Dozen Decomposed Bodies ID'ed After 18 Found At GA Funeral Home

DOUGLAS, GA — Twelve of the 18 decomposed bodies found in late October at a Georgia funeral home have been identified, state authorities said.

Authorities on Oct. 26 arrested the funeral home's owner, Chris Johnson, after deputies serving an eviction notice located the bodies in various stages of decomposition at Johnson Funeral Home in Douglas.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Friday said its agency and the Coffee County Coroner's Office were able to identify most of the bodies, but are working to identify the last six remains. The GBI said they are attempting to determine if the remains are human.

"The GBI continues its work in trying to verify the cremation information and whether cremains were sent to the correct families, as well as other investigative leads. The Criminal Investigations Division of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance is also assisting the GBI to investigate irregularities in insurance proceeds," the GBI said in a news release.

The families of those identified have been notified, and they have received information to finalize funeral arrangements, the GBI said. The names of the bodies will not be released for the privacy of the families, the GBI said.

Johnson was charged on suspicion of 17 counts of abuse of a dead body, the GBI previously said.

The investigation remains active, the GBI said.

Authorities asked anyone with information to call the Coffee County Sheriff's Office at (912) 384-4227 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at (912) 389-4103.

Anonymous tipsters can call 1 (800) 597-8477, submit tips online via the GBI or use the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.