Colorado funeral home owners plead guilty to state charges in case involving 190 decaying bodies
Jon and Carie Hallford pleaded guilty to 190 counts of abuse of a corpse as part of deal with prosecutors
The owners of a Penrose funeral home accused of improperly storing 190 decaying bodies inside their business while promising families their loved ones were cremated or buried, pleaded guilty to state charges Friday.
In separate plea agreements, Jon and Carie Hallford each admitted to 190 counts of abuse of a corpse during a joint hearing in El Paso County District Court. Jon Halford, 44, agreed to serve 20 years in prison under the deal. Carie Halford, 48, faces 15-20 years in prison, to be determined by El Paso County District Court Judge Eric Bentley.
The judge said he will impose sentencing April 18 if he formally decides to adopt the plea deals.
The couple originally faced more than 200 felony charges for abusing corpses, theft, money laundering and forgery, court records show. Under a plea agreement, all other charges against the owners were dismissed.
In court Friday, Jon Hallford said he “knowingly treated the bodies or remains of 190 individuals in a way that would outrage normal family sensibility,” by not properly cremating or storing the bodies he received from families.
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