New Charges Issued For GA Funeral Home Owner In Cremains Case

DOUGLAS, GA — Authorities have announced new charges against a Georgia funeral home owner after 18 decomposed bodies were found a year ago at his business.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Friday said they added theft by deception and other charges for Chris Johnson, owner of Johnson Funeral Home in Douglas.

Johnson was 39 years old in October 2024, when Coffee County deputies found 18 decomposed bodies at his funeral home while serving an eviction notice. The bodies were in various decomposition stages, the GBI said at the time.

Previously, Johnson was arrested on charges of 17 counts of abuse of dead body, authorities said.

Now, the GBI says they have charged him with violation of vital records registration, felony theft by taking, seven counts of misdemeanor theft by taking, three counts of felony theft by deception, 13 counts of misdemeanor theft by deception and 13 counts of first-degree forgery.

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"These additional charges are a continuation of the investigation into the remains found at Johnson’s Funeral Home and his related business practices. All families affected have been notified as it relates to their loved ones and the cremains provided to the GBI. Again, out of respect for their privacy, the GBI will not be releasing the identities at this time," authorities said in a brief.

In December 2024, James A. Sirmans, 52, of Fitzgerald, was arrested in connection with the case and charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, the GBI said.

The warrants were issued by the Insurance Commissioner John F. King's office, and the charges were related to a "2023 investigation into an attempt by Sirmans to fraudulently obtain additional life insurance proceeds by altering the cause of death on a death certificate in 2022," the GBI said.

Sirmans was booked into the Coffee County Jail but was released on bond, the GBI said.

King's office also charged Johnson with theft by deception, forgery, submitting fraudulent vital records, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and two counts of insurance fraud, the GBI said.

In January, the GBI said all cremains had been identified, and families have been notified.