The owners of a funeral home in Colorado, where almost 200 decomposing bodies were reportedly found stored improperly, have been apprehended and charged. Jon Hallford and Carie Hallford, a married couple, were apprehended in Wagoner, Oklahoma,

“on multiple felony charges including abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery,”

according to a press release from the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, reports PEOPLE. The couple owns the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, where an investigation began in early October after reports of a foul odor emanating from the establishment.

Officials obtained a state warrant to search the facilityand found the

“improperly stored bodies,”

says a press release. The Colorado Springs Gazette and Associated Press reported that at least 189 decaying bodies were recovered on October 4. When contacted about the bodies, Jon Hallford allegedly acknowledged the

“problem”

and confessed to practicing taxidermy at the funeral home.

Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper, in a press statement before the arrests, expressed concern for the affected families and pledged support as the investigation continued. Cooper also anticipated that the number of bodies discovered would likely increase as the investigation advanced. 

Last month, information acquired by the Associated Press suggested that families had received fake ashes. Some individuals claimed that they did not receive identification tags with their loved ones’ ashes and that the ashes had a texture comparable to dry concrete, as it solidified when it was mixed with water. Authorities have not made any comments regarding these allegations. 

#Clique, what are your thoughts?