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Judge Demands Tougher Sentence for Funeral Home Owner

11/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Judge Eric Bentley in Colorado rejected Carie Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, and said a 15–20-year sentence is insufficient.
She is accused of storing nearly 190 decomposing bodies from 2019 to 2023.
Relatives sought nearly 200 years in prison for Hallford.
The couple faces federal charges for defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) of nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds.
Jon Hallford's trial is set for February 2026.

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Story summary

Judge Eric Bentley in Colorado rejected Carie Hallford, owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, and said a 15–20-year sentence is insufficient.
She is accused of storing nearly 190 decomposing bodies from 2019 to 2023.
Relatives sought nearly 200 years in prison for Hallford.
The couple faces federal charges for defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) of nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds.
Jon Hallford's trial is set for February 2026.