Authorities in Texas have arrested a mother and stepfather after the body of their 26-year-old son, Jonathan Kinman, was discovered buried in the backyard of their suburban home. The case has shocked residents of the quiet Burleson neighborhood and raised troubling questions about care, neglect, and accountability for vulnerable adults.

Kinman, who reportedly had Russell-Silver syndrome — a rare genetic disorder that can cause growth and developmental delays — had been living with his mother, December Marie Mitchell, and stepfather, Jonathan James Mitchell, for several years. Both are now facing charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence involving a human corpse.

Police first arrived at the Mitchell residence on October 14 following a welfare check request concerning Jonathan’s whereabouts. Family members had reportedly grown worried after not hearing from him for some time.

According to the arrest affidavit, officers interviewed the couple, who initially provided conflicting statements about Jonathan’s condition. One version suggested that he had died in a hospital; another claimed that he had been cremated. Investigators were unable to locate any official hospital or cremation records matching those claims.

The following day, detectives returned to the home with a search warrant. Behind the house, they discovered freshly disturbed soil. When officers began to dig, they found a shallow grave containing the body of an adult male later identified as Jonathan Kinman. The body was wrapped in a camouflage blanket.

Authorities immediately detained the couple. Both were booked into the Johnson County Jail on charges of evidence tampering, with bond reportedly set at $250,000 each.

According to court documents obtained by People, December Mitchell was recorded inside a patrol vehicle after her arrest, allegedly saying to her husband, “It was all me… that dog was going to find him on me.”

While prosecutors have not commented publicly on the authenticity or full context of that statement, it has already become a central piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation.

The discovery has left relatives devastated. Jonathan’s uncle released a written statement describing the ordeal as “horrifying” and “a living nightmare for the Kinman family.”

“We’re struggling to process what happened,” the statement read. “Jonathan was gentle, funny, and resilient. He faced challenges from birth, but he had a big heart. To think of how his life ended — and how we found out — is unbearable.”

Family members have since called for a thorough investigation into Jonathan’s death, demanding answers about when and how he died, and why his remains were hidden.

Little has been publicly shared about Jonathan’s life, but court documents confirm that he lived with his mother and stepfather in Burleson, about 15 miles south of Fort Worth. Those familiar with Russell-Silver syndrome say individuals with the condition often require ongoing medical care and family support due to physical and developmental challenges.

Neighbors told reporters that they rarely, if ever, saw Jonathan outside the home. “I didn’t even know they had an adult son,” one neighbor told The New York Post. “It’s shocking. You think you know your neighbors, and then something like this happens.”

Another local resident described the Mitchells as quiet but “a bit withdrawn,” noting that the house often had blinds drawn and little visible activity.

As of late October, both defendants remain in custody while investigators await autopsy results from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. The report is expected to determine Jonathan’s cause and manner of death — key factors that could influence whether additional charges are filed.

Under Texas law, tampering with evidence involving a human corpse is a second-degree felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. However, prosecutors could pursue more severe charges if evidence indicates foul play in Jonathan’s death itself.

Legal experts caution that such cases can be complex. “Until an autopsy confirms the cause of death, authorities will proceed carefully,” said Dallas-based criminal attorney Michael Rodriguez, who is not connected to the case. “If the death was natural, the burial without proper reporting still violates the law, but proving intent or concealment becomes a matter of evidence and statements.”

One of the most confusing elements in the case remains the parents’ insistence that Jonathan died in a hospital. According to arrest records, the couple told investigators he passed away weeks earlier and that arrangements for cremation had been made.

But authorities found no hospital admissions, discharge notes, or cremation certificates for Jonathan Kinman anywhere in Texas. “It simply didn’t add up,” said one officer involved in the search. “Every piece of documentation they claimed existed could not be verified.”

That contradiction ultimately led investigators to re-examine the home and conduct a full search of the property, which ended with the grim discovery.

The revelation has shaken the normally quiet residential area. Neighbors have described a sense of disbelief and sorrow. “You never imagine something like this happening next door,” one longtime resident said. “It’s heartbreaking. That young man deserved better.”

Local community groups have since begun discussing how to strengthen welfare-check systems for adults with disabilities, particularly those dependent on family caregivers.

Medical experts note that Russell-Silver syndrome affects roughly one in 100,000 people. The condition can lead to short stature, feeding difficulties, and developmental delays but is not typically life-threatening. With proper care and medical oversight, individuals often live long, fulfilling lives.

That fact has prompted further questions about Jonathan’s access to healthcare and whether his special needs were being met in the months leading up to his death. Authorities have not commented on whether any social services had been involved with the family.

The investigation remains active. Detectives are working with forensic specialists to analyze the burial site, examine toxicology reports, and determine whether Jonathan’s death was the result of natural causes, neglect, or something more deliberate.

Public reaction has been swift and emotional, with social-media users calling for justice and accountability. “This poor man deserved dignity in life and in death,” one commenter wrote on Facebook.

Meanwhile, relatives are focusing on remembrance rather than speculation. A small candlelight vigil was held outside the Kinman family home last weekend, with neighbors leaving flowers and messages of support.

“We want to honor Jonathan’s memory,” the family statement read. “He deserved compassion, not secrecy. We hope the truth comes out, whatever it is.”

The tragedy has reignited debate about the protection of disabled adults who live under family care, and the systems designed to prevent isolation or abuse.

Advocates say more resources are needed to ensure families receive proper support — and that individuals like Jonathan are never overlooked.

“This isn’t just about one household,” said disability-rights advocate Sharon Levy. “It’s about how society keeps track of its most vulnerable members. We can’t let people disappear quietly.”

As of now, the case of Jonathan Kinman stands as both a heartbreaking mystery and a cautionary tale — one that underscores the thin line between family privacy and public accountability.

Authorities have pledged transparency as the investigation continues. “We owe this young man answers,” said one Burleson detective. “And we intend to find them.”