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STORY OF THE YEAR
BRIAN BELL: THE DAMAGE OF RUMOR June 2015 Written by: Robert Preston Jr. Photography by: Micki K Photography Brian Bell Lowndes High School
Of all the stories I’ve written with In the Game, the feature on Brian Bell, a 2015 graduate of Lowndes High, was one of the most unique. And disturbing. Everyone knows the story of Kendrick Johnson’s tragic death. Johnson’s lifeless body was found in a rolled up gym mat on Jan. 11, 2013. Brian and his brother, Branden, found themselves in the middle of the investigation into Johnson’s death. Neither of the Bell brothers were seen with Johnson around the time of his death. In fact, Branden was in Macon at a wrestling meet and Brian was in the weight room on the other side of campus when Johnson’s body was found. Their whereabouts were well documented and they weren’t anywhere near Johnson at the time of his death. While both brothers were under scrutiny, the spotlight fixated on Brian. He and Johnson had a well-documented fight on the bus while traveling to a playoff game in 2011. After the fight, they reconciled and never had any problems going forward. They had been friends before the altercation and they remained friends afterwards. In fact, on the day Johnson died, both he and Brian presented a project that morning during a class they had together.
Once Brian had been mentioned in connection to Johnson’s death, everything changed. He had problems with his fellow students, his teammates, and from members of the community. A Division I football talent, he had committed to play with Florida State. However, because of the Johnson investigation, FSU wouldn’t allow him to join the team; Bell ended up at Akron, where he played in 12 games as a true freshman. The repercussions have been far-reaching. In addition to Brian losing his scholarship at FSU, his father, Rick, an FBI agent, left Valdosta and re-located to Jacksonville, Florida. The investigation turned their world upside down. “People don’t know how bad it’s been,” Brian said. “It certainly brought me closer to God. It was also mentally draining. I’ve lost friends. I lost the desire to play football. I’ve been depressed, my family had to move. I used to love it here in Valdosta. Not anymore.” In spite of everything, he says he harbors no resentment for the Johnson family. “I’ve forgiven them,” he said. “They lost a son. That’s a horrible thing for any family to experience.” In The Game | 25