Justice was finally served as the funeral home owner whose horrific actions left nearly 190 bodies neglected in decomposing conditions was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

At a Glance

• Jon Hallford stashed 191 bodies, defrauded customers and the government.
• Judge Nina Wang imposed a 240-month sentence due to the crime’s emotional impact.
• Urns contained fake ashes; bodies were improperly stored from 2019-2023.
• Hallford defrauded $900,000 in COVID-19 funds for luxury items.
• Victims’ families, devastated, shared emotional testimonies during sentencing.

A Chilling Discovery

Jon Hallford, the owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado, committed unspeakable acts against the deceased and their families by improperly storing 191 bodies. These bodies, held between 2019 and 2023, were found in a state of decay after complaints about a foul odor near the premises. Investigators discovered the remains stacked in a dilapidated, insect-infested building, leading to Hallford’s conviction.

Watch a report: US funeral home owner who stashed 191 bodies sentenced to 20 years

On top of this, Hallford committed fraud against grieving families by distributing urns filled with a dry concrete mix instead of their loved ones’ ashes. In some shocking instances, the wrong body was buried. Families, rightfully devastated, suffered a severe impact on their grieving process due to these appalling actions.

A Sentence That Matches the Crime

Federal prosecutors initially sought a 15-year sentence for Hallford, but Judge Nina Wang imposed a maximum 240-month sentence. “This is not an ordinary fraud case,” Judge Wang stated, emphasizing the severity and emotional toll on the victims involved.

Hallford also admitted to 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court, with sentencing on those charges set for August. His wife, Carie Hallford, faces similar charges and will go to trial in September.

Fraud Beyond Funeral Services

Hallford’s greed and deception extended beyond funeral services. He defrauded the federal government of almost $900,000 by lying about COVID-19 emergency financial aid. The funds were used to purchase luxury goods from reputed brands such as Gucci and Tiffany & Co., alongside extravagant items like SUVs and cryptocurrency investments.

Beyond his personal gains, Hallford’s deception extended to collecting over $130,000 from unsuspecting families for funeral services that were never provided. He even went as far as lying about conducting taxidermy to mask the appalling conditions under which the bodies were kept.