DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) - A Coffee County Grand Jury has indicted Chris Johnson, owner of Johnson Funeral Home and Cremations, with over 60 counts. The indictment comes three months after the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) said they found 18 decomposing bodies at Johnson’s Funeral Home.

The grand jury issued 62 counts including 17 counts of abuse to a dead body, 17 counts of abandonment of a dead body, 18 counts of theft by deception, 9 counts of violation of vital records, and 1 count of insurance fraud.

Out of 62 counts in Johnson’s indictment, Desiree Hatch and her deceased mom Charlotte Nastasi are three of them.

“Everybody’s still reeling from this. I think it still isn’t real for us,” she said. “We were grieving in the beginning but now we’re grieving the damage that was done.”

According to the 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 2nd 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.

Back in December, the State Board of Funeral Service suspended Johnson’s funeral license.

The order of suspension states “...continued practice as a funeral director and embalmer poses a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare and imperatively requires emergency action...”

Families are still wondering how a Secretary of State inspector passed Johnson Funeral Home back in July with decomposing bodies on site.

WALB learned that the Secretary of State’s Cemeteries Division has been investigating the pre-need services of Johnson Funeral Home.

Desiree Hatch whose mom was identified as one of the bodies said the new indictments are fueling the fight to get justice for their loved ones.

While most of the families impacted have gotten their loved ones back, Hatch says she’s still faced with daily challenges.

“The financial toll it’s taking, the emotional toll it’s taking, we’re never going to get that back. We don’t know how to get through this,” Hatch said.

The next step in this case is for Johnson to plead guilty or not guilty at a court arraignment. We are still working to find out if there has been an arraignment scheduled.

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