Mom, stepdad accused of burying special-needs son in North Texas backyard

A North Texas couple are facing criminal charges after their son, who had special needs, was found buried in a shallow grave in their backyard, according to Burleson police.

The Burleson Police Department is investigating the death of 26-year-old Jonathan Kinman, whose body was found after police conducted a welfare check, police said in a news release Monday.

Kinman’s mother, December Marie Mitchell, and stepfather, Jonathan James Mitchell, are charged with tampering/fabrication of physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse.

Police said in the release that during the welfare check on Oct. 14, police received information that Kinman might have died and might be buried in the backyard of his family’s home in the 400 block of White Oak Lane.

On Oct. 15, Burleson police officers and investigators with the Texas Rangers found the shallow grave in the yard. Kinman’s body was exhumed and taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where autopsy results to determine his cause and manner of death are pending.

Both parents were taken to the Johnson County Jail, where they are being held on $250,000 bond.

The Burleson Police Department said the investigation is ongoing.

This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 2:22 PM.