The owners of a Colorado funeral home are facing charges for allegedly mishandling nearly 200 sets of human remains and fraudulently obtaining over $880,000 in Covid-19 relief funds. Jon and Carie Hallford are accused of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to federal prosecutors.
The Hallfords allegedly used the relief funds for personal expenses such as trips, jewelry, entertainment, dining, and cosmetic procedures, among other items. They are also facing state charges related to the improper storage of human remains at their funeral home in Penrose, Colorado.
Investigators discovered 190 sets of human remains improperly stored at the Return to Nature Funeral Home after receiving reports of an odor emanating from the building. The Hallfords were arrested on multiple charges, including abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery.
The federal indictment alleges that the Hallfords defrauded customers by failing to provide cremation or burial services as promised. They collected money from victims for services they never delivered and concealed the bodies by restricting access to the building and providing false statements about the activities inside.
If convicted in the federal case, the Hallfords could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. The funeral home is set to be demolished to safely remove all residual medical and biological materials found on the premises under the direction of the US Environmental Protection Agency.
