Colorado Funeral Home Horror Case Takes New Turn as Owners Face Possible Reduced Sentences

In October of 2023, it was found that the owners of a funeral home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, mishandled the human remains of nearly two hundred people, and were swiftly arrested.

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However, this case continues to evolve as the couple is not only facing state charges, but federal charges as well, and if accepted, a new plea deal could see the funeral home owners walk free eventually.

What Happened at the Colorado Funeral Home?

On October 2, 2023, authorities began to investigate a building in Penrose, Colorado, owned by, given the information we’ve now been given, the disgustingly ironically named Return to Nature funeral home in Colorado Springs.

It was discovered that almost 200 bodies were being improperly stored at the property, and the owners, Jon and Carrie Hallford, were arrested and charged with crimes, including abuse of a corpse, money laundering, and forgery, all of which they’ve since pleaded guilty to.

The pair has yet to be sentenced for these crimes, although both were also charged with wire fraud, a federal crime, and Jon has received a 20-year sentence for that.

What’s Next for the Colorado Funeral Home Owners?

The pair has each entered a new plea deal after their previous pleas were rejected. Jon’s latest plea deal would see him serve 30-50 years behind bars, while Carrie’s would see her serve 25-35 years.

Many of the families of the deceased whose remains were mishandled are not satisfied with these proposed deals, with some calling for 200-year sentences, one for roughly each of the bodies.

Read More: The Horrific Reason a Colorado Funeral Home is Being Demolished

The new plea deals will be either accepted or rejected on Monday, December 22, 2025.

[CBS News]