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Texas parents accused of burying autistic son in backyard make shocking claim despite having no proof
A disturbing case in Texas has led to the arrest of a couple after the body of their 26-year-old autistic son, Jonathan Kinman, was discovered in a shallow grave in their backyard. The investigation began after authorities conducted a welfare check on October 14, 2025, and found that Kinman was already deceased.
Per The New York Post, his parents, December Marie Mitchell and Jonathan James Mitchell, initially told investigators that their son had passed away in a hospital, but no medical records could confirm the claim.
During the welfare check, December allegedly informed police that she had taken Kinman to a local hospital, where he died. However, she could not provide any medical paperwork to substantiate her account, and authorities were unable to find any hospital or examiner records of his death. Adding to the mystery, the couple’s son was reported to have been cremated, but no evidence of this claim was found.
Inconsistent stories lead to further investigation
Shortly after the welfare check, Jonathan James Mitchell, the stepfather, shared a post on Facebook alluding to the death of his son. He wrote, "So even at your strongest, certain things can make a man, father, and friend break you down to your core. I loved you so much more than I can express even if I didn’t always show it, but my heart is broken in pieces right now. I know [you’re] in a better place, but it still hurts."
In the comments, he added that their son had passed away on Sunday, two days before the welfare check.
After questioning December further, authorities discovered that Kinman had, in fact, been buried in the backyard. The following day, a search by police and Texas Rangers uncovered Kinman’s body wrapped in a camouflage blanket in a shallow grave.
A neighbor had previously told police that December mentioned burying her son in the yard, which led to a formal investigation. When questioned, December allegedly began to panic, and Jonathan confirmed the location of the body.
Charges filed against the couple
Both December and Jonathan Mitchell were arrested and charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse.
They were booked into the Johnson County Jail, with each held on a $250,000 bond. Kinman’s body was sent to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an official cause of death is still pending. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic and unusual case.