"On October 4th, 2023, a disgusted neighbor of the “Return To Nature” Funeral home, made a call to the local Penrose, CO police department regarding the “abhorrent” smell coming from said funeral home." -- cece burger, 6th Grade
On October 4th, 2023, a disgusted neighbor of the “Return To Nature” Funeral home, made a call to the local Penrose, CO police department regarding the “abhorrent” smell coming from said funeral home. The neighbor explained to them that Jon and Carrie Hallford, owners of the property, had not been seen at the establishment for several days. This was an immediate red flag for the operator and investigators were sent out in a heartbeat.
Upon entering the decrepit building it was made obvious that this was more than a quick vacation for the Hallfords. What seemed like endless rotting bodies were thrown about the facility. Some in bags, some in cardboard boxes, and some just sitting. Bodily fluids covered the ground, as responders struggled to slosh through it. Maggots, cockroaches, and worms were everywhere—not to mention the horrid stench filling the air. But this was just the string that led to a yarn ball of mistakes, crimes, and fraud.
Jon and Carrie Hallford have been operating the “Return to Nature” funeral home in Penrose since 2016. What set the funeral home apart from others in the industry is that they didn’t use any embalming fluids or other chemicals that were normally used in the burial process. The owners said they offered a more “authentic” burial experience. After a quick web search, multiple 5 star reviews can be seen from more than satisfied customers, so what really happened to this small funeral home?
Upon entering the decrepit building it was made obvious that this was more than a quick vacation for the Hallfords. What seemed like endless rotting bodies were thrown about the facility. Some in bags, some in cardboard boxes, and some just sitting. Bodily fluids covered the ground, as responders struggled to slosh through it. Maggots, cockroaches, and worms were everywhere—not to mention the horrid stench filling the air. But this was just the string that led to a yarn ball of mistakes, crimes, and fraud.
Jon and Carrie Hallford have been operating the “Return to Nature” funeral home in Penrose since 2016. What set the funeral home apart from others in the industry is that they didn’t use any embalming fluids or other chemicals that were normally used in the burial process. The owners said they offered a more “authentic” burial experience. After a quick web search, multiple 5 star reviews can be seen from more than satisfied customers, so what really happened to this small funeral home?
After only about 3 years of business, the funeral home’s refrigeration system broke. A reasonable business owner would stop taking in bodies, but the Halfords didn’t stop. Already in debt from tax evasion, the Halfords found themselves in a bit of trouble.
In an attempt to “fix” the problem, the duo started faking papers, commiting fraud, and other crimes under the white collar crime umbrella for money. Raking up to a total of 61 confirmed counts of faking papers. Four confirmed accounts of giving concrete mix instead of ashes to oblivious loved ones. These are only the confirmed counts, multiple families are still coming forward with cases. One reported case shows that a military veteran had been buried, only for investigators to dig him back up and discover it was not the veteran, but an anonymous woman.
In an attempt to “fix” the problem, the duo started faking papers, commiting fraud, and other crimes under the white collar crime umbrella for money. Raking up to a total of 61 confirmed counts of faking papers. Four confirmed accounts of giving concrete mix instead of ashes to oblivious loved ones. These are only the confirmed counts, multiple families are still coming forward with cases. One reported case shows that a military veteran had been buried, only for investigators to dig him back up and discover it was not the veteran, but an anonymous woman.
For some time in 2021 there was one employee working at the “Return To Nature funeral home,” who remains unknown. But this person was the only one burring and actually running the funeral home. Investigators found that no bodies from 2021 were still left rotting in the funeral home, showing this person was really incredible.
Here’s what we know:
In August of 2023, Jon Hallford was wrapping up at the funeral home. After texting Carrie telling her that he wanted all the bodies out before “Claire” got there, (investigators don’t know who this woman is) he informed Carrie he’d be home soon.
“I want to take a shower as soon as I get back… I got people juice on me,” Jon texted to his wife, before answering a dinner request as if he wasn’t just talking about the multitude of decaying bodies he was trying to deal with. “Want the double cheeseburger, lettuce wrapped, with everything minus tomatoes, please.”
Multiple text messages from the couple included talk about covering up the bad smell with air fresheners and asking to buy tarps and extra fold-out tables. More recent texts before their arrest included a way to burn the bodies and dispose of them entirely.
Colorado law states that a cremation and/or mortician license is not required to run a funeral home. Seeing as this is not the first time something like this has happened in Colorado, many believe that that law needs to be changed. Amara Deanes, 6th grade, says, “They should not keep letting this happen, [Colorado office of funeral home and crematory registration] should make all new Funeral home owners take a license test, and all existing funeral home owners take a renewing test.”
At some point the couple realized they were in too deep, there were too many bills to pay, too many bodies, too many charges, so they fled. A few weeks later, after officers tracked Carrie’s phone, they ended up in Oklahoma. The house was later identified as Jon’s parents' home. A black Volkswagen was parked outside of the home, it was registered to Jon.
On November 7th, the two were taken into custody. Jon was charged a different fine from a crime he had been running from since 2006, and after failing to appear at his court date, was charged even more. In total, they both had 250 charges. The couple failed to appear in court and were charged $18,000. Not long after, Jon was released on a $100,000 to 2 million bond. Carrie’s bond was also set at $100,000, and her court date is set for March 21st.
Investigators have been testing DNA from fingerprints, dental records, and medical hardware. 110 bodies have been identified and their families have been informed. Investigators are still hard at work finding out the rest.
“There's really nothing that can compensate for them,”said 7th grader Zara Quiter on the families’ losses. “Someone dying that's close to you is horrible, and nothing you do can ever fully heal that. And I think burial is a way to show respect for the person. And now that they can’t do that, these families are going to be devastated, money will never compensate for the amount of hurt this situation has caused.”
Here’s what we know:
In August of 2023, Jon Hallford was wrapping up at the funeral home. After texting Carrie telling her that he wanted all the bodies out before “Claire” got there, (investigators don’t know who this woman is) he informed Carrie he’d be home soon.
“I want to take a shower as soon as I get back… I got people juice on me,” Jon texted to his wife, before answering a dinner request as if he wasn’t just talking about the multitude of decaying bodies he was trying to deal with. “Want the double cheeseburger, lettuce wrapped, with everything minus tomatoes, please.”
Multiple text messages from the couple included talk about covering up the bad smell with air fresheners and asking to buy tarps and extra fold-out tables. More recent texts before their arrest included a way to burn the bodies and dispose of them entirely.
Colorado law states that a cremation and/or mortician license is not required to run a funeral home. Seeing as this is not the first time something like this has happened in Colorado, many believe that that law needs to be changed. Amara Deanes, 6th grade, says, “They should not keep letting this happen, [Colorado office of funeral home and crematory registration] should make all new Funeral home owners take a license test, and all existing funeral home owners take a renewing test.”
At some point the couple realized they were in too deep, there were too many bills to pay, too many bodies, too many charges, so they fled. A few weeks later, after officers tracked Carrie’s phone, they ended up in Oklahoma. The house was later identified as Jon’s parents' home. A black Volkswagen was parked outside of the home, it was registered to Jon.
On November 7th, the two were taken into custody. Jon was charged a different fine from a crime he had been running from since 2006, and after failing to appear at his court date, was charged even more. In total, they both had 250 charges. The couple failed to appear in court and were charged $18,000. Not long after, Jon was released on a $100,000 to 2 million bond. Carrie’s bond was also set at $100,000, and her court date is set for March 21st.
Investigators have been testing DNA from fingerprints, dental records, and medical hardware. 110 bodies have been identified and their families have been informed. Investigators are still hard at work finding out the rest.
“There's really nothing that can compensate for them,”said 7th grader Zara Quiter on the families’ losses. “Someone dying that's close to you is horrible, and nothing you do can ever fully heal that. And I think burial is a way to show respect for the person. And now that they can’t do that, these families are going to be devastated, money will never compensate for the amount of hurt this situation has caused.”