US News Nearly 200 decomposing bodies removed from Colorado "environmentally friendly" funeral home

[The Helper]

The DNA testing to identify the bodies could take months.

At least 189 decomposing bodies have been removed from a Colorado funeral home, much higher than initial reports suggested when the story surfaced earlier this month, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

The Return to Nature Funeral Home based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, offers environmentally friendly burials but came under investigation after more than 115 human remains were found being improperly stored on the property, according to a statement from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office from earlier this month.

Responding to a suspicious incident, authorities found around 115 decomposing bodies stored inside a space of about 2,500 square feet. The bodies were in such bad condition that they will need to be identified through DNA, officials said.

However, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation on behalf of Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper and Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller confirmed the body count to be much higher than originally thought.

Nearly 200 decomposing bodies removed from funeral home

At least 189 decomposing bodies have been removed from a Colorado funeral home, much higher than initial reports suggested when the story surfaced earlier this month.

abcnews.go.com

 

[The Helper]

Owners of funeral home where 190 improperly stored bodies discovered arrested

The owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado have been arrested more than a month after 190 improperly stored bodies were discovered inside their facility in Penrose. Jon and Carie Hallford were arrested Wednesday morning in Oklahoma on suspicion of committing the crimes of abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering and forgery, which are all felonies.

The arrests were made in Wagoner, in eastern Oklahoma, and the Hallfords were being held on a $2 million cash bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office began an investigation on Oct. 4 after neighbors reported an odor emanating from the Penrose facility.

According to the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office, because the Hallfords were arrested in a different state, their first advisement in El Paso County District Court will be determined during the extradition process. District Attorney Michael Allen said that the probable cause affidavit will remain sealed to protect the investigation.

Owners of funeral home where 190 improperly stored bodies discovered arrested

The owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home have been arrested more than a month after 190 improperly stored bodies were discovered inside a facility in Penrose.

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