The Hallfords, Jon and Carie, who own the Colorado funeral home “Return to Nature,” have been instructed by a court of law to pay $950 million in damages to families of victims cheated through their false practices. It has been alleged by Parami News that this ruling comes at a time when the Hallfords are struggling financially and face several criminal charges in different states and federal courts.
On top of all this, there are hundreds of charges against the Hallfords including corpse abuse and stealing from the families whose cremations or burials worth $130,000 were not done. The judgment was mostly symbolic since it amounted to only $950m as compensation for families which received fake ashes while dead bodies of their loved ones were found rotting inside an insect-infested facility.
Emotional aftereffects and legal battles
Andrew Swan, an attorney involved in class action suits representing victims, expressed his frustration with regard to likely fruitlessness of damage collection but insisted on holding the Hallfords accountable. “I’ll never see a dime from them so I don’t know; it’s just frustrating a little” – Stated one Crystina Page, a plaintiff. In 2019 Page had consigned her son’s body to be buried by the Hallfords carrying with her the casket she believed contained his ashes until in 2023 when she learned that he was among those discovered at the funeral parlor.
For many such as page, this sentence is barely a consolation as they try to come into terms with how their dear ones ended up decomposing bodies being mishandled. “I suppose if nothing else it will help bring more insight into the case” Page noted hoping that through this matter others might learn more about what happened beyond these people known as hallfords’ acts.
Legal and legislative impacts
Jon Hallford is being represented by public defender’s office which does not comment on cases while Michael Stuzynski, attorney for Carie Hallford could not be reached.
This case has prompted Colorado lawmakers to present comprehensive legislation regulating the funeral home industry including what was once a lenient oversight in the state.
The civil hearings did not have attendants from the Hallfords; Jon is incarcerated while Carie is out on bail. Neither of them has admitted that there was a civil suit against them. The lawsuit remains open to more victims from over one hundred families since it is indicative of how big this tragedy is.
In addition, the fallout will lead to legal trouble for the family and possibly other people in similar situations such as these.
