North Georgia man charged with failure to report father’s death and abuse of a dead body

Published 12:39 pm Monday, April 16, 2018

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — The son of a Chatsworth man whose body was found near his home in March has been charged with abuse of a dead body and concealing the death of another.

Jonny Glen Findley, 43, of 554 Smyrna Circle Road, Chatsworth, was booked into the Murray County jail on Thursday.

Greg Ramey, Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent in charge of the Calhoun office, said Findley is the son of Jon Findley. Jon Findley, 72, was reported missing March 15 “by his extended family,” according to sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Jimmy Davenport. But Ramey said Jon Findley hadn’t been seen for longer than that.

The body of a dead male was discovered near the home shared by the two men on March 16. At the time, officials said they could not positively identify the body. On Friday, Ramey said the body had been identified as that of the elder Findley.

Ramey said foul play is not suspected in the elder Findley’s death.

“We are fairly certain he was not involved in the death of his father. It was not a murder,” said Ramey.

Ramey declined to answer when asked what the younger Findley’s motives were for not reporting his father’s death. He also declined to say why the younger Findley was charged with abuse of a dead body.