A Colorado funeral home owner who gave grieving families cement powder instead of their loved ones’ ashes will spend 20 years behind bars for stashing nearly 200 decomposing bodies and embezzling $900,000 in taxpayer-funded COVID relief.
Key Takeaways
- Jon Hallford received the maximum 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 191 counts of corpse abuse in a separate state case.
- Nearly 200 bodies were found in a bug-infested building in Penrose, Colorado, while families were given fake ashes made of dry concrete mix.
- The Hallfords defrauded the federal government of $900,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, using the money to purchase luxury items from Gucci and Tiffany & Co.
- Families were charged over $130,000 for funeral services that were never provided, forcing many to grieve their loved ones a second time.
- Hallford’s wife, Carie, faces trial in the federal case in September and is also charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court.
Funeral Home Horror: Maximum Sentence for Unthinkable Betrayal
In a case that has shocked the nation, Jon Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, received a 20-year prison sentence for an appalling scheme that victimized hundreds of grieving families. The sentence, handed down by US District Judge Nina Wang, exceeded prosecutors’ recommendation by five years and doubled what the defense requested. Hallford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after authorities discovered nearly 200 decomposing bodies stored in a dilapidated building in Penrose, Colorado, between 2019 and 2023.
The horrific discovery revealed that families who believed their loved ones had been cremated were instead given fake ashes – often nothing more than dry concrete mix. Adding to the despicable nature of his crimes, Hallford defrauded the federal government of nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 emergency financial assistance, using fraudulent loan applications to fund a lavish lifestyle that included luxury SUVs, cryptocurrency investments, and high-end shopping sprees at Gucci and Tiffany & Co.
Grieving Twice: Victims Share Devastating Impact
During the sentencing hearing, thirteen victim impact statements painted a heartbreaking picture of families forced to grieve their loved ones a second time after learning of Hallford’s betrayal. One particularly devastating testimony came from a young boy named Colton Sperry, who expressed suicidal thoughts after learning about what happened to his grandmother’s remains. “If I die too, I could meet my grandma in heaven and talk to her again,” Colton Sperry testified, according to court records.
“This is not an ordinary fraud case,” Judge Wang said during sentencing, emphasizing the extraordinary emotional damage caused by Hallford’s actions.
Derrick Johnson, another victim’s relative, testified about the disrespectful treatment of his mother’s body. The Fremont County Sheriff described the scene at the funeral home as “horrific” when investigators discovered the bodies in various states of decomposition. The prosecution emphasized that “this goes into a whole other realm” beyond typical fraud cases, justifying the maximum sentence.
COVID Relief Funds Fueled Luxury Lifestyle While Bodies Decayed
Federal prosecutors detailed how the Hallfords systematically abused the pandemic relief system intended to help struggling businesses. According to court documents, they collected over $130,000 from families for funeral services never provided, while simultaneously defrauding taxpayers through COVID relief programs. When authorities began investigating, Jon Hallford attempted to cover up his crimes by claiming he practiced taxidermy at the property where the bodies were discovered.
“Instead of ensuring proper disposition of the remains, Hallford allowed bodies to accumulate in various states of decay and decomposition inside the funeral home’s facility,” stated the US Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hallford was ordered to pay $1,070,413.74 in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His attorneys acknowledged in court filings that his “conduct was abhorrent, indecent, and caused grave harm to many,” though they had requested a 10-year sentence rather than the maximum 20 years he received.
More Accountability Coming: Ongoing Legal Proceedings
This federal sentence is just the beginning of Hallford’s legal troubles. He still faces sentencing in August on 191 state counts of corpse abuse. Meanwhile, his wife and business partner, Carie Hallford, faces trial in the federal case in September and is also charged with 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court. During his sentencing hearing, Hallford expressed remorse, telling the court, “I am so deeply sorry for my actions, I still hate myself for what I’ve done.”
The case highlights serious regulatory failures in the funeral industry, where the Hallfords operated without proper oversight for years. This shocking exploitation of both grieving families and pandemic relief programs demonstrates a critical need for stronger regulations and monitoring of the funeral industry to prevent such unconscionable abuses of trust from happening again. The 20-year sentence sends a clear message about the severe consequences for those who prey upon families during their most vulnerable moments.
