JoshShapiroPA and @PAAttorneyGen cat: 'news', And even if the FBI has cleared Bell, that doesnt necessarily mean federal prosecutors have. The family would not disclose which school. You never know.. Again, a major conflict of interest. She was secretary of the Valdosta NAACP at the time of the incident and originally was assigned by the state NAACP to aid the Johnsons and their attorney in investigating the case. "Mr. Moore's review began more than twenty-one months ago, and it has taken a huge personal and professional toll on Special Agent Bell and his family. Josh Shapiro has continuously refused to do and even went as far as fabricating that the Attorney Generals Office conducted a thorough investigation. Voulez-vous changer quelque chose ? It strongly suggestspolice corruptionand thereare obvious signs of deceptionand liesamongst people suspected in JoAnns disappearance. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office completed its report on Johnson almost four months after his death and called it accidental. The Johnsons suit casts Bell as a puppet master of sorts who once challenged Kendrick to come over to the Bells house to fight his son. 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? Randell Meyers was fatally shot by Gary Hilyer. As we remember the importance of honoring our veterans, we must also remember the importance of protecting and taking care of these men and women. I'm desperate. 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. A massive cover-up to protect the killers ensued, the suit alleges. They are now comparing the old information to new information learned about the case. Contact Gary Hilyer requested Randell Meyers come to his place of business, Wheels, on a day the business was closed. He has known the owners for years, and worked with the bouncer since he started his job at Nowhere. TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. https://amp.freep.com/amp/78872962 It adds that the Bells have been "subjected to a steady stream of threats while a cloud of suspicion hangs over them.". Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson have never bought that theory about their sons death. She didn't suggest at all that Ben Crump had anything to do with any decision at Florida State. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Had he ever hit her? Taylor Eakin, Brian Bells girlfriend, was 16 when she was called before a federal grand jury in April 2014. In the meantime life in Valdosta had become a struggle for Eakin and the Bells. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Johnson's family, however, insisted there was foul play involved and had their son's body exhumed for a second autopsy. In fact, he was missing from all of the social media platforms. Then he was out. Jacquelyn Johnson, center left, with her husband, Kenneth, right, at a "Who Killed K.J." "It was looking out for the young man. "You won't find a person of any reputation in this town who says that boy was murdered," he tells USA TODAY Sports. In 1972, Pauley began her journalism career as a "temporary, probationary emp "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. Similar searches were conducted on the two brothers, who live elsewhere and a girlfriend of one of the brothers, according to the Associated Press. U.S. The Johnsons filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Bells. 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. INFORMATION But Brian told WSB-TV that the school bus fight was "so small," he "can't even remember" what it was about. subcat: '', In a wrongful death lawsuit, they allege that Kendrick was beaten and stuffed into the mat by the Bell brothers and a third boy. My husband, Christopher McKinney, 35, was murdered on January 5, 2020 by a bouncer at Nowhere Bar in Louisville, KY. Florida State University withdrew a football scholarship offer to Bell in January, one year after FSU had offered it and two years after the death of Kendrick Johnson, Bell's former teammate at Lowndes High School who was found dead in a rolled-up gym mat at their school in January 2013. Why would two bystanders lie about something like this? Whatever the case, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher called McPherson the morning after the meeting with bad news. 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. This investigation has been going on for two years, and there is no indictment, said South Georgia Circuit Superior Court Judge J. Richard Porter, ruling against the federal government. A terrible accident, to be sure, but an accident all the same. 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. In October 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice began a federal investigation. 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. tag: 'mandc,racism', / CBS News. Randell Meyers was an involved son, brother, and uncle. 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. 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. The local Grosse Pointe Police departments were quick to cover up this abduction and murder and call it a suicide. By singing this petition you will help JoAnn and her family find answers, peaceand Justice! 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. It states that Taylor Eakin, Brian Bell's girlfriend, confessed to sleeping with Kendrick Johnson. "The week he died was the week he was going to start weight training and get back into it," McPherson says. I will be making a quick video either today or tomorrow on my Youtube channel about this magnificent victory. Gary Hilyer should have been charged and then he could attempt to defend himself - unlike the chance he gave Randell Meyers. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS She was completely caught off guard. The man who pushed for that probe, U.S. Attorney Michael Moore, resigned in November to join an Atlanta law firm. Stephanie Slifer covers crime and justice for CBSNews.com. This Account is Private Already follow tayloreakin? GoFundMe: GoFundMe Link 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. brian bell and taylor eakin the knot. Moore has repeatedly declined to answer those questions, citing the ongoing investigation. July 23, 2015 / 12:59 PM Gary Hilyer was not charged with anything. Brian Bell has also stated that he killed Kendrick Johnson multiple times over the phone. The investigation was also biased as many LMPD officers thwarted the case by being employees of Nowhere Bar. One has to wonder how a young man is found dead, rolled up in a gym mat, and no one is responsible. Taylor Eakin & Brian Bell 's Registry Welcome to Taylor Eakin & Brian Bell's Wedding Registry. To please assign a new prosecutor to look into all the evidence, or rally in memory of their son, Kendrick Johnson, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, in Atlanta. Id. VALDOSTA, Ga. -- A group of former FBI agents are asking U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to put an end to the investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia teen found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat in his high school gymnasium over two years ago. Earlier this year, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Johnsons parents, Jacquelyn and Kenneth Johnson, filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit. August 25, 2015 / 2:10 PM His murderer was my mom's boyfriend. Wine did not review the evidence, clearly. His ORGANS were STOLEN too. Touchton says Egan mentioned Crump at the meeting. We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. Johnsons parents said their son was murdered by Brian Bell, Brandon Bell and Hall at the behest of Rick Bell, who is an FBI agent. The coroner ruled positional asphyxia as the cause of death. Brian Bell, one of the agents sons named in the Johnson wrongful death lawsuit, posted his reactions to the federal on social media, as was reported in First Coast News: Rick Bells son, Brian, posted this to Instagram. LSU and Florida, he said, had once expressed interest but now told him they were worried his presence would divide the locker room. He does not appear to have an Instagram account. Subscribe to Newsletter Randell Meyers greatest joys was being around the ones he loved. The kind of thing (Moore) is looking for is some statement where there was a suggestion to a witness not to testify or that a witness did not have to testify or something along those lines, said Brice Ladson, attorney for the Bells and Eakins. } Entrepreneurs Summit They seized cellphones and computers, according to the warrants obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Demonstrators in front of the Georgia State Capitol during a "Who Killed K.J." Brian was in class and Branden was out of town for a wrestling tournament, law enforcement officials say. The accusation would first surface three days after Kendricks body was discovered. The Lowndes County Sheriff's Department has stood by its finding that Johnson's death was accidental and maintains that one of the Bell brothers -- Branden -- was not on their high school's campus when Johnson was last seen alive, and that Brian Bell was in another part of the building. page_type: 'article', Christophers rights were not respected. Article states Kendrick rolled himself. A witness described seeing a white male, approximately 6'1"-6'2", weighing 175 lbs, having collar length light brown to blond hair, and a slight beard, walking away from the front door of the bakery. The sheriff's department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and its pathologist are among the law enforcement entities named in the suit. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2021/05/14/new-revelations-in-a-grosse-pointe-womans-mysterious-death/ This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Twitter: @JoshShapiroPA and @PAAttorneyGen All of Fort Payne, AL, says Gary Hilyer is a poor man who runs the town all because he has multiple businesses and used to have money. Reopen Kendrick Johnsons Case #J4Kendrick, Instagram Model, Whose Breast Implant Burst, Wishes She Never Got Plastic Surgery Trying To Get The Extreme Bimbo Look, OMG! Publicly, at least, no evidence has surfaced that links the Bells to Johnsons death. Rose says it is not easy for him to be aligned against an African-American family that is challenging white authorities in south Georgia. https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-joann-matouk-romain-part-2/ https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-joann-matouk-romain-part-1/ 800 Followers, 151 Following, 205 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Brian Bell (@therealbrianbell) BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. A lot of people on social media suspected that the argument occurred because Brian Bell found out that his girlfriend, who was Taylor Eakin, had allegedly had a sexual affair with Kendrick Johnson after a . 1:00 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. They allege that a Jane Doe, later identified as Eakin, lured Kendrick into the gym so the Bells and a classmate could attack him. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. The bouncer said that he hit Christopher one time, however, Det. Off Duty Officer Bert Delong (employee of Nowhere), was one of the officers who stepped into the investigation. "Absent a finding that Johnson's death was a homicide, the continuing and relentless targeting of a dedicated FBI agent and his family sends a disturbing message to the law enforcement community," the letter continues. aid: '670899', In the body camera footage, none of their words are slurred at all. A year earlier, Brian Bell signed a letter of intent to play football at Florida State University. Release of any evidence might compromise the federal investigation of Kendricks death, the government argued. See Photos. "They can ridicule me and they can say whatever they want. Just last month, Moore's office sought access to Lowndes County Sheriff's Office e-mails regarding the case and government agents executed search warrants for evidence of witness tampering or obstruction at the homes of several people named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Johnson's family. } Kendrick Johnson, not unlike other young Black people, ended up dead and the authorities claim there was no foul play. We also have testimony from two people that the bouncer had been doing cocaine the night he murdered Christopher; I have also spoken to many other people close to the bouncer who stated his cocaine problem started soon after he started working at Nowhere. And so Bell finds himself in limbo. THIS IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. targeting: { cat: 'news', Taylor Eakin slept with Kendrick and Brian Bell then beat him to death with a gym weight. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Now more than ever, the Johnson family needs help in their ongoing fight for justice. "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.". Gary Hilyer came there that morning with a weapon; with a gun. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Randell Meyers was saved and believed any person could be saved too. The feds seem to agree. 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. Benjamin Crump, a co-counsel to the Johnsons and a noted civil rights attorney, has an office in Tallahassee and is frequently on the Florida State campus. There isclear cut evidence of a coverupby local law enforcement officials that weresupposed to be investigating this case. Randell Meyers service was held on January 8th, 2022. "It was probably just a single pressure application.". CNN reported that federal marshals, warrant in hand, seized emails from the Lowndes County sheriffs office on July 21 and 22 related to the federal grand jury investigation into the teens death. 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. Brian enrolled in a work-study program his senior year, spending only half a day on campus, where he became a pariah. Taylor Eakin lied and claimed to have starting dating three months after the murder in hopes of legitimizing the Bell's alibi. The familys third autopsy supported the results of the second and that Johnson died of non-accidental trauma to his body,Atlanta Black Starreported. For updates on the case, please FOLLOW US on Twitter and Facebook with #justiceforellen But the judge disagreed. It all started with a fight on a school bus, more than a year before Johnsons death. See Photos. 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. When Black people die, often it is ruled a suicide or an accident, and the victim is blamed for his or her own death. The Johnsons hired William Anderson, former deputy chief of the Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner's Office in Florida, to conduct an independent autopsy. Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton, is the co-founder, and owner of TheIndustryCosign.com. But after Kendricks death, the fight would be framed far more dramatically a prelude, the Johnsons and their supporters allege, to murder. Sign Up. brian bell and taylor eakin the knot. Branden Bell, according to teammates, his coach and the bus driver, was en route to a wrestling tournament in Macon at the time. 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. . url: 'over,a,million,people,are,calling,for,the,investigation,into,kendrick,johnsons,death,to,be,reopened', Lives in Lufkin, Texas. So is Valdosta, which has become bitterly divided by the case, largely along racial lines. Were they sexually active? January 26th, 2021 is the 10thanniversary of Ellen Rae Greenbergs unfortunate death. The Commonwealth's Attorney's office's mission statement claims to promote public safety through the ethical, fair and just prosecution of criminal offenses and to ensure the rights of all persons are respected. Both the Johnsons and the Bells are desperate for closure. 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. ]); How could I be in two places at once?. Moore announced Oct. 31, 2013, that he was leading an investigation into the Johnsons death. "I have players who have gone on to Division I and play in the NFL, and Brian is right there with the others as far as talent," McPherson says. Paulk said information about the case will not be disclosed until it is closed again. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a34452069/joann-romain-theories-disppearance-death-unsolved-mysteries/. However, they state utilizing familial DNA is not an option. According to a report released Monday by WALB News 10, the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office has reopened the Johnson case. The bouncer stated Christopher wasn't much trouble; that he couldn't walk straight and he was visibly intoxicated; HE WAS A VULNERABLE PATRON that was taken advantage of by a power-hungry under the influence bouncer. A few months before Moore opened his review of the case, the U.S. Justice Department declined a request to open a civil rights investigation into Johnsons death, saying it had reviewed the case file and did not see sufficient indication of a civil rights violation.. We can't thank you enough View by We're sorry. Latest on Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Keegan Akin including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN In January 2013, Kendrick Johnson, a 17-year-old black student, was found dead in a rolled-up wrestling mat at Lowndes High. "What Carolyn was saying is that certainly Ben Crump is in this community and he does work on our campus and that it would be an uncomfortable situation for the young man," Hicks says. kw: 'mandc,racism', Brian Bell has also stated that he killed Kendrick Johnson multiple times over the phone. He says decisions on education are controlled by whites even though black students are the majority. The teams head coach, Jimbo Fisher, had personally courted the promising linebacker. One day on a school bus during football season, both Kendrick Johnson and Brian Bell constantly argued with each other (WSB-TV, 2015). Stop the mishandling of evidence in the Dolly Madison Bakery Murders. Theyre investigating it as a homicide, Crump said. Both Kendrick Johnson and Brian Bell constantly argued with each other over Brian Bell found out that his girlfriend, who was Taylor Eakin, was having a sexual affair with Kendrick Johnson. 99 votes, 21 comments. In 2018, they asked for and received permission to exhume their sons body to have athird autopsyconducted. Johnson's cause of death left many suspicious. 2.) A spokesperson for Moore, U.S. attorney in the Middle District of Georgia, said he had no comment. She resigned from the local NAACP. But the line of questioning was intense and deeply personal, Eakin recalls. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Brian Bell eventually landed a football scholarship at the University of Akron, a Division I school in northern Ohio.
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