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Contested death (2000 to present)

Gregory Johnson Jr.

Ruled suicide, disputedNov 22, 2008 · Age 20 · San Jose, CA

What happened

Gregory Johnson Jr., a 20-year-old San Jose State University junior and kinesiology major, lived in the Sigma Chi fraternity house across from campus. On the afternoon of Nov. 22, 2008, a fraternity brother found him in the basement and called paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A Santa Clara County Medical Examiner autopsy concluded suicide, and a university spokesperson said there was no evidence of anything else.

His parents, Denise Johnson and Gregory Johnson Sr., rejected the ruling. They said Gregory was the only Black member of the house, that they were not allowed to see his body at the coroner's office, and that they later found a crack in the back of his skull. In a lawsuit they alleged he was attacked and the scene was staged. In October 2020 about 300 people marched from San Jose City Hall to the fraternity house.

In February 2021 the university president said county officials had agreed to a new review. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden re-examined the case, visited the scene and reviewed the family's submissions. In November 2021 she reached the same conclusion of suicide. His family continues to dispute it.

The case

Where found
Basement of the fraternity house where he lived, near the San Jose State University campus
Official finding
Suicide (Santa Clara County Medical Examiner, 2008); reaffirmed by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden in a review dated Nov 2, 2021, announced Nov 12, 2021
Investigation
San Jose State University Police investigated. Santa Clara County Medical Examiner Glenn Nazareno supervised the autopsy, which concluded suicide. SJSU spokesperson Pat Lopes Harris said there was "absolutely no evidence" of anything other than suicide (San Jose Inside, March 2009). In February 2021 SJSU President Mary Papazian said the District Attorney's and Coroner's offices had agreed to a new review. The DA's office asked Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden to re-examine the case; she visited the scene and reviewed the full police file, including the family's written submissions, and in November 2021 reached the same conclusion.
Family position
His parents, Denise Johnson and Gregory Johnson Sr., reject the suicide ruling and believe he was the victim of a hate crime. In a lawsuit they allege he was attacked and that the scene was staged (Mercury News). They also said they were not allowed to see his body at the coroner's office (San Jose Inside).
Public evidence
His parents said he was the only Black member of the house. They reported finding a crack in the back of his skull after reclaiming his body, a claim reported by the Mercury News and not confirmed by officials. The 2021 review noted no history of depression in his medical records and no note at the scene. About 300 people marched from San Jose City Hall to the fraternity house in October 2020, and students and activists held further protests and fundraisers in 2020 and 2021.
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-11-14
Verification note: Street address differs between sources: the Mercury News (Oct 2020) puts the house on the 200 block of South 10th Street; San Jose Inside (March 2009) gives a North 10th Street address. Address left out. The date of the original 2008 ruling was not found, so timeToFinding is blank.

Sources

Record history

  1. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Gregory Johnson Jr.
    • Age: 20
    • Date found: 2008-11-22
    • City or county: San Jose
    • State: CA
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: Basement of the fraternity house where he lived, near the San Jose State University campus
    • Official finding: Suicide (Santa Clara County Medical Examiner, 2008); reaffirmed by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden in a review dated Nov 2, 2021, announced Nov 12, 2021
    • Investigation: San Jose State University Police investigated. Santa Clara County Medical Examiner Glenn Nazareno supervised the autopsy, which concluded suicide. SJSU spokesperson Pat Lopes Harris said there was "absolutely no evidence" of anything other than suicide (San Jose Inside, March 2009). In February 2021 SJSU President Mary Papazian said the District Attorney's and Coroner's offices had agreed to a new review. The DA's office asked Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden to re-examine the case; she visited the scene and reviewed the full police file, including the family's written submissions, and in November 2021 reached the same conclusion.
    • Family position: His parents, Denise Johnson and Gregory Johnson Sr., reject the suicide ruling and believe he was the victim of a hate crime. In a lawsuit they allege he was attacked and that the scene was staged (Mercury News). They also said they were not allowed to see his body at the coroner's office (San Jose Inside).
    • Public evidence: His parents said he was the only Black member of the house. They reported finding a crack in the back of his skull after reclaiming his body, a claim reported by the Mercury News and not confirmed by officials. The 2021 review noted no history of depression in his medical records and no note at the scene. About 300 people marched from San Jose City Hall to the fraternity house in October 2020, and students and activists held further protests and fundraisers in 2020 and 2021.
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: Street address differs between sources: the Mercury News (Oct 2020) puts the house on the 200 block of South 10th Street; San Jose Inside (March 2009) gives a North 10th Street address. Address left out. The date of the original 2008 ruling was not found, so timeToFinding is blank.
    • Sources updated