Colorado funeral home owners misappropriated nearly $1 million in COVID-19 funds and neglected their duty to care for the deceased, resulting in the discovery of over one hundred decomposing bodies.
Jon and Carie Hallford, who operated Return to Nature Funeral Home, in Penrose, Colorado, reportedly received nearly $900,000 in pandemic aid intended to run their business.
In 2022, the funeral home failed to pay property taxes for one of its locations. Then, last year, they were fined $21,000 for not paying for cremations, leading to a deeper investigation which resulted in the discovery of 190 decomposing bodies, the Guardian reported.
Authorities found the bodies in a bug-infested building, after families suspected wrongdoing when they received fake ashes and cremation records.
Additionally, instead of using the funds for their clients, the couple used the money to make several luxury purchases like a GMC Yukon and Infiniti worth over $120,000, get laser treatments, take several trips, and invest $31,000 in cryptocurrency, according to AP News.
The Hallfords now face multiple charges related to fraud and abuse of corpses, alongside a long list of state-level offenses. With a guilty plea expected, the two might also face significant prison time.
Federal charges could result in up to 20 years in prison and around $250,000 in fines.
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