Colorado funeral home owner Jon Hallford who stashed nearly 190 decaying bodies sentenced to 20 years in prison

A Colorado funeral home owner, Jon Hallford, was sentenced to the maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison for cheating customers and defrauding the federal government. Hallford, the owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court. He also pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court and will be sentenced in August.

During Friday’s hearing, federal prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence while Hallford’s attorney asked for 10 years. However, Judge Nina Wang decided that the circumstances and scale of Hallford’s crimes warranted the longer sentence, stating that “This is not an ordinary fraud case.”

Hallford admitted that he opened Return to Nature Funeral Home to make a positive impact but things spiraled out of control. He expressed deep remorse for his actions, acknowledging the harm he caused to grieving families.

Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, were accused of storing nearly 190 bodies in a decrepit building and sending families fake ashes. The bodies were discovered stacked on top of each other in bug-infested conditions, revealing to families that their loved ones were not cremated and the ashes they received were fake.

Many families were traumatized by the discovery, with some experiencing nightmares, guilt, and questioning the fate of their loved ones’ souls. One victim, Colton Sperry, shared how his grandmother’s body remained in the building for four years, leading him into depression and thoughts of reuniting with her in heaven.

In addition to the corpse abuse charges, the Hallfords were also accused of pandemic aid fraud, using the money for personal expenses like luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and designer items. Witnesses spoke of the emotional toll of discovering their loved ones in such conditions and the betrayal of trust by the Hallfords.

Jon Hallford’s attorney requested a lower sentence of 10 years, emphasizing his remorse and acceptance of responsibility. Meanwhile, Assistant US Attorney Tim Neff described the gruesome scene inside the building, where bodies were piled high in various states of decay.

Carie Hallford is set to go to trial in the federal case in September and faces additional charges in the state case. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of fraudulent practices on grieving families and the importance of upholding ethical standards in the funeral industry.