COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — In a case that has shaken the community, a Colorado funeral home owner was sentenced to 40 years in state prison for storing 189 decomposing bodies over a span of four years and providing families with fake ashes. The sentencing took place on Friday.
During the hearing, relatives of the deceased expressed their horror, recounting nightmares about decomposing bodies and maggots. They referred to Jon Hallford, the defendant, as a “monster” and requested the maximum sentence of 50 years from Judge Eric Bentley.
Judge Bentley addressed Hallford, stating that he had caused “unspeakable and incomprehensible” harm. Bentley remarked, “It is my personal belief that every one of us, every human being, is basically good at the core, but we live in a world that tests that belief every day, and Mr. Hallford your crimes are testing that belief.”
Before his sentencing, Hallford expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging, “I had so many chances to put a stop to everything and walk away, but I did not. My mistakes will echo for a generation. Everything I did was wrong.”
‘Motivated by greed’
Despite his attorney’s plea for a 30-year sentence, stating that the crime was not violent and Hallford had no previous criminal record, the court handed down a 40-year sentence. Hallford’s ex-wife, Carie Hallford, who was also involved in the operation of Return to Nature Funeral Home, faces sentencing in April, with a potential sentence of 25 to 35 years.
The couple had pleaded guilty to almost 200 counts of corpse abuse as part of a plea deal. Court documents revealed that during the years the bodies were hidden, the Hallfords led a lavish lifestyle. Their expenditures included luxury vehicles such as a GMC Yukon and an Infiniti, along with $31,000 in cryptocurrency and high-end purchases from Gucci and Tiffany & Co.
Prosecutor Shelby Crow commented, “Clearly this is a crime motivated by greed.” The Hallfords charged over $1,200 per customer, and Crow noted that their extravagant spending could have more than covered the cremation costs for all the bodies.
Additionally, the Hallfords admitted guilt to federal fraud charges for defrauding the government of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-related small business aid. Jon Hallford received a 20-year federal prison sentence, while Carie Hallford awaits sentencing.
Heartbroken families
Kelly Mackeen, one of the affected family members, spoke at the hearing, sharing her anguish over her mother’s remains being mishandled. “I’m a daughter whose mother was treated like yesterday’s trash and dumped in a site left to rot with hundreds of others,” Mackeen said. “I’m heartbroken, and I ask God every day for grace.”
The Hallfords had stored the bodies in a building in Penrose, near Colorado Springs, from 2019 until 2023. The discovery was made following complaints of a foul odor.
Investigators found bodies scattered throughout the building, some stacked, with bugs and decomposition fluids present. The remains, including those of adults, infants, and fetuses, were kept at room temperature. Identification of the bodies took months, relying on fingerprints, DNA, and other methods. Families were reportedly given dry concrete instead of ashes, leading many to feel their grief was compounded.
Lax regulations
The case has highlighted issues with Colorado’s funeral home regulations, prompting calls for reform. The Hallfords had previous financial troubles, including missed tax payments and eviction, as noted in public records.
In a previous decision, Judge Bentley rejected earlier plea agreements that suggested up to 20-year sentences, which were deemed too lenient by the victims’ families.
