Judge Eric Bentley on 7/2 sentenced Jon Hallford, 46, owner of the Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose, Colorado, to 40 years in prison. Judge Bentley stated that Hallford inflicted "indescribable and unforgivable" pain upon the victims' families.

"I always believe that each of us, every human being, is fundamentally good, but we live in a world that challenges that belief every day; and the defendant's crime is challenging that very belief", Judge Bentley stated.

Jon Hallford (left) and his ex-wife, Carie Hallford, were charged with abandoning 189 bodies. *Photo: AP*

Jon Hallford and his ex-wife, Carie Hallford, co-owned the Return to Nature funeral home, frequently promoting "green burial" and cremation services. They collected payments from families for the cremation of 189 bodies. However, instead of using costly incinerators, the couple stacked these bodies in a Penrose building from 2019 to 2023.

Nearby residents reported a foul odor, prompting officials to launch an investigation. Police discovered the warehouse filled with bodies, including adults, infants, and fetuses, piled up without any preservation measures.

Investigators spent months identifying the bodies using fingerprints and DNA testing. They determined Hallford had given families jars of fake "ashes," which contained a mixture of dry concrete, to deceive them.

During the trial, victims' families referred to Hallford as a "monster" and urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 50 years. They reported experiencing continuous nightmares since discovering what happened to their loved ones.

Hallford apologized before his sentencing, stating he would regret his actions for the rest of his life. "I had many opportunities to stop everything, but I didn't", he said. "My mistakes will haunt a generation. Everything I did was wrong".

Hallford's lawyer argued that his client had no prior violent offenses or criminal record, proposing a 30-year sentence, but this was unsuccessful. Carie Hallford is scheduled for sentencing on 24/4, facing 25 to 35 years in prison.

Investigators at the Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose, Colorado, on 7/10/2023. *Photo: AP*

During the years they stored the bodies, the Hallfords spent lavishly. Their purchases included a GMC Yukon and an Infiniti, together valued at over 120,000 USD. They also invested 31,000 USD in cryptocurrency and bought luxury brand items.

"This was a crime driven by greed", prosecutor Shelby Crow stated, noting that the money spent on luxuries could have covered the cremation costs for all victims multiple times over.

The Hallfords also pleaded guilty to defrauding nearly 900,000 USD in small business relief funds during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jon Hallford received a 20-year sentence in that case, while Carie Hallford awaits sentencing. The prison sentence for abusing bodies will be served concurrently with his federal fraud sentence.

By Hong Hanh, adapted from AP