A disturbing case has shocked the nation after Jon and Carie Hallford, owners of a Colorado funeral home, pleaded guilty to abusing 190 bodies in a horrific scheme disguised as eco-friendly “human composting.”
The investigation began in October 2023 when neighbors reported a foul odor. Authorities discovered bodies in various states of decay—some dating back to 2019—carelessly stored in bags, sheets, or left exposed. Many families were unknowingly given urns filled with concrete, while others received the wrong remains entirely.
The Hallfords ran a business promising green burials, but instead misled grieving families and spent over $130,000 on luxury purchases.
They now face 191 felony counts and could serve 15 to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for April 18, 2025.
This scandal has raised serious concerns about the lack of regulation in the funeral industry. As U.S. Attorney Michael Allen said, “These families trusted them with their loved ones. That trust was shattered.”