Georgia funeral home owner arrested after 18 bodies found in various stages of decomposition

DOUGLAS, Ga. (TCN) -- A 39-year-old funeral home operator faces charges after authorities reportedly found over a dozen decomposed bodies.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), on Oct. 26, Coffee County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered 18 bodies in various stages of decomposition while serving an eviction notice at Johnson Funeral Home, which Chris Johnson owns and operates. Authorities also found the bodies of a dog and cat, WALB-TV reports.

On Oct. 27, the GBI arrested and charged Johnson with 17 counts of abuse of dead body. In an update posted Oct. 28, the state bureau of investigation said, "Due to the complexity of this investigation, we are working to centralize the flow of information from the community to the GBI. There are three methods available to submit information about the decedents or their family members."

Coffee County Coroner Brandon Musgrove reportedly told community members, "My priority is to get the bodies properly identified and make the notifications to the family. Please bear with us. We’re working as diligently as we can."

Several people who used Johnson's Funeral and Cremation Services expressed concern to WALB about whether they actually received the correct remains.

One family said, "The first reaction was, I hope it wasn’t our daughter. But then you realize, if it’s not our daughter, it’s someone else’s."

Another woman said she paid for services but never received a death certificate. The woman told WALB, "I have called probably over 50 to 60 times, and he has not once returned my phone call. And I just wonder with all these bodies, is that even my mama’s body in this urn?"

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