Chattanooga minister died of blunt-force injuries

Kenneth Johnson
Kenneth Johnson
photo Kenneth Johnson
photo Jordan Craig and Steven Kelley

The Chattanooga associate minister who was killed Nov. 10 suffered brain damage, bone fractures and bruises, swelling and cuts on his face when he died, according to a preliminary report by the Hamilton County Medical Examiner's Office.

Kenneth Johnson, 59, died from blunt-force injuries to his head, the report concludes. Johnson was found dead in a ditch on Nov. 11 in an alley off Blackford Street. Police have since arrested and charged 22-year-old Steven Kelley and 26-year-old Jordan Craig with first-degree murder in the death.

Johnson's injuries were almost entirely on the left side of his face, the report shows. The bones in Johnson's face were fractured in eight places and the left side of his face was swollen and cut. The right side of his face was untouched, according to the report.

He also suffered two bruises on his back under his shoulders -- the medical examiner described one as "linear."

Johnson's family members did not return requests for comment Tuesday. Representatives from the church where he served as an associate minister, Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, also did not respond to messages.

Johnson's death surprised many who knew him. They called Johnson a good man who was always trying to help others. But the suspects in his death told police they met with Johnson in order to buy drugs and only attacked Johnson after he asked Craig for sex in exchange for the drugs.

However, police found no evidence of illegal drugs and the suspects told significantly different versions of what happened that night.

A woman who said she witnessed the attack said she saw a man hitting Johnson with a baseball bat and called 911 to report the assault after it happened. By the time police arrived 48 minutes later, Johnson was likely already dead and the responding officer did not notice Johnson's body in the ditch. The body wasn't discovered until the next morning.

The suspects are set to appear in Hamilton County Sessions Court on Dec. 18 for a preliminary hearing.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas.

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