Paintsville man charged with abusing corpse, forgery

Paintsville police booked John Carroll into the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center after an investigation revealed his mother's body had remained inside their home on Andrea Circle for approximately four months.

Officers first responded to the residence on October 19 for a welfare check. A family member told them Carroll claimed his mother had died about a week before the visit and that her body was still inside. Investigators determined the actual time of death was four months prior to the October 19 discovery.

The police department issued search warrants and subpoenas to gather financial and medical records. Officers also conducted interviews as part of the probe. Carroll is now facing 20 charges in connection with the case.

The charges include abuse of a corpse, failure to report a death, and theft by unlawful taking. The theft charge involves property valued between $10,000 and $1 million. Carroll also faces 17 counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.

The investigation is ongoing, and police said additional charges are possible as they continue to review evidence from the home and Carroll's records.