FORT WORTH, Tex. — Eight bodies were discovered inside a unattended Fort Worth funeral home Tuesday.
KDAF reports that the property owner gave Johnson Family Mortuary a notice to move out two weeks ago.
The landlord stopped by to check on the building and made the gruesome discovery.
“Shortly after 8:00 this morning, he went inside and found what he believed to be multiple unattended deceased persons,” Sgt. Raymond Bush announced.
Bush said the bodies ranged in age “from infant to adult… in varying stages of decomposition, some quite advanced.”
Neighbors knew something was wrong.
“I’ve been smelling it for a few days now,” Joyce Haynes said between tears. “I’ve cleaned out my trash cans, everything. I thought that there might have been a dead animal around my house. That is so sad.”
Benetha Johnson works in the funeral business. She knows Derrick and Dondre Johnson, who ran Johnson Family Mortuary.
“I’ve got to go; I’m really serious because my heart is heavy. [Families] entrust us to take care of their loved ones, but I don’t know what happened,” Johnson said. “I worked with them for years. They are some good young men.”
However, one of the brothers dodged reporters’ questions.
Before walking off, Derrick Johnson said, “I ask that y’all continue to pray for the family and for the families that we serve.”
The Fort Worth PD homicide unit is taking the remains to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.
