In Penrose, Colorado, owners Jon and Carie Hallford of the Return to Nature Funeral Home face serious legal repercussions following the discovery of 189 abandoned bodies at their storage facility on October 4, 2023.
This shocking case has led to a litany of charges against the couple, including four counts of money laundering, five counts of theft, 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, and over 50 counts of forgery, as detailed by prosecutors and FBI Agent Andrew Cohen in recent court proceedings on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
The scandal came to light when Penrose residents reported a foul odor, leading to the grim discovery of bodies, some of which had been neglected since 2019 in a maggot-infested building.
This discovery not only horrified the local community but also left many grieving families in turmoil, particularly those who had contracted the Hallfords for cremation services, only to learn their loved ones were among those improperly stored.
The evidence presented during the hearing painted a grim picture of the Hallfords’ handling of the funeral home’s operations.
Special Agent Cohen testified about the misuse of business funds for personal expenses, including the purchase of two luxury vehicles, a GMC Yukon and an Infiniti, totaling over $120,000, extravagant dinners, including one for $1500 in Las Vegas, and investments in cryptocurrency, highlighting the disparity between the Hallfords’ lifestyle and the tragic neglect at the Penrose facility.
This sum could have covered the cremation costs for all the discovered bodies twice over.
Despite facing serious allegations, Jon Hallford, present in court, exhibited no outward reaction to the accusations.
The investigation into the Hallfords’ activities revealed a pattern of financial mismanagement, including the fraudulent acquisition of a pandemic-era loan from the Small Business Administration.
Jon Hallford allegedly falsified statements about his child support payments to secure these funds, further complicating the couple’s legal challenges.
Prosecutors have also revealed attempts by the Hallfords to disguise their financial struggles, including plans discussed via text messages to dispose of bodies illicitly to evade detection and prosecution.
The defense has countered the money laundering charges, arguing the absence of evidence showing an intent to conceal the source of funds, particularly highlighting the purchase of the Yukon with what they claim were legitimate business proceeds.
Following the hearing, a dramatic scene unfolded outside the courthouse, with victims’ families confronting Jon Hallford, demanding answers about their loved ones.
Heather DeWolf, a grieving mother still awaiting the identification of her son Zach DeWolf’s remains, confronted Jon Hallford alongside other aggrieved family members as he was leaving with his legal team.
“Look at my son, this is my son,” DeWolf shouted towards Hallford, holding up a shirt bearing her son’s image. “What have you done with him? Tell me what happened to my son!”
Crystina Page, also a bereaved parent missing her son David Page, challenged Hallford for ignoring their pleas. “Jon, we’re right here, only a few steps away. Why won’t you respond to us?
Angelika Stedman, another bereaved parent, remains uncertain about her daughter’s final disposition, embodying the anguish of many who trusted Return to Nature with their loved ones’ remains.
The identification process for the remains continues, with 22 bodies still unidentified.
The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office has called on families who did business with the funeral home to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in resolving the case.
Jon and Carie Hallford are scheduled to return to court for an arraignment hearing on March 21, with both expected to enter not-guilty pleas.
The prosecution has expressed a desire to join the cases against the Hallfords for trial, aiming for a comprehensive examination of the allegations against them.
