DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) – Sunday afternoon, the owner of Johnson Funeral and Cremation Services in Douglas was arrested following an investigation.

Chris Johnson was arrested at his home by authorities and taken into custody, according to Douglas Now.

Several agencies were at Johnson Funeral and Cremation Services in Douglas Saturday evening.

According to Douglas Now, 18 bodies, along with two pets — a dog and a cat — in various states of decomposition were found during an evacuation at the funeral home.

Saturday night, the sheriff’s office told WALB that a search warrant was being executed, they did not disclose the reason for the search.

However, on Sunday, it was reported by Douglas Now that the Douglas Fire Department’s hazmat unit was on the scene helping to recover the bodies and had left the funeral home at 10pm on Saturday.

Several viewers told WALB they saw officials from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) at the funeral home.

We have reached out to the GBI for more information and are awaiting responses.

This is a developing story. Stay with us.

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