Son recounts mother found among 189 bodies at funeral home

Derrick Johnson learned his mother was among 189 people whose remains were found in a Colorado building linked to the Return to Nature funeral home; the owners pleaded guilty and one faces sentencing this week while the other is scheduled for April.

Derrick Johnson was told in February 2024 that his mother was among 189 people whose remains were discovered in a Colorado building associated with the Return to Nature funeral home. The news led him to seek therapy and he was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Authorities say the funeral home’s owners pleaded guilty to charges tied to mistreatment of corpses and related federal fraud. Court proceedings are ongoing with sentencing dates set for the defendants. What is known: - Investigators reported 189 bodies were discovered in a Penrose, Colorado building linked to the Return to Nature funeral home. - Owners Jon and Carie Hallford pleaded guilty to charges related to mistreatment of corpses and to defrauding federal pandemic aid, according to court filings. - Jon Hallford is scheduled for sentencing this week; Carie Hallford's sentencing is set for April. - Relatives, including Johnson, have reported emotional harm; Johnson said he sought therapy and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Summary: The discovery affected hundreds of families and drew regulatory attention to funeral practices. Legal resolution is advancing through scheduled sentencings, which are the next formal steps in the case. The broader impact on affected families and regulatory changes continues to unfold.