Funeral Home Owner Held for Decomposing Bodies

Chris Lee Johnson, owner of Johnson Funeral & Cremation Services in Douglas, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with 17 counts of abuse of a dead body after authorities discovered 18 bodies, including children and pets, in various stages of decomposition at his funeral home during an eviction process. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an ongoing investigation with additional charges anticipated. Johnson, who had previously run unsuccessfully for Coffee County coroner, is being held without bail due to the severity of the charges. Community members have expressed difficulties in contacting Johnson and receiving services, such as death certificates. The GBI is working with family members of the deceased to identify the remains and urges anyone with information to contact the authorities.