Home US News Georgia Funeral director arrested following discovery of 18 decomposing bodies, officials report

Funeral director arrested following discovery of 18 decomposing bodies, officials report

0

A funeral home proprietor in southern Georgia has been apprehended and is facing allegations of neglecting human remains after authorities discovered 18 bodies in varying stages of decay while executing an eviction notice on the establishment.

Chris Lee Johnson, a 39-year-old resident of Douglas, has been charged with 17 counts of abuse of a dead body, as confirmed by a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on Monday.

The investigation by the state’s top law enforcement agency commenced over the weekend following a request for assistance from Coffee County sheriff’s deputies who were involved in the eviction process.

According to the arrest warrants, Johnson was reported to have failed to properly store the bodies in his care, which led to “serious disfigurement” of the deceased individuals at Johnson Funeral & Cremation Services located in Douglas.

The GBI is collaborating with the families of the deceased to gather more information regarding the individuals involved and has characterized the inquiry as complex. The investigation is ongoing, with the potential for additional charges being anticipated, as noted in the agency’s statement.

During a court session on Monday, the presiding judge determined that Johnson would remain incarcerated without bail until trial, largely due to the seriousness of the accusations and the likelihood of further charges being filed, as indicated by court documents.

As of now, there is no legal representation listed for Johnson in public court records. He has expressed in court that he does not wish to have a public defender and intends to engage his own legal counsel.

Earlier this year, Johnson contested for the position of Coffee County coroner but was unsuccessful in the May primary election, as reported.

Douglas, Georgia, is a city with a population of nearly 12,000, situated approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta.