A Texas couple was arrested after investigators found the body of their adult special needs son buried in their backyard. The remains of Jonathan Kinman, 26, were discovered during a welfare check at 433 White Oak Lane in Burleson, according to a social media post from Burleson Police. Kinman’s mother, December Mitchell, and stepfather, Jonathan Mitchell, were charged with tampering with and fabricating physical evidence to impair a human corpse, which is a second-degree felony. The pair could face additional charges pending an autopsy report and the outcome of the investigation. Both are being held on a $250,000 bond.
The investigation began on October 14 when police responded to the home for a welfare check for Kinman, who lived with his mother and stepfather. An investigation was launched after a friend of the family reported seeing a confusing Facebook post from the couple mourning Kinman’s death, according to Fox 4. Investigators became suspicious after the couple acknowledged Kinman’s death but would only give vague information about how he passed, said Deputy Police Chief Doug Sandifer. The conflicting information led the authorities to believe that something was not as it should be.
On October 15, police officers returned along with the Texas Rangers and discovered a shallow grave in the backyard. Kinman’s body was exhumed and transported to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy was performed. The autopsy results are still pending, and a cause of death has not yet been determined. It also remains unclear when Kinman died. Police emphasized that at no point during the investigation did they believe there was any threat to the community.
The case has sparked conversations about the responsibilities of caregivers, especially for individuals with special needs, and the legal repercussions for those who attempt to conceal such tragedies. Legal experts have noted that the charges against the couple are serious, as they involve tampering with evidence and potentially obstructing justice. The community is awaiting the outcome of the investigation and the results of the medical examination to fully understand the circumstances surrounding Kinman’s death.