Florida man accused of stealing from Dallas funeral home may be serial criminal, Georgia police say
DALLAS, Ga. - Police are searching for a thief who has been stealing from funeral homes. Investigators say the same man may have committed the same crime across the southeast.
Police say he's been stealing mortuary stretchers from funeral home transport vans.
"These are medical stretchers that funeral homes or medical examiners' offices use in the transport of remains," said Dallas Police Lt. Michael Selleck.
In early May, a stretcher was stolen out of a vehicle at Benson's funeral home in Dallas. On the same night, someone smashed the window of a van at Georgia Funeral Care in Acworth and stole a stretcher.
Investigators linked both crimes to the same man.
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"A suspect by the name of Michael Christopher Johnson, a 56-year-old male out of Florida," said Lt. Selleck.
Michael Christopher Johnson
Police say Johnson, who is from Valrico, Florida, was driving a silver Chrysler Town and Country van. Investigators say he's made the rounds.
"Mr. Johnson was linked to several other incidents in the metro Atlanta area in regards to these stretchers being stolen, and there was an attempt to sell them to different funeral homes in the area for a profit," said Lt. Selleck.
"He wanted to know if I was interested in purchasing a used gurney," said Don Ware, owner of In Their Honor Transports.
Ware says a new stretcher can cost $1,500 or more. He says Johnson tried to sell him one for $1,000.
"It's very unusual to hear anybody breaking into a funeral home, or the vehicles, because who wants that mojo on them?" said Ware.
Police are now trying to track down Michael Johnson. There are warrants out for his arrest in Cobb and Paulding counties. Two jurisdictions in Alabama have had similar thefts, and police say he has an extensive criminal history in Florida.
"You really need to turn yourself in and answer for your crimes. Don't be messing with the funeral industry anymore. We do a good job of trying to take care of people," said Ware.
Jackson is wanted on multiple charges including entering automobile, theft by taking, and criminal trespass/damage to property.