logo
episode-header-image
Jul 27
33m 14s

THE GYM MAT INCIDENT: KENDRICK JOHNSON

Weird Salad Media
About this episode
On January 11, 2013, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. Students discovered his sock-clad feet sticking out during gym class, prompting calls to 911. His mother, Jacquelyn Johnson, who had been searching for him since the night before, arrived at the school unaware of the tragedy unfolding inside the gym. The fight for justice for Kendrick is still as strong as it was that day. Join us as we unravel the details, theories, and lingering questions surrounding this case.

Thanks to our sponsor and for checking out our awesome partners!

MINT MOBILE: Go to mintmobile.com/crimesalad to get your three-month unlimited plan for just 15 bucks a month!

Astonishing Legends: Go to AstonishingLegends.com to explore their episode notes, research links, photos, and book recommendations—it’s a whole rabbit hole waiting to be explored.
Up next
Today
The Mysterious Death of Deborah Waggoner: South Greensburg’s 1990 Unsolved Homicide
On the night of April 17th in 1990, Deborah Waggoner had what seemed like an ordinary plan. Around 7 PM, she left her South Greensburg home in her faded green 1976 Chevrolet Malibu. She told her boyfriend, Charles Stader, that she was headed to the nearby coin-operated Carbon Car ... Show More
39m 34s
Aug 15
Neglect and Abandonment: Mother Leaves 16-Month-Old Jailyn Candelario Alone to Die | Cleveland, Ohio
On West 97th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, tragedy struck when police discovered 16-month-old Jailyn Candelario unresponsive inside her Pack ‘N Play. First responders tried to save her, but it was too late—Jailyn was pronounced dead at the scene. What officers found inside the home ... Show More
44m 32s
Aug 10
Inside the Oklahoma Cabin Surgery Case: Bob Lee Allen & Thomas Evans Gates
In October 2020, a person from Virginia traveled to a remote cabin in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, to meet Bob Lee Allen and Thomas Evans Gates—two individuals they had connected with online. What happened next turned a private arrangement into a full-blown criminal investigation, r ... Show More
31m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 26
Abducted on Her Morning Run by Pure Evil: The Murder of Eliza Fletcher
In the early hours of September 2, 2022, 34-year-old wife and mother of two Eliza Fletcher went out for a ten mile run. She had been training for a marathon, and found that the earlier she went out for her runs, the more time she had later in the day to spend with her two young s ... Show More
1h 2m
Jul 10
MURDEROUS MINDS: The College Crush Murder Pt. 2
After months of stalking and obsession, Prosenjit Poddar finally snapped. In Part 2, we trace the tragic murder of Tanya Tarasoff—and the groundbreaking legal ruling that followed, forcing therapists to ask: when does doctor-patient confidentiality end, and protection begin? Kill ... Show More
43m 24s
Aug 21
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Killer Step-Brother Pt. 2
Nathan Matthews murdered his 16-year-old stepsister Becky Watts—then helped her family search for her. In Part 2, we break down the failed cover-up, the forensic clues that exposed him, and how the truth about one of Britain’s most disturbing family murders finally came to light. ... Show More
40m 4s
Jun 9
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Murder of Gabby Petito Pt. 1
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie looked like the perfect influencer couple—young, in love, and chasing adventure. But behind the Instagram posts was a dark and dangerous reality. In Part 1, we trace the beginning of their relationship, the red flags everyone missed, and the psycho ... Show More
48m 18s
May 29
MURDEROUS MINDS: An Oscar-Worthy Murder Pt. 2
Dan Wozniak played the role of a grieving friend while hiding a deadly secret. In Part 2, we trace the investigation that unmasked the aspiring actor as a cold-blooded killer—from ATM fraud and staged texts to dismemberment, duffel bags, and a twisted confession the cops never sa ... Show More
45m 30s
Jul 17
Wife Survives Husband’s Lead Poison Attempt: The Hannah Pettey Case
In 2022, a 25-year-old Hannah Pettey got away with her life and her kids–an extremely lucky end to the situation she was in. Her husband, 36-year-old Brian Mann was charged with attempted murder after authorities say he was trying to poison Hannah with lead. How did Mann get his ... Show More
49m 43s
Aug 18
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Killer Step-Brother Pt. 1
When Becky Watts vanished, her family begged the public for help. But no one expected her stepbrother could be the culprit. In Part 1, we uncover the disturbing psychology of Nathan Matthews—his fixation on control, violent fantasies, and the moment that obsession turned deadly.K ... Show More
44m 56s
Jun 1
Episode 268 - Lights, Camera…Justice? - The Murder of Anita Knutson
Join us, as we examine the murder of Anita Knutson — a case that’s haunted a small town for nearly two decades, and left one lingering question: Who really killed Anita? How to support: For extra perks including exclusive content, early release, and ad-free episodes - Go to - Pat ... Show More
52m 7s
Aug 11
SERIAL KILLER: "The Killer Boy" Pt. 1
In the 1870s, a wave of brutal attacks rocked Boston. The shocking culprit? A 12-year-old boy named Jesse Pomeroy. In Part 1, we examine the origins of his violent behavior—from childhood trauma to disturbing fantasies—and the warning signs that signaled a killer was emerging. Ki ... Show More
44m 4s
Jun 12
Ivy League Genius Kevin Jiang Murdered by Fiancé’s Stalker Who Tried To Flee?!
On the night of February 6, 2021, 26-year-old grad student Kevin Jiang left his fiancée's apartment in New Haven, CT. After he got into his car, another car crashed into it from behind. Upon getting out of his car to check on the man who hit him, Kevin was fatally shot by the dri ... Show More
1h 2m