Archive · 23 Aug 2025
Funeral Home Owner Faces Sentencing in Corpse Abuse Case
A funeral home owner in Colorado is about to be sentenced because he didn't treat the bodies of the deceased properly.
Instead of cremating the bodies, he kept them in a building.
Families were given fake ashes.
The owner also took money from the government and spent it on luxury items.
Some families are upset with the plea deal the owner received.
They feel it isn't a strong enough punishment for what happened.
Funeral home owner Jon Hallford faces sentencing for corpse abuse after discovery of nearly 200 decaying bodies.
Hallford and his wife allegedly stashed bodies instead of cremating them, providing fake ashes.
Hallford pleaded guilty to federal fraud and is headed to prison; state sentencing focuses on corpse abuse.
Families are expressing anguish, with some wanting the judge to reject a plea deal.
The plea deal calls for a 20-year sentence, with concerns it may run concurrently with a federal sentence.
- Who
- Jon Hallford, Carie Hallford, families of the deceased.
- What
- Sentencing of funeral home owner for corpse abuse and providing fake ashes.
- When
- Sentencing hearing scheduled; bodies discovered two years prior.
- Where
- Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, Penrose, Colorado.
- Why
- Mistreatment of bodies and alleged fraud at a funeral home.
Families Demanding Justice
Court's Position
Length of Sentence
Families Demanding Justice
Hallford's sentence should be longer.
Court's Position
The plea deal is acceptable, providing closure.
- Defendant
- Jon Hallford
- Charges
- Corpse Abuse
- Location
- Return to Nature Funeral Home
- Bodies Found
- Approximately 200
- Plea Deal
- 20-year prison sentence
- Fraud
- $900,000 in COVID-19 aid
