Chris Johnson, owner of Johnson Funeral & Cremation Services, will remain in jail until at least December 5, 2024, after his November 19 bond hearing was continued. Johnson is being held in an out of county facility following his October arrest after 18 decomposing bodies were found inside the funeral home.
On October 27, 2024, Johnson was arrested at his home on 17 counts of abusing a dead body and transported to the Coffee County Jail. He was later transferred to an out of county facility for his safety.
Last week, Marilyn Bennett, Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney, filed a motion asking for a continuance until early January to give investigators time to identify the bodies and notify next of kin. There was no ruling on the motion until Tuesday, November 19 – the day of the hearing. Johnson was in court when Judge Dwayne Gillis continued the case.
Three additional charges have also been added to Johnson’s initial list of 17 charges. Johnson has also been charged with three counts of violating vital records registration and one count of theft by taking.
Last week, the GBI announced that 12 of the 18 bodies had been identified.