At Least 189 Decaying Bodies Recovered from Colorado Funeral Home, Say Police

Samira Asma-Sadeque
·2 min read
12

The funeral home's owner reportedly acknowledged there was a "problem" there, according to authorities

<p>Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP</p> Return to Nature Funeral Home

Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP

Return to Nature Funeral Home

Police in a Colorado town of fewer than 3,500 people have recovered nearly 200 decaying bodies from a funeral home, the Associated Press reports.

Authorities found the remains of 189 people at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Pensore, Colo., following an investigation that began two weeks ago when an “abhorrent smell” was reported inside the building, according to the outlet.

Police arrived on the premises on Oct. 4, the Associated Press and the Colorado Springs Gazette report.

The number of bodies is expected to rise further as the investigation continues, police have said, per the outlets.

Families of the deceased whose bodies had been in the care of the funeral home are anxiously waiting to learn about what happened to their loved ones, according to the Associated Press. More than 120 families have reached out to police regarding the issue, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported last week.

The Associated Press reports that identifying the deceased, which might include fingerprint testing, DNA testing and accessing medical and dental records, may take a few weeks.

<p>Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP</p> Fremont County coroner Randy Keller

Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP

Fremont County coroner Randy Keller

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“While the investigation for this incident continues, we also remain focused on the impacted families,” Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper said, KXRM reports. “We want to do all we can to provide the families the support they need as we shift to the next phase in this process.”

Jon Hallford, owner of the funeral home, told authorities that he practiced taxidermy at the home, according to an Oct. 5 order by state officials, Colorado Public Radio reports. When he was contacted about the bodies, he allegedly admitted there was a "problem" there, according to the order.

PEOPLE was unable to speak with anyone at the funeral home Wednesday.

Authorities say a potential criminal investigation is ongoing, according to the reports.

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