Ex-Funeral Home Owners Face Decades in Prison for Fraud

Couple pleads guilty to hiding bodies, giving fake ashes to grieving families

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:18am

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A former Colorado funeral home owner, Carie Hallford, is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for taking over $130,000 from families for funeral services, including cremations, and often giving them urns full of concrete mix instead. Hallford and her ex-husband Jon Hallford also pleaded guilty to nearly 200 counts of corpse abuse in state court, where they hid decomposing bodies in their funeral home. The couple defrauded the government of nearly $900,000 in pandemic small business aid, which they spent lavishly on personal items.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating impact that funeral home fraud can have on grieving families, as well as the need for stronger regulation and oversight in the funeral industry. The Hallfords' actions violated the trust of their community and caused immense trauma for the victims.

The details

Carie Hallford, 48, admitted to taking over $130,000 from families for funeral services, including cremations, and often giving them urns filled with concrete mix instead. In two cases, investigators found the wrong body was buried. Hallford and her ex-husband Jon Hallford also pleaded guilty to nearly 200 counts of corpse abuse in state court, where they hid decomposing bodies in their funeral home. The couple defrauded the government of nearly $900,000 in pandemic small business aid, which they spent lavishly on personal items.

  • In August 2026, Carie Hallford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
  • In November 2024, Carie Hallford was put back in jail in her state case, which allowed her to get a divorce and escape her husband's abuse.
  • In 2023, nearly 200 decomposing bodies were discovered stacked high in the Hallfords' funeral home, blocking doorways and leaking fluids.

The players

Carie Hallford

A former Colorado funeral home owner who pleaded guilty to fraud and corpse abuse charges. She is facing up to 20 years in federal prison and 25-35 years in state prison.

Jon Hallford

Carie Hallford's ex-husband, who also pleaded guilty to nearly 200 counts of corpse abuse in state court. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and 40 years in state prison.

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What they’re saying

“She continued to stay with the business and take advantage of us out her own greed.”

— Emma Williams

“She is just as guilty as he is, except that he couldn't have done it without her bringing him the bodies.”

— Crystina Page

“I had so many chances to put a stop to everything and walk away, but I did not. My mistakes will echo for a generation. Everything I did was wrong.”

— Jon Hallford

What’s next

Carie Hallford is scheduled to be sentenced in state court next month, where she faces an additional 25 to 35 years in prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger regulation and oversight in the funeral industry to prevent such egregious violations of trust and exploitation of grieving families. It also underscores the importance of addressing domestic abuse and its impacts on business decisions and criminal behavior.