A Colorado funeral home, Return to Nature, has been ordered to pay US$950 million in damages to the families of 190 individuals whose b0dies were left to dec@y at the facility.
The home’s owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, had given f@ke ashes to grieving relatives, leading to a civil lawsuit.
However, it’s unlikely the families will receive compensation due to the Hallfords’ financial difficulties.
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The Hallfords were offered a plea deal by state prosecutors for 190 counts of abus!ng a corpse, but its current status is uncertain.
Return to Nature funeral home, located near Colorado Springs, specialiSed in eco-friendly burials without chemicals or embalming fluids.
However, an investigation was launched after reports of a strong odor led to the discovery of 115 bodies on the premises last October.
Jon Hallford was accused of trying to hide the improper storage of human remains. Although green burials are permitted in Colorado, remains must be buried or refrigerated within 24 hours.
Notably, Colorado funeral home operators are not currently required to be licensed or have formal education in mortuary science.
In response to the scandal, stricter legislation has been passed, but it won’t take effect until 2026.
