VALDOSTA — The parents of Kendrick Johnson are reportedly opposing the online publication of a photo from their son’s autopsy which has sparked questions about where the photo came from and what it depicts.

On Jan. 11, 2013, Johnson’s body was found upside down in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School. A state autopsy ruled the 17-year-old’s death accidental. Johnson’s parents believe their son died of foul play. A federal grand jury is reviewing the case.

On. Jan. 14, 2013, an autopsy was conducted on Johnson’s body at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s lab in Macon. During the autopsy, 37 images were taken.

The extremely graphic photos document the autopsy, including incisions made to Johnson’s neck, back and scalp to analyze tissue for evidence of bruising.

The autopsy concluded Johnson’s death was accidental due to positional asphyxia after becoming trapped inside the rolled-up gym mat after squeezing into the small space while reaching for a shoe.

The GBI’s autopsy photos were added to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office investigative case file.

When LCSO closed its case in May, Chevene King, a lawyer representing Johnson’s parents, requested copies of the case file.

Jim Elliott, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office’s attorney, said he gave King copies of the autopsy photos, scene photos and case file documents with the names of minor children redacted.

Johnson’s parents then sued the sheriff’s office to obtain the complete and unredacted case file, including surveillance footage from the high school. News network CNN joined the suit requesting the same materials.

On Oct. 30, 2013, Southern Circuit Judge Harry Altman ruled in favor of the Johnsons and CNN and ordered, over Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine’s objections, the “full release” of the investigative case file, according to court documents.

Since, dozens of media organizations and individuals have filed open records requests with the sheriff’s office and have obtained the case file, which includes documents, scene photographs, autopsy photographs and school surveillance footage, said Elliott.

A Tallahassee, Fla., television station reported this week that Johnson’s parents were upset that autopsy photos had been published on the online blog Re-NewsIt and reported the Johnsons’ claim that the photos were not part of a judge’s ruling last year that the entire case file be made public.

Elliott maintains that Judge Altman’s ruling in favor of the Johnsons and CNN requires him to include autopsy photographs when fulfilling open records requests.

Georgia law restricts public access to certain types of autopsy photos unless otherwise ordered by a judge.

Friday marked one year since United States Attorney Michael Moore announced his review of the investigation into Johnson’s death. His investigation continues.