Plea Deal Offered to Co-Owners of Colorado Funeral Home Where 190 Bodies Were Improperly Found

A plea deal has been offered to the married couple who owned the Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose, where 190 improperly stored bodies were discovered last fall. Jon and Carie Hallford face hundreds of charges in Colorado, including abuse of a corpse, forgery and money laundering.

Funeral home investigation begins early October 2023, when neighbors reported a foul odor to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators discovered 190 bodies improperly stored inside the building that was demolished earlier this year.

The couple was arrested in Oklahoma in November 2023.

Jon Hallford was sentenced to 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, counts 71-261, and a 20-year prison sentence. Carie Hallford received a similar plea deal, 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, counts 71-261, and a 15-20 year prison sentence.

Prosecutors expect them to reject the offer and plead not guilty at their hearing in an El Paso County courtroom. The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said the offers are valid through Oct. 4.

Jon and Carie Hallford are also faces charges in federal indictment The Hallfords were charged with wire fraud for allegedly defrauding customers and the government. The Hallfords were each charged with 10 counts for their alleged refusal to bury or cremate people’s bodies, despite receiving money for those services. The Hallfords were also charged with making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration in connection with their efforts to obtain three separate loans totaling $882,300.