GA Sheriff Offers $500K Reward In Teen's Gym Mat Death

GEORGIA — A Georgia sheriff said he is offering a half million dollars of his own money for any information that would lead to an arrest and conviction in the death of Kendrick Johnson—a teen who was found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at school nine years ago.

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk announced the reward following accusations that he botched the investigation.

Classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found Johnson's body on Jan. 11, 2013. Sheriff's investigators decided soon after that Johnson died in a freak accident, stuck upside down and unable to breathe while trying to retrieve a shoe that fell inside the upright mat.

Johnson's parents have long insisted that someone killed him, and that school officials and law enforcement covered up the crime.

Paulk reopened the investigation into the teen's death in March but recently concluded Jan. 26 there was no evidence of foul play after reviewing evidence collected by federal investigators.

Negative outcry stemming from that ruling prompted Paulk to release the following statement this week:

After the release of my synopsis of the federal files on the Kendrick Johnson case, his parents have called me a liar and continue to state that Kendrick was murdered.

Because of these statements, I am personally - with my own funds - offering a reward of one-half million dollars ($500,000.00) to anyone who comes forward with information that results in the arrest and conviction of a person for the alleged murder of Kendrick Johnson at Lowndes High School.

Anyone who proved information will be required to do so in a contact interrogation at the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office.

I also urge anyone - including the family - to add to this reward if they so desire.

Paul has also dismissed allegations of a cover-up, saying: “Any person who looks at this case objectively would know that it would be impossible to conceal any evidence due to the involvement of so many agencies and investigators.”

Johnson's mother, Jaqueline Johnson, said she doesn’t trust the sheriff’s findings.

“You didn’t find nothing in 17 boxes? That’s the craziest lie you could have told," she told WSB-TV. “We already knew what team you were on. You are not on the team of righteousness.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.