Burleson Parents Charged After Special-Needs Son Buried

On Oct. 14, Burleson police discovered the body of 26-year-old Jonathan Kinman, who had special needs, buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of his parents’ home after a welfare check prompted by a report from a family friend or neighbor. Investigators say the victim’s mother, December Marie Mitchell, initially told officers Kinman had died at a local hospital and been cremated, but officials found no hospital or medical examiner records to corroborate that claim, and the stepfather had posted on social media that their son had died. The following day, Oct. 15, Burleson officers, assisted by the Texas Rangers, executed a search warrant, exhumed the remains and identified them as Kinman. December Marie Mitchell and stepfather Jonathan James Mitchell were arrested and each charged with tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse; both are being held on $250,000 bonds. The body was taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy; the cause and manner of death remain pending and the homicide investigation is ongoing with additional charges possible. Authorities have declined to release further details, and neighbors and community members have expressed shock and sorrow.