Colorado Funeral home owners arrested after remains found
The owner of a Colorado funeral home and his wife were arrested in Oklahoma on Wednesday after the decaying remains of at least 189 people were discovered at their facility. Jon and Carrie Hallford were taken into custody on suspicion of four felonies including abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery, according to District Attorney Michael Allen.
Jon Hallford, who owns Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado, was found in possession of the remains after authorities responded to a report of a foul odor emanating from the building. Despite initially estimating around 115 bodies, the count increased to 189 once all the remains were removed in October.
The state office of Funeral Home and Crematory registration had discussed the improper storage of corpses with Jon Hallford, who allegedly tried to conceal the issue and claimed to practice taxidermy at the site.
Relatives of the deceased individuals expressed concern that their loved ones were not cremated as indicated and were among the neglected remains found last month. Tanya Wilson, the daughter of one of the deceased, expressed disgust with the situation, stating that the ashes returned to her family were not her mother’s.
The funeral home, which offered cremations and “green” burials without embalming fluids, continued to conduct business despite financial and legal troubles. The owners were evicted from one of their properties, and a lawsuit has been filed against them for negligence, fraud, emotional distress, and violation of Colorado laws.
The lack of routine inspections and qualifications for funeral home operators in Colorado has raised concerns about the oversight of such facilities. Although state lawmakers granted regulators the authority to inspect funeral homes without the owners’ consent last year, no additional funding was allocated for increased inspections.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Hallfords are being held accountable for their actions. One family has already filed a lawsuit against them, while others continue to seek justice for the mishandling of their loved ones’ remains. Contributed to this report were Associated Press writers Ken Miller in Oklahoma City and Amy Hanson in Helena, Montana.