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John and Carie Hallford face charges of abuse of a corpse, as well as money laundering and theft charges, the DA’s office said Tuesday.
PENROSE, Colo. — The couple who owns a Penrose funeral home where at least 189 bodies were improperly stored were arrested in Oklahoma on numerous charges, including abuse of a corpse, theft, and money laundering, the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday morning.
A court date for John and Carie Hallford in El Paso County will be set once they’re extradited back to Colorado. Additional information is expected in a press conference set for 10:30 a.m.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office searched the Return to Nature Funeral Home’s property in Penrose on Oct. 4 after a report was made the previous day of “an abhorrent smell” coming from the property off Werner Road, according to an order of summary suspension.
The order says the owner had tried to conceal the improper storage. The Penrose funeral home’s license expired in November 2022.
Sheriff Allen Cooper called the scene “horrific” and asked to FBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation for assistance.
Investigators are still working to identify bodies found during their investigation.
“This is our commitment to our partners and our community: We will be with them for as long as it takes to ensure all hazards are mitigated, the conditions of the scene are fully documented, and all human remains are recovered in a dignified manner,” said Mark Michalek, FBI Denver’s special agent in charge.
A class action lawsuit has also been filed against the couple.
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