License Renewal Denied For Mortuary Where Decaying Bodies Found

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - The owners of the Fort Worth mortuary where police found decaying and decomposing bodies are asking for their license back.

While the owners of the Johnson Family Mortuary appeared before the Texas Funeral Service Commission in Austin Tuesday, they didn't hear what they had hoped.

Funeral home owner Rachel Hardy Johnson wanted to know why the Texas Funeral Commission didn't offer an answer. "I was denied my provisional license," she said. "I'd like to know why I was denied that."

The group denied Rachel Hardy Johnson and her husband Dondre Johnson any renewal of a license to operate any funeral and/or mortuary services in the state.

The Johnson's public silence dates back to July when Fort Worth police and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office went to the couple's mortuary business. When officials went inside they discovered decaying and decomposing corpses sitting in non-refrigerated rooms.

The building owner had entered the mortuary to confirm the Johnson's had vacated the building, after being evicted, and found eight bodies, including infants.

Police arrested both Rachel Hardy Johnson and Dondre Johnson. The couple is charged with seven counts of abuse of corpse and remains free on bond.

The criminal claims didn't stop the Johnson's from seeking to renew their funeral service licenses. They have denied violating any law.

The name Johnson Family Mortuary has been removed from the building on South Handley Drive in Fort Worth. The owner of the property plans to lease the site again.

The Johnson's had a number of complaints filed with the Funeral Commission before the discovery of the corpses in July.

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