World · North America · 9 hrs ago
Kentucky man charged after mother’s body was found at home months later
Police in Paintsville, Kentucky, found a woman’s body inside a home after a family member requested a welfare check on October 19.
The woman’s son, John Carroll, 56, told a family member she had died about a week earlier, police say.
Investigators later determined she had died about four months before officers found her.
Carroll was arrested and faces charges including abuse of a corpse and failure to report a death.
He also faces a theft charge and 17 counts of possessing a forged instrument; police have not announced findings of guilt.
Carroll is being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, and police say the investigation continues.
Additional charges are possible.
John Carroll, 56, was arrested in Kentucky after investigators said his mother’s body had remained in his home for about four months.
Police said Carroll’s family member requested a welfare check at the home on Andrea Circle in Paintsville.
The family member told officers Carroll had said his mother died about a week earlier.
Investigators determined that she had died about four months before authorities were notified.
Carroll faces charges including abuse of a corpse, failure to report a death, theft and 17 counts of possessing a forged instrument.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
- Who
- John Carroll, 56, was arrested. His mother’s body was found in the home.
- What
- Carroll faces charges including abuse of a corpse, failure to report a death, theft and 17 counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.
- When
- Officers responded to a welfare check on October 19. Carroll was arrested on October 26.
- Where
- A home on Andrea Circle in Paintsville, Kentucky.
- Why
- A family member requested a welfare check after Carroll said his mother had died about a week earlier. The reason he did not report her death is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Paintsville E-911 received a request for a welfare check at the home on Andrea Circle.
Officers found the woman’s body and began an investigation.
Police located Carroll at Buffalo Wild Wings and took him into custody.
- Age
- John Carroll was 56.
- Location
- Andrea Circle, Paintsville, Kentucky.
- Estimated time since death
- About four months.
- Arrest date
- October 26, 2026.
- Forged-instrument counts
- 17 counts of second-degree possession.
- Detention center
- Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
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What people are saying
The Paintsville Police Department would like to recognize and thank all the agencies and personnel who assisted throughout the investigation
Their cooperation, professionalism, and investigative efforts were instrumental in advancing this case.