Mortuary co-owner found guilty of theft

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An owner of the troubled Johnson Family Mortuary was convicted of theft Wednesday.

Prosecutors said Dondre Johnson took thousands of dollars from customers and never fulfilled their wishes to cremate the bodies of their loved ones.

Instead, eight decomposing bodies were found inside the abandoned mortuary last year.

Defense attorneys tried to blame Johnson’s wife, Rachel Hardy, saying she was the sole owner of the business and controlled the finances.

But it only took jurors an hour to convict Johnson. He taken into custody after the judge read the guilty verdict.

The penalty phase of the trial should begin after lunch. Johnson is facing up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Hardy is still waiting for her trial to start.