Howard Johnson, a former director of a funeral home, is facing fresh charges after being accused of storing a corpse in a hearse for over a year. Johnson was already under indictment for mishandling bodies and faces additional charges related to the inappropriate storage of corpses and mishandling funds.
The recent charges were brought against Johnson after an investigation into the allegations, which stated that a body had been improperly stored in a hearse at his former business premises. Johnson previously worked as the director of Johnson Family Mortuary in Fort Worth, Texas.
During their initial investigation, the authorities learned that Johnson had previously been indicted for abusive treatment of corpses. The indictment was a result of several bodies being found decomposing at Johnson Family Mortuary.
Furthermore, Johnson is also accused of mishandling funds. The indictment alleges that Johnson took money for prepaid funerals but did not provide services as promised. Financial exploitation of families looking for funeral services is being considered as one of the key elements of the charges against Johnson.
With the new charges, Johnson’s indictment will be updated to include allegations of storing a corpse in a hearse for more than a year and financial mishandling. The responsible authorities are proceeding with the case and further information will be released during trial proceedings.
The legal proceedings against Johnson mark a sharp turn for a man who was once a respected professional within the funeral service industry. The former director now faces a myriad of criminal charges based largely on accusations of gross misconduct.
Last modified: January 20, 2025
