A man in the UK, Damion Johnson, has been sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to storing his flatmate's body in a freezer for two years. The body of John Wainwright was not discovered until a skip company employee opened the freezer in August 2020, despite Wainwright passing away in September 2018.
Johnson was Wainwright's registered carer and the two were said to have a close friendship. He claimed to be "overcome by grief" after Wainwright's death and unable to let go. However, instead of notifying authorities or obtaining a death certificate, he purchased a freezer and stored Wainwright's body inside.
Police became aware of the situation in December 2019 when Johnson was arrested for unrelated matters. They barred him from returning to the flat, which was subsequently locked up with the freezer still inside.
It was only when a team arrived for a safety check in August 2020 that the horrific smell emanating from the freezer led them to discover Wainwright's remains. An autopsy revealed signs of blunt force trauma, but the cause of death could not be conclusively determined.
Johnson initially admitted to preventing a lawful burial but denied fraudulent activity. However, he later pleaded guilty to using Wainwright's bank card to withdraw money and transfer funds to his own account.
In his defense, Johnson's lawyer argued that he had an informal agreement with Wainwright that the survivor would have access to their joint account. This agreement was used to explain why Johnson continued to withdraw money after Wainwright's death.
Ultimately, the court found Johnson guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison for preventing a lawful burial and fraud. The case highlights the importance of reporting deaths to authorities and raises questions about the adequacy of safety checks in residential settings.
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