Funeral home owner sentenced for hiding nearly 200 bodies

In Colorado, a funeral home owner named Jon Hallford was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his fraudulent activities, which included stashing nearly 190 decomposed bodies at his funeral home, Return to Nature. His sentencing occurred after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, leading to the exploitation of grieving families and the swindling of nearly $900,000 in federal COVID-19 aid. The press coverage and courtroom statements revealed how Hallford, aiming to make a positive impact through his business, spiraled into extensive misconduct, ultimately causing severe emotional distress to numerous families who believed they were able to honor their deceased loved ones. Hallford's co-owner, Carie Hallford, also faces state charges related to corpse abuse for allegedly storage of the bodies between 2019 and 2023. Many grieving families were heartbroken to learn that the ashes they had received weren’t authentic, resulting in considerable emotional turmoil. The court described Hallford's case as extraordinary and stated that the severe nature and scale of his actions warranted a maximum sentence under federal law. Hallford's attorney recommended a 10-year sentence, but prosecutors argued that a longer term was justified due to the distress the actions caused to families. Derrick Johnson's emotional testimony highlighted the disturbing reality of the situation, as he described the agony of not knowing the fate of his deceased mother when she was cast aside with improper care. The emotional aftermath continues to unravel for families affected, with additional legal proceedings against Carie Hallford scheduled for upcoming months.