ATLANTA – A funeral home owner in Coffee County has been arrested following the discovery of 18 bodies in various stages of decomposition.
Chris Johnson, 39, of Douglas was charged with 17 counts of abuse of a dead body.
Johnson was arrested on Sunday after Coffee County Sheriff’s deputies serving an eviction notice at Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Services discovered the bodies on Saturday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was called in and made the arrest.
Johnson ran unsuccessfully for Coffee County coroner last May.
Additional charges are expected, according to a news release from the GBI.
As the investigation is continuing, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at 912-384-4227 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at 912-389-4103.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS, reported online by clicking on https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is completed, the case will be sent to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office for prosecution.