Colorado funeral home owner asking for 10 year prison sentence, prosecutors ask for 15 years

A federal sentencing hearing is set for Friday
A Colorado funeral home owner accused of improperly storing nearly 200 bodies has a sentencing hearing this week. (Source: KKTV)
Published: Jun. 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM MDT|Updated: Jun. 25, 2025 at 6:04 AM MDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A Colorado funeral home owner accused of improperly storing nearly 200 bodies has a sentencing hearing this week in his federal case over financial crimes.

In fall 2023, investigators say they found nearly 200 bodies improperly stored at a building belonging to Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose. Since that discovery, business owners Jon and Carie Hallford have faced hundreds of charges, most of which are abuse of a corpse counts filed in state court. The building where officials say bodies were found in piles was torn down in April 2024.

The Hallfords have federal cases as well. In October 2024, both Jon and Carie pleaded guilty to one federal count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They were originally charged with over a dozen counts of wire fraud related charges each.

Earlier this year, Carie Hallford rejected the plea offer and her case is proceeding to trial. Court records reflect Jon Hallford is still accepting the federal plea offer and is set for sentencing in the case at 9 a.m. Friday in Denver.

In their federal cases, court papers allege the Hallfords misused about $880 thousand in CARES Act funds, which were federal funds meant to help small businesses during the pandemic. Court papers say the two allegedly used that money for things like luxury cars, vacations, cosmetic procedures and more.

Jon Hallford’s defense is asking for a 10 year prison sentence, according to court papers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not agreed to that and submitted court records asking for a 15 year prison sentence.

Documents filed by the defense say “this court should focus on the federal crime at issue here, fraud.” Prosecutors argue in their documents that a 15 year sentence carries the gravity of the situation with it, saying Jon Hallford’s “flagrant mistreatment of corpses is at the core of the conduct before the court for it’s consideration.”

Jon Hallford is due back in state court in August for a sentencing hearing. Carie Hallford is due back in state court in September for a status conference.