Dark Secrets Behind Colorado’s “Green” Funeral Home: A Betrayal Beyond Words
What began as a promise of eco-friendly burials turned into one of the most horrifying scandals in Colorado’s funeral industry. Behind the serene branding and soothing assurances of Return to Nature Funeral Home lay a nightmare that defied belief.
When a persistent, foul stench finally drew investigators to the property, they discovered an unspeakable horror: nearly 200 decomposing bodies, urns packed with concrete instead of ashes, and a trail of financial deceit that stretched far beyond the funeral home’s walls.
As this chilling story came to light, two haunting questions echoed through the community: How could such cruelty remain hidden for so long—and who failed to protect the grieving families who trusted them?
Jon and Carie Hallford, the Colorado couple behind the so-called “green burial” businesses in Colorado Springs and Penrose, have since pleaded guilty to 191 felony counts of abuse of a corpse. Appearing before El Paso County Court, the Hallfords accepted a plea deal that could see them serve between 15 and 20 years in prison. Their sentencing is set for April.
Return to Nature Funeral Home had built its reputation on environmentally conscious ideals—biodegradable caskets, organic shrouds, and natural burial baskets meant to honor both the planet and the departed.
But the truth that emerged last fall obliterated that image completely. After neighbors complained about a sickening odor emanating from the funeral home, authorities launched an investigation that exposed almost 200 improperly stored bodies—some left to rot for as long as four years.
“The pain these families are experiencing is immeasurable,” said El Paso District Attorney Michael Allen during a somber press conference. “The Hallfords destroyed the sacred trust placed in them by people already mourning unimaginable loss.”
Alongside state charges, the couple now faces federal prosecution after admitting to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Court records show they siphoned more than $800,000 in pandemic relief funds meant to sustain their business. Instead of investing in proper burial operations, the Hallfords splurged on luxury jewelry, lavish vacations, and online shopping sprees. They also defrauded grieving families of over $130,000, charging for cremations and burials that were never carried out.
Among the most disturbing revelations were reports of urns filled with concrete rather than human ashes—and instances in which the wrong bodies were returned entirely. One relative, David Page, described the gut-wrenching moment he discovered his loved one’s remains dumped in a broken refrigerator, sealed in a body bag, and left there for four agonizing years.
To conceal their crimes, the Hallfords allegedly sealed windows and doors, restricted all outside access, and brushed off the growing stench with fabricated explanations.
A Systemic Failure
The scandal has laid bare the dangerous weaknesses in Colorado’s funeral home oversight. Although the state made headlines in 2021 by legalizing human composting—becoming one of the first in the nation to do so—it remains the only state that does not require funeral home employees to have licenses, certifications, or formal training. Lawmakers now argue that this regulatory vacuum created the perfect conditions for such atrocities to occur undetected.
In the wake of public outrage, state legislators are calling for sweeping reforms, including mandatory licensing and stricter inspections, to ensure that no family ever faces such deception again.
Closing Reflections
The Hallford case marks one of the darkest chapters in Colorado’s history—a grotesque betrayal of trust rooted in greed, decay, and deceit. From decomposing remains to counterfeit ashes, and from stolen pandemic funds to shattered families, the saga exposes what happens when oversight collapses and the vulnerable are left unprotected.
As the Hallfords await sentencing, their story stands as both a tragedy and a warning: without accountability, even the most sacred moments of life—death, mourning, and remembrance—can be exploited in the most unthinkable ways.
Colorado’s funeral industry now stands at a crossroads. Only through real reform can the state restore dignity to the dead—and peace to those they leave behind.