DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) - Bond has been denied for Johnson’s Funeral Home Owner Chris Johnson.

Johnson is facing 17 counts of abuse of a dead body, three counts of violation of vital records registration, and one count of theft by taking.

An emotional day of testimony here at the Coffee County Courthouse. We heard from family members who utilized the Johnsons Funeral Home testify against Chris Johnson receiving bond because they say they had to go through the pain of burying their loved ones twice.

“That was my daughter.”

“That was my mother.”

“That was my brother.”

“I had just turned 36 weeks.”

“Do you have any other children?”

“No that was my firstborn.”

In October 2024, the GBI discovered the remains of 17 human bodies and the remains of a dog and cat at Johnsons Funeral Home in Coffee County. Family members took to the stand today sharing their experience of being contacted by the GBI and learning that their loved ones had in fact not been cremated.

“My mom didn’t deserve what she got. Her final wishes were to be cremated because she didn’t want her body to rot in a box that was her whole thought process of being cremated and I thought Johnson would do that for me, and I trusted him to do that for me and he didn’t,” said Justin Gross, son of victim.

“They’re gone, we’re not free. We’re living in terror and heartbreak and trauma,” said Teresa Cox, mother-in-law of victim.

We learned today that one of Johnson’s victims was Brooks County resident Courtney Williams who was mauled to death in May by a pack of dogs in her front yard while protecting her children.

“He knew, he seen her. My daughter-in-law was attacked trying to save her children who were also attacked. This took months. And he was fully aware and then to do this to her,” said Cox.

“Its a lot of victims and all these families have been victimized here and lets be honest had he not gotten caught, he’d still be continuing doing what he’s doing right now,” said Justin Simson, son of victim.

The GBI says they notified the final two families on Monday. But this investigation is not over, because there are more remains that still have to be tested to confirm if it’s a positive match for human remains.

“We were getting family tip lines called in, meetings with families we knew of people who passed recently based on obituaries. Ultimately we tested 34 remains and there are some others to be tested,” said Marina Thrift, GBI Investigator:

Family members say Wednesday’s bond denial was a step in the right direction for justice for their loved ones and the GBI Says this case against Chris Johnson is active and ongoing.

Previous coverage:

• Douglas funeral home director appears in court for bond hearing
• Funeral directors offer free services to families impacted by Johnson Funeral Home
• District attorney requests bond hearing delay for Douglas funeral home director
• Douglas funeral home owner faces additional charges
• 12 of 18 of decomposing bodies found inside of Douglas funeral home identified
• GBI answers commonly asked questions regarding Johnson Funeral Home in Douglas
• ‘I can’t have peace of mind because I don’t know what’s in that coffin’: Families demanding answers
• Douglas funeral home director transported to Tift County Jail
• Albany funeral home manager speaks on proper cremation protocol
• Douglas funeral home owner facing eviction charged after discovery of 18 decomposing bodies
• Funeral home owner arrested after 18 decomposing bodies were found during eviction

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