Billey Joe Johnson Death Gains Conspiratorial Steam as Family Hires Cochran Law Firm

Billey Joe Johnson's recent and mysterious death has generated a ton of national attention. First, the NAACP stepped in with an independent investigation, circumventing the normal police process, and determined that Johnson's death was not a suicide.

Now -- likely as a result of the NAACP's determination -- the Johnson family has hired legal counsel in order to manage their best legal interests. And they've hired a firm with pretty large national exposure, The Cochran Firm, founded by late O.J. Simpson defense attorney Johnnie Cochran.

"There has been so much speculation in the community surrounding the circumstances of the death of one the most respected high school athletic stars in the area," says Jerome Carter, with The Cochran Firm Mobile.

"The family cannot understand why their son would take his own life with such a bright future ahead of him," continued Carter. "They are looking for answers."

All of this isn't to say that something related to foul play happened, but as I said before, it would have been shocking if the NAACP conducted their investigation, determined suicide wasn't the cause of death and then just moved on.

And unless there is some striking evidence to counteract the NAACP's conclusion, you can almost rest assured that there will be plenty of noise surrounding the resulting autopsies and investigations.

Sports Deaths in 2008

Dec. 17: MMA fighter Justin Levens and his wife are found dead in their California condominium in what police believe is an apparent murder-suicide.

Jeff Gross, Getty Images

Sammy Baugh, Dec. 17: Perhaps the greatest Washington Redskin of all time and the last surviving member of the first Pro Football Hall of Fame class dies at the age of 94.

Chris Richardson, Dec. 11: The Harlem Globetrotter, and former standout at UNLV, dies in his sleep. It is believed he died of natural causes.

D. Clarke Evans, NBAE / Getty Images

Billey Joe Johnson, Dec. 8: The high school football star from Alabama died during a traffic stop.

Rivals.com

Ted Rogers, Dec. 2: Rogers, the founder of Canada's largest cable company and the owner of the Toronto Blue Jays since 2000, dies in his home at the age of 75.

Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press / AP

Pit Martin, Dec. 2: The 64-year-old four-time NHL All-Star dies after his snowmobile plunges into an icy lake near his home in Quebec.

Steve Babineau, Getty Images / NHLI

Armand Guidolin, Nov. 24: He was the youngest player to ever play in the NHL and went on to coach Boston and Colorado.

Will Barrow, Nov. 22: The rising lacrosse star was only 22 years old. A cause of death has yet to be released.

Jim Rogash, Getty Images

Bob Jeter, Nov. 20: The NFL cornerback, seen here late in his career with the Bears, started in Super Bowls I and II for the Packers.

NFL

Pete Newell, Nov. 17: The Hall of Fame basketball coach led California to a national championship in 1959 and the United States to Olympic gold in 1960.

Dino Vournas, AP