Teen's Mysterious Death Gets Federal Review

Nearly 10 months after their son died, the parents of Kendrick Johnson are finally getting what they've been asking for: another investigation into the teen's mysterious death in the gym of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia.

Michael Moore, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, said Thursday that federal authorities will investigate the circumstances behind the death of Johnson, whose bloody body was found inside a rolled-up gym mat on January 11.

Johnson's family suspects the 17-year-old was murdered and that someone has tried to cover up evidence in the case.

While warning his jurisdiction is limited as a federal prosecutor, Moore said that after lengthy review of evidence collected by authorities and the family's own investigator that "sufficient basis exists" to warrant a formal review of the facts.

Major developments in the case are expected over the next several days. The attorney for the sheriff’s office is working to transfer the hours—almost thousands worth, of surveillance footage from in and around to both the family and to CNN as a result of a lawsuit, CNN’s Victor Blackwell reports.

The coroner has said he will make an announcement in the next day or so about his decision to make an inquest. “That inquest could change the official cause of death from accident to homicide, which could then open a local investigation into what happened to Kendrick Johnson.”

SEE FULL STORY