Colorado Funeral Home Owner Faces Sentencing for 191 Corpse Abuse Counts

Authorities in Colorado uncovered multiple cases of funeral home corpse abuse involving the storage of decomposing bodies and the distribution of fake cremains. In Pueblo, 20 bodies were found decomposing for up to 15 years at Davis Mortuary, with the owner admitting to giving families fake remains, leading to a summary suspension and ongoing investigations. Separately, Jon Hallford, owner of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, is set to be sentenced for 191 counts of corpse abuse after nearly 200 bodies were found in a bug-infested building, where he and his wife falsely assured families of proper cremations. Hallford pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges and faces a 20-year state prison sentence, although some victims urge the judge to reject a plea deal that would allow his sentences to run concurrently, potentially shortening his incarceration. Families affected, such as Tanya Wilson, express deep anguish over the emotional trauma caused by the deception and demand full accountability. These cases highlight ongoing concerns over funeral home regulation and oversight in Colorado.