The shocking discovery of 190 decaying bodies at a US funeral home in Penrose, Colorado has led to a civil case where the owners have been ordered to pay $950 million to the families of the victims. The Return to Nature home had been giving fake ashes to grieving relatives instead of their loved ones’ remains, causing immense emotional distress to the families involved.
The funeral home owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, who are in serious financial difficulties, are unlikely to be able to pay the ordered amount. Neither of them attended the hearings, with Mr. Hallford in custody and his wife out on bail. This has left the families feeling frustrated and betrayed, with one mother, Crystina Page, expressing her disappointment at not receiving justice.
The victims’ lawyer, Andrew Swan, expressed his desire for the couple to participate in the case to provide answers for their actions. The Hallfords also face numerous state and federal criminal charges, including abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery. They had been offered a plea deal by state prosecutors, but it is unclear if it still stands.
The funeral home specialized in green burials without the use of chemicals, but it came under investigation after reports of a foul odor emanating from the property. Jon Hallford was accused of attempting to conceal the improper storage of human remains. The scandal has prompted tougher legislation in Colorado, but it will not come into effect until 2026.
The case has left more than 100 family members seeking justice, with the civil case remaining open in case more victims come forward. The lack of regulation in the funeral industry in Colorado has raised concerns about the need for stricter oversight to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
