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Colorado judge rejects plea deal for funeral home owner Carie Hallford accused of storing 190 decaying bodies and giving families fake ashes, calling the proposed 15-20 year sentence too lenient.
Colorado Judge Denies Settlement for Funeral Home Owner
A Colorado judge has rejected a plea agreement for Carie Hallford, co-owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, who was accused of stashing nearly 190 decaying bodies in a bug-infested building and giving families fake ashes. Judge Eric Bentley ruled that the proposed 15-20 year sentence was too lenient, stating it 'does not adequately account for the harms that these crimes have caused'.
Families Demand Justice
Family members of the deceased objected to the plea deal, with some requesting nearly 200 years in prison - one year for each body discovered. 'This isn't just about punishment, it's about accountability for the unimaginable pain caused to hundreds of families,' said one relative who wished to remain anonymous.
Unusual Judicial Action
The rejection marks an extraordinary judicial move. Judge Bentley noted in September that he had never rejected a plea agreement in his career, calling it an 'extreme measure'. The same judge previously rejected a plea deal for Jon Hallford, Carie's husband, who subsequently withdrew his guilty plea.
Green Funeral Business Gone Wrong
The Hallfords operated Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado, promising families eco-friendly burials without chemical embalming. Instead, authorities discovered they were dumping bodies between 2019-2023 and giving families fake ashes made from concrete. The discovery came after neighbors reported a foul smell emanating from the building in October 2023.
Regulatory Failures Exposed
The case has exposed significant gaps in Colorado's funeral home oversight. According to KUNC reports, the state has dramatically increased inspections this year, but a 2024 law signed by Governor Jared Polis has kept inspection reports secret from the public.
Broader Impact
Judge Bentley emphasized that the case affects more than just the 191 identified victims. 'There are also about a thousand people who will never know what happened to their loved ones' remains,' he said, referring to previous clients of the funeral home. The Hallfords also face federal charges for allegedly defrauding the Small Business Administration of nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds.
The case has prompted legislative reforms in Colorado's funeral industry, though transparency advocates argue more needs to be done to protect consumers. Carie Hallford must now either withdraw her guilty plea or proceed without the deal, potentially facing a higher sentence at trial scheduled for next year.
