Ga. funeral home owner enters plea over decomposing bodies
DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) - The Douglas funeral home owner who was arrested after 17 decomposing bodies were discovered at his business entered a not-guilty plea Thursday.
Chris Johnson waived his arraignment and entered a not-guilty plea. Just last month, Johnson was denied bond after several families whose loved ones were not properly cremated testified against him.
In October of 2024, 17 bodies and two decomposing pets were found at Johnson Funeral Home in October.
Johnson is also involved in a separate insurance fraud case. As of right now, a trial date has not been set.
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According to an indictment, Johnson willfully defaced a dead body, abandoned a dead human body, and falsely reported final disposition data, among other offenses.
Johnson also faces an additional indictment where the grand jury issued four counts including insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, forgery in the 1st degree, and violation of vital.
James Sirman, his co-defendant in the second case, was also indicted on two counts.
In October, Johnson was arrested and charged after 18 decomposing bodies and two pets were discovered at his funeral home. A judge denied bond for Johnson earlier this month after several families testified at his first court appearance.
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