Colorado funeral home owners arrested for improper storage of 190 bodies.
OAN’s Abril Elfi
1:12 PM – Wednesday, November 8, 2023
The couple that owns a “green” funeral home, where 190 decaying remains were found, have been arrested.
El Paso and Fremont county authorities held a press conference on Wednesday, announcing the arrests of Jon and Carie Hallford. The duo was charged with abuse of a corpse, forgery, theft and money laundering after at least 190 “improperly stored” bodies, 80 of whom are still unidentified, were found at their funeral home.
4th Judicial District Attorney Michael J. Allen spoke at the conference stating that the probable cause affidavit for the arrest is sealed.
Governor Jared Polis (D-Colo.) released a statement following the arrests.
“I am relieved that criminal charges have been brought against the funeral home owner and a criminal investigation is proceeding,” Polis said. “I know this will not bring peace to the families impacted by this heart-wrenching incident but we hope the individuals responsible are held fully accountable in a court of law.”
According to Allen, Jon owned Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose in Fremont County, Colorado which specializes in green burials and cremations.
The “green” home is supposed to provide “green” burials without embalming chemicals or metal caskets.
On October 4th, more than 100 bodies were found at the “green” funeral home after investigators got a call about “abhorred smells.”
Records also stated that even though Hallford admitted that he had a “problem” at the property, he tried to conceal the improper storage of the bodies by claiming that he was doing taxidermy.
Officials initially estimated there were roughly 115 bodies inside, but the figure was later upped to 189 when they finished removing all the remains in mid-October.
At Wednesday’s press conference, Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller stated that the number of bodies discovered is now 190.
Authorities have identified 110 victims from those discovered using fingerprints, dental records and medical hardware.
Keller stated that they will use DNA to identify the remaining bodies.
He also said that 25 bodies have been released to loved ones.
It is unclear why the Hallfords were in Oklahoma at the time of their arrest.
The Hallfords are being held in Wagoner, Oklahoma, awaiting an extradition hearing. They are being held on a $2 million bond.
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How did authorities discover the improperly stored bodies in the funeral home owned by Jon and Carie Hallford?
Title: Colorado Funeral Home Owners Arrested After Discovery of Improperly Stored Bodies
Introduction:
The owners of a “green” funeral home in Colorado have been arrested after authorities discovered the improper storage of at least 190 decaying remains. Jon and Carie Hallford are now facing charges of abuse of a corpse, forgery, theft, and money laundering. This shocking revelation has prompted an investigation into the couple’s funeral home practices, highlighting the need for accountability in the industry.
Arrests and Charges:
El Paso and Fremont county authorities held a press conference on Wednesday, announcing the arrests of Jon and Carie Hallford. The couple was charged with abuse of a corpse, forgery, theft, and money laundering after the discovery of improperly stored bodies in their funeral home. Of the 190 remains found, 80 individuals are still unidentified, making this case even more distressing.
Statements from Officials:
Speaking at the press conference, 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael J. Allen revealed that the probable cause affidavit for the couple’s arrest is sealed. Governor Jared Polis (D-Colo.) released a statement expressing relief that criminal charges had been brought against the Hallfords. He emphasized the importance of holding those responsible fully accountable in a court of law.
The Green Funeral Home:
Owned by Jon Hallford, Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose offers “green” burials and cremations without the use of embalming chemicals or metal caskets. Despite its environmental focus, authorities found numerous bodies improperly stored at the premise, raising serious concerns about the practices followed at the funeral home.
Discovery and Concealment:
On October 4th, authorities received a call reporting abhorrent smells emanating from the funeral home. Subsequent investigations led to the discovery of over 100 bodies on the property. Records suggest that Hallford attempted to conceal the improper storage by claiming taxidermy work was being conducted. However, the number of bodies increased to 190 after authorities finished removing all the remains.
Identification Efforts:
Authorities have managed to identify 110 victims from the discovered remains using fingerprints, dental records, and medical hardware. However, the remaining 80 bodies will require DNA testing for identification. Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller confirmed that 25 bodies have been released to their loved ones, providing some closure to grieving families.
Legal Proceedings:
The reasons behind the Hallfords’ presence in Oklahoma at the time of their arrest remain unclear. Currently, they are being held in Wagoner, Oklahoma, pending an extradition hearing. A
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