Authorities said the reality was far different. After a foul odor led investigators to the Penrose location in October of last year, they found at least 190 improperly stored bodies at the company’s Penrose and Colorado Springs sites. The Hallfords were arrested the following month.
Allen said the harm to families has been severe, describing the funeral home owners as having violated the trust of grieving relatives. The Hallfords are expected to face 15 to 20 years in prison under the state plea agreement. Sentencing on the state charges is scheduled for April.
Some of the bodies recovered had belonged to people who died as far back as 2019, authorities said.
Federal Fraud Case Also Pending
The state case is not the only legal matter facing the Hallfords. Last month, they pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud connected to the misuse of more than $800,000 in Covid-19 pandemic relief funds from the Small Business Administration, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Federal authorities said the couple could each face up to 20 years in prison on those charges. Their federal sentencing is scheduled for March, according to court records.
Prosecutors alleged that money paid by customers or provided through government relief programs was not used for burial or cremation services as promised. Court records said the Hallfords instead spent thousands of dollars on vacations, jewelry from Tiffany & Company and purchases on Amazon.
The federal indictment said the couple collected more than $130,000 from victims for cremation or burial services that were never provided.
Authorities also alleged that some families received urns containing concrete mix rather than cremated remains, and that the wrong bodies were provided for cemetery burials.
Lawyers for the Hallfords did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday, according to the original report.
The Bigger Picture
The case has renewed scrutiny of funeral home regulation in Colorado. State lawmakers have said Colorado is the only state that does not require education, certification and licensure for funeral home industry employees.
That lack of licensing has become a central issue as lawmakers consider creating a formal licensing process for funeral professionals. For families, the case is also a reminder of the importance of clear contracts, itemized funeral service costs and careful documentation when arranging burial, cremation or green burial services.
Colorado legalized human composting in 2021, becoming the second state after Washington to allow bodies to be turned into soil. Return to Nature’s marketing around environmentally focused services made the allegations especially painful for families who believed they were choosing a respectful, values-based option.
For the relatives involved, the court process is still not over. The coming sentencings will determine how much prison time the Hallfords receive, while Colorado officials continue weighing whether stronger industry rules could help prevent another case like this.