Investigators have made a second arrest in connection with a Georgia funeral home where 18 decomposing bodies were found earlier this year.
On Oct. 26, Coffee County deputies went to serve an eviction notice at the Johnson Funeral Home and found the bodies in “various stages of decomposition.” Deputies and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested and charged Chris Johnson, the funeral home owner.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
On Sunday, the GBI announced that a second man has now been charged.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety has charged James Sirmans, 52, with two counts of insurance fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
“These charges stem from a 2023 investigation into an attempt by Sirmans to fraudulently obtain additional life insurance proceeds by changing the cause of death on a 2022 death certificate,” officials said.
Sirmans was booked into the Coffee County Jail and released on bail.
Johnson also faces new charges from the insurance commissioner’s office:
-
Submitting fraudulent vital records
-
Conspiracy to commit insurance fraud
-
Two counts of insurance fraud
The GBI added charges of theft by larceny and six counts of vital records violation. These allegations stem from the investigation into his business practices. The GBI previously charged Johnson with 17 counts of abuse of a corpse. Johnson remains in the Coffee County Jail.
Since the bodies were discovered, the GBI has been working to identify all 18 bodies. They have identified sixteen and expect to identify the last two remains soon.
RELATED STORIES:
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
