Teen indicted over false statements charge in wrestling mat death

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, February 3, 2015

VALDOSTA — A Lowndes County grand jury has indicted a man charged with providing false statements to investigators about the death of Kendrick Johnson.

Dalton Chauncey, 19, was indicted Friday by the Lowndes County Superior Court grand jury for statements he made to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

In July 2014, Chauncey told investigators he was present during a conversation in which he heard two individuals admit to causing Johnson’s death in January 2013.

Johnson’s body was found upside down in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School. A state autopsy ruled the 17-year-old’s death accidental. The Johnson family insists their son died of foul play.

Chauncey reportedly told investigators he only knew the first names of the two individuals he said made the admission, but he did provide the full name of a person he said was present during the alleged conversation.

That individual denied ever being present during “any such conversations,” stated the sheriff’s office.

Investigators attempted to identify the two unknown persons but were unable based on the information Chauncey provided, according to the sheriff’s office.

After investigators were unable to verify the claims, the suspect reportedly admitted to making up the conversation, reports indicated.

He “admitted that he had fabricated the story while at the home of friends in order to boast,” stated the sheriff’s office. He “also clarified the two persons who vaguely identified were fabricated and do not exist.”

Chauncey told investigators his friends were reading online articles speculating about the cause of Johnson’s death when he claimed to have heard the confession, said Lowndes County Sheriff’s Lt. Stryde Jones.

A trial date for the case as yet to be set.