Colorado Funeral Home Owner Sentenced to 40 Years for Corpse Abuse Scandal
Jon Hallford, the owner of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado, has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison after pleading guilty to nearly 200 counts of corpse abuse. The case involved 189 decomposing bodies left to decay in a building over four years, with grieving families receiving fake ashes instead of their loved ones' remains.
Grieving Families Describe Hallford as a 'Monster'
During the sentencing hearing, family members expressed their anguish, telling Judge Eric Bentley they have suffered recurring nightmares about decomposing flesh and maggots. They labeled Hallford a "monster" and urged for the maximum sentence of 50 years. Kelly Mackeen, whose mother's remains were mishandled, stated, "I'm a daughter whose mother was treated like yesterday's trash and dumped in a site left to rot with hundreds of others."
Judge Condemns 'Unspeakable and Incomprehensible' Harm
Judge Bentley told Hallford his actions caused "unspeakable and incomprehensible" harm, testing the belief in human goodness. Hallford apologized, saying, "I had so many chances to put a stop to everything and walk away, but I did not. My mistakes will echo for a generation." His attorney argued for a 30-year sentence, citing no prior criminal record and that it was not a violent crime, but the request was denied.
Lavish Spending and Fraudulent Activities
Court documents revealed that while stashing bodies, the Hallfords spent extravagantly, including purchases of luxury vehicles worth over $120,000, $31,000 in cryptocurrency, high-end goods from Gucci and Tiffany, and laser body sculpting. Prosecutor Shelby Crow described the crime as "motivated by greed," noting they charged more than $1,200 per customer, with luxury spending covering cremation costs many times over.
Additionally, the Hallfords pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for cheating the government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-era small business aid. Jon Hallford received a 20-year federal sentence, to be served concurrently with the state term. His former wife, Carie Hallford, faces sentencing on 24 April, with a potential 25 to 35 years in prison.
Gruesome Discovery and Investigation Details
From 2019 to 2023, bodies were stored in a Penrose building, south of Colorado Springs, until investigators responded to reports of a stench. They found bodies stacked, with bugs and decomposition fluid covering floors, including adults, infants, and fetuses stored at room temperature. Identification took months using fingerprints and DNA.
Investigators believe families were given dry concrete resembling ashes, undoing grieving processes and causing guilt. In one case, a veteran thought buried at a cemetery was found to have another person's remains in the casket, later receiving a proper military funeral.
Regulatory Changes and Legal Repercussions
The scandal prompted Colorado lawmakers to pass a bill in May 2024, strengthening funeral home regulations with greater enforcement power and routine inspections. Judge Bentley had previously rejected plea agreements calling for up to 20 years, deemed too lenient by families. Public records showed the Hallfords faced tax issues, evictions, and lawsuits for unpaid bills.
