Texas Couple Arrested After Special Needs Son Found Buried in Backyard

Police in Burleson, Texas, have arrested a couple in connection with the death of their 26-year-old special needs son, whose body was discovered buried in a shallow grave behind their home.

The suspects, identified as December Marie Mitchell and Jonathan James Mitchell, were taken into custody on charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, according to a statement released by the Burleson Police Department on October 20.

Authorities began investigating on October 14 after receiving a welfare check request for the victim, Jonathan Kinman, who lived with the couple at a residence on White Oak Lane in Burleson.

“During the welfare check, information was shared indicating that Kinman might be deceased and possibly buried in the backyard of the residence,” police said in a press release.

Following their arrest, investigators returned to the property the next day, where they located Kinman’s body buried in a shallow grave. He was reportedly wrapped in a camouflage blanket, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by local station WFAA.

During the investigation, police video footage allegedly captured Kinman’s mother speaking to her husband while sitting in a patrol car, saying, “The dog was going to find him on me … it was all me … that dog was going to find him.”

Kinman’s body was transported to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy was performed on October 16. Authorities said the cause of death remains under investigation pending official results.

The couple are currently being held in custody on $250,000 bond each.