Draft:Return to Nature Funeral Home

Return to Nature Funeral Home Incident The Return to Nature Funeral Home Incident refers to a series of events involving the mishandling and improper storage of human remains by the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado. The incident came to light in 2023 and has since been the subject of legal proceedings and public outcry.

Background
Return to Nature Funeral Home, located near Colorado Springs, was a business that offered green burial services. In October 2023, authorities were alerted to a foul odor emanating from the funeral home, which led to the discovery of a large number of decaying bodies1.

Discovery Investigators found more than 150 bodies in various states of decomposition inside the building. The bodies were not properly stored, with some wrapped in plastic, body bags, or stored in cardboard boxes and plastic totes2. The conditions inside the funeral home were described as “abhorrent,” with bodies stacked on top of each other, including more than 40 in a homemade refrigeration unit2.

Legal Proceedings The co-owners of the funeral home, Carie Hallford and her husband Jon, were accused of storing nearly 200 bodies, including fetuses, infants, and adults, according to the FBI2. They faced charges linked to the discovery, including approximately 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, five counts of theft, four counts of money laundering, and over 50 counts of forgery3. The oldest body found dated back to September 15, 2019, while the most recent was from August 22, 20232.

Impact The incident has had a profound impact on the families of the deceased, many of whom believed they had received the cremated remains of their loved ones, only to discover that they may have been given fake ashes3. The community has been left in shock, and the incident has raised concerns about regulations and oversight in the funeral industry.

Demolition Following the investigation, the Return to Nature Funeral Home was scheduled for demolition by the Environmental Protection Agency4.

References KRDO News2 CPR News3 BBC News1 KOAA News4