Funeral home owners to enter pleas after accused of storing nearly 200 decaying bodies

The owners of a Colorado funeral home, Jon and Carie Hallford, are facing criminal charges related to corpse abuse, falsifying death certificates, and sending fake ashes to families. Nearly 200 decaying bodies were found in their facility, which was filled with decomposition fluids and bugs. The case has left families devastated and questioning the fate of their loved ones. This incident is one of several that have rocked Colorado’s funeral industry, including accusations of selling body parts and leaving bodies in a hearse for over a year.

Colorado’s lax funeral home regulations have been a concern, with no routine inspections and minimal educational requirements for funeral home directors. Lawmakers have proposed bills to overhaul funeral home oversight, including requiring routine inspections and hefty licensing requirements for industry professionals. Concerns about the Hallfords’ mishandling of bodies were raised by a county coroner years before the discovery of the 190 bodies. Prosecutors have indicated that Jon Hallford expressed concerns about getting caught in 2020 and suggested disposing of bodies in various ways.

The Hallfords operated Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs and a storage facility in Penrose. They allegedly used payments from families to invest in cryptocurrency, splurge on expensive dinners, and buy luxury vehicles. Both Jon and Carie Hallford are facing numerous charges, including abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery. Carie Hallford’s attorney declined to comment on the case, while Jon Hallford is being represented by a public defender’s office that does not comment on cases.

The discovery of nearly 200 decaying bodies in a Colorado funeral home has raised concerns about the state’s funeral industry and the lack of regulations in place to prevent such incidents. Families of the deceased have been left grappling with the disturbing details of the case and questioning the fate of their loved ones. The Hallfords face numerous criminal charges related to the mishandling of corpses, falsifying death certificates, and fraudulently providing fake ashes to families.

Colorado lawmakers have been urged to overhaul funeral home oversight, including implementing routine inspections and stricter licensing requirements for industry professionals. The case involving the Hallfords is one of several that have shaken the state’s funeral industry, highlighting the need for greater accountability and regulation. The Hallfords allegedly used funds from grieving families for personal expenses, such as luxury dinners and vehicles, further complicating the already distressing situation for those affected by their actions.