Victims react to Return to Nature Funeral Home co-owner’s release from jail
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Return to Nature Funeral Home co-owner, Jon Hallford, has been released on bond, igniting concerns among the families of nearly 200 bodies found improperly stored at the Penrose location. Facing almost 200 felony charges, the Hallfords’ legal saga has taken a turn with Hallford’s recent release from the El Paso County Jail on Jan. 29.
“It feels uncomfortable to have him part of our community, not just one, but multiple communities that he took advantage of… There’s no other word to call him but like a monster,” said Samantha Naranjo, whose grandmother’s body was among those found improperly stored.
Officials with the El Paso County Jail confirmed that Hallford was released around 11:00 p.m. on Monday. Hallford’s release comes after a hearing earlier in January where a judge issued a bond reduction, from an initial $2 million to $100,000. Court records show someone named James Pesavento posted a surety bond for Hallford.
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Richard Law, another affected family member, likened the situation to theft: “If this man, Hallford, had gone on to somebody else’s property and stolen property worth $1,300, and he did that repeatedly 200 times and then fled, would it be as easy for him to post bail? This isn’t just mishandling of remains. It’s stealing from people and families,” said Law, who has filed a class action lawsuit against the funeral home’s owners.
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Hallford’s release comes with strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, GPS ankle monitoring, and a no-contact order with the victims. Concerns are raised about potential community impact and whether the court fully considered these factors.
“I do feel let down. It doesn’t give me a whole lot of faith that the court is going to do what it needs to do in this case… And do I think that he’s going to stop running or hiding or manipulating or trying to evade? No, he’ll just continue to do what he’s done,” said Law.
Other victims reiterating this sentiment express worry that Hallford may attempt to flee again after he previously evaded law enforcement before his arrest in Wagoner, Oklahoma.
“I’m worried that he’s not going to show up for court next week, and if he doesn’t show up to court next week, I wonder if that makes a difference with the affidavit being released,” said Naranjo, underscoring the importance to the affected families, who she said have been eagerly awaiting and advocating for the release of the affidavit since the beginning.
The recent preliminary hearing for Hallford’s wife and co-owner, Carie Hallford, shed light on undisclosed details about the conditions of their funeral home, and graphic photos from inside the facility. That hearing also revealed details about the couple’s financial troubles, one example included texts between the couple discussing how to pay a phone bill of just a few hundred dollars.
“Who posted bail for him? Where did that come from?” asked Law, echoing questions now arising about how Jon Hallford plans to pay the $100,000 bond.
On Feb. 8, Jon Hallford is slated for his preliminary hearing, where a judge is supposed to determine whether he will proceed to trial. As this pivotal date looms, victims find themselves grappling with uncertainty, pondering the unknown trajectory that the remainder of this case may take.
“My worst fear is that this guy will be brought in and they’re going to strike a plea bargain and they’ll let him walk,” said Law.
Hallford’s public defender and the district attorney’s office refrained from commenting due to the ongoing case. Carie Hallford, whose bond was also reduced to $100,000, remains in custody at the El Paso County Jail, with her next court appearance scheduled for March 21.
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