WARNING: Descriptions of the conditions inside the Return to Nature funeral home may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.
(PENROSE, Colo.) — Friday, Oct. 4 marks one year since law enforcement discovered hundreds of bodies that were carelessly disposed at the Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose.
October 2023
On Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) responded to the funeral home located at 31 Werner Road in Penrose due to a “suspicious incident.”
Neighbors in the area said they had noticed the odor of decomposition in the air for weeks. It was later discovered that 189 bodies were left inside the funeral home, allegedly by owners Jon and Carie Hallford. It was estimated that some of the bodies had been there since September 2019.
November 2023
In November 2023, Colorado Springs resident Richard Law decided to file a class action lawsuit against Return to Nature to hold the facility’s owners accountable for their actions. The lawsuit focused solely on civil liability and ensuring this situation never happens again, as Colorado has one of the weakest funeral rules.
A week later, on Nov. 8, the Hallfords were arrested in Wagoner, Oklahoma on felony charges including Abuse of a Corpse, Theft, Money Laundering, and Forgery. By then, 110 bodies had been identified.
January 2024
On Jan. 11, a preliminary hearing for Carie Hallford presented graphic evidence of the conditions found in the funeral home. Investigators disclosed bodies were found in 14 rooms, some containing up to 43 bodies — including infant, adult, and fetus bodies — in one room.
Images presented during the hearing showed bodies in various states, most wrapped in plastic and secured with duct tape while others were fully exposed, some still dressed in clothes, and others covered in mold and insects.
During the hearing, prosecutors also disclosed that the Halfords had purchased more than 60 pounds of Quikrete. Many family members suspect that the ashes they received were dry concrete.
According to prosecutors, Jon Hallford was worried about getting caught as far back as 2020 and even suggested getting rid of the bodies by dumping them in a big hole and either treating them with lye or fire.
In late January, 2024, Jon posted $100,000 bond and was released from the El Paso County Jail. Later in February, Carie also posted the same bond and was released from jail. Jon had to submit to several stipulations to ensure he would not become a flight risk, including wearing a GPS ankle monitor and forfeiting any passports for himself and his family.
April 2024
In April, the Hallfords were indicted on fraud charges, accused of misspending nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds on vacations, jewelry, and other personal expenses. The 15 charges brought by the federal grand jury are separate from the more than 200 criminal counts pending against them in state court for corpse abuse, money laundering, theft, and forgery.
On April 15, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began demolition work of the Return to Nature Funeral Home and by April 20, the demolition was complete. Extensive mitigation and disinfecting operations were conducted to ensure the safety of the surrounding area, and the foundation was replaced with clean soil.
July 2024
In early July, the Hallfords were set to return to court, but the arraignment hearing was pushed to Sept. 20 to give time for the Hallfords to review a plea offer from the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
September 2024
In September, both were set to appear in person for a final arraignment hearing, where they would decide whether to take a state plea deal or proceed to trial. The state’s plea offer to Carie is 190 counts of corpse abuse and a 15 to 20-year sentence in the Department of Corrections, concurrent to the federal sentence she receives. Jon faces the same counts for a total of 20 years, also concurrent to his federal sentence.
The pair requested a change-of-plea hearing and the judge granted their request. The hearing is now set for Oct. 24. A plea hearing to determine whether the Hallfords would go to trial was also changed to Nov. 8.
On Nov. 1, victims’ families will honor the dead and their fight together at a Family Day and Concert in Colorado Springs.
