Return to Nature Funeral Home Owners Offered Plea Deals

Courtesy of Muskogee County Detention Center, mug shots of Jon and Carie Hallford.

(PENROSE, Colo.) — Jon and Carie Hallford, the owners of Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, where nearly 200 bodies were found improperly stored, have been granted an extended plea agreement in the state’s case.

Victims in the case shared an email from the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (DA’s Office) with FOX21 on Tuesday, July 2.

The email stated that if Jon Hallford pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse, he would serve a 20-year sentence in corrections, concurrent with any federal sentence he received. However, if Carie Hallford pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse, she would serve a 15- to 20-year sentence concurrent with her federal sentence.

The Hallfords have until October 4, 2024, to accept the offer.

According to the email shared by the victims, the prosecutor’s office expects the Hallfords to plead not guilty and a trial will be scheduled.

The next court date is set for Thursday, July 11 at 8:30 a.m. for an arraignment hearing.

The Hallfords face 15 federal counts of COVID-related fraud, in addition to more than 200 criminal counts in state court for abuse of corpses, money laundering, theft and forgery.