The owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose are expected to take plea deals in their Colorado cases after being accused of mishandling nearly 200 dead bodies. Jon and Carie Hallford appeared in court in Colorado Springs and are expected to enter new pleas in early November. The discovery of the bodies and body parts was made nearly a year ago after a neighborhood complaint about an odor. The Hallfords face 286 criminal charges in their state case, including corpse abuse, money laundering, theft, and forgery, in addition to the 15 federal charges they were indicted on in April.
Families of the deceased, who were allegedly abandoned by the Hallfords, gathered at the El Paso County Courthouse and expressed mixed feelings about the plea deal. They plan to work towards changing Colorado’s funeral home laws, raising money for affected families, and educating the public about what to expect when a loved one dies. The group is fighting for justice for their loved ones and wants to ensure that they are remembered beyond the heinous crime that occurred.
The case has sparked outrage and calls for reform within the funeral home industry. The families affected are determined to seek justice for their loved ones and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The Hallfords’ decision to accept plea deals signifies a step towards resolution in a case that has deeply impacted the community.
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