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Re: Dramatic scene unfolds after hearing for Return to Nature co-owner Jon Hallford, who will face trial
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Democrats At Work
Feb 11, 2024, 1:01:55 AM2/11/24
to
On 05 Jun 2023, Horst Gruner <now...@protonmail.com> posted some
news:u5lugc$fvpr$2...@dont-email.me:
> Cremate them with the corpses. Just roll them up and slide them in.
Jon Hallford, the Return to Nature Funeral Home co-owner facing hundreds
of felony charges after the discovery of 189 improperly stored bodies, is
headed to trial after the completion of his preliminary hearing Thursday.
Judge William Moller decided to bind over four counts of money laundering
charges for trial. Hallford did not face preliminary hearing on the
remaining 256 charges due to his out of custody status, and will face
trial on all charges. Hallford was not entitled to a preliminary hearing
on the remaining 256 charges due to Colorado law, which states that out of
custody defendants are not entitled to a preliminary hearing for charges
below a class-3 felony, which make up the bulk of charges against Jon
Hallford and Return to Nature co-owner, Carie Hallford.
The Hallfords are facing 260 felony charges stemming from the discovery of
189 improperly stored bodies at a building in Penrose connected to the
Return to Nature Funeral Home. The charges include 190 counts of abuse of
a corpse, 61 counts of forgery and four counts of both theft and money
laundering.
Following the conclusion of Jon Hallford’s preliminary hearing, media and
disgruntled victims swarmed the Return to Nature co-owner - who is
currently out of custody after posting a $100,000 surety bond last month -
demanding answers as Jon Hallford walked out of the courthouse with his
attorneys for several blocks before ducking into the public defender’s
office.
Heather DeWolf, whose son Zach DeWolf is among the remains that have yet
to be identified, was one of several victims who berated Jon Hallford as
he attempted to leave the crowd with his attorneys.
"Where is my son, look at my son. This is my son,” DeWolf yelled at
Hallford while waving her shirt with her son’s picture on it at Jon
Hallford. “What did you do with him? What did you do with my son!"
"Come on Jon, we're only four feet behind you, you can't answer our
questions?" Crystina Page, whose son David Page was one of the bodies
found at the Penrose Return to Nature facility, yelled at Jon Hallford.
Mark Miller, whose brother was one of the bodies found at the Return to
Nature Penrose facility, said he found it disturbing watching Jon Hallford
leave court after the hearing.
“I still get sick to my stomach,” Miller said of Jon Hallford being out on
bond. “I still am upset because I have to watch him walk out of here in a
three-piece suit, and go someplace. Hopefully we see him come back and
face justice.”
During Hallford’s preliminary hearing prosecutor Rachel Powell briefly
reviewed the evidence presented in significant detail at Carie Hallford’s
preliminary hearing last month.
During Carie Hallford's three-hour long hearing prosecutors reviewed
gruesome evidence photos of Return to Nature's Penrose location, showing
the haphazard way in which the Hallford family disposed of bodies in the
location, and the horrific conditions of the building itself.
"It looked like something you want to forget but can't," FBI Special Agent
Andrew Cohen remarked at one point during his testimony at Carie
Hallford's preliminary hearing.
Cohen testified again on Thursday at Jon Hallford’s preliminary hearing
and spoke primarily about Return to Nature’s business expenses,
highlighting that the Hallfords used money from the business for numerous
personal expenses. Cohen testified that the Hallfords bought two cars,
including a GMC Yukon that cost over $90,000, with money from the
business.
Cohen stated during his testimony that he estimated the money used by the
Hallfords to buy the two cars could have been used to cremate all 189
bodies found at the Return to Nature Penrose location twice, stating that
he estimated it would have cost the Halfords approximately $57,000 to
cremate all 189 bodies.
Additionally, Cohen testified that the Hallfords used business expenses
for various other personal purchases, such as: Traveling, entertainment,
bars, restaurants and crypto currency investments. Cohen specifically
highlighted how the Hallfords once used the funds from the Return to
Nature business to pay for a $1,500 dinner in Las Vegas in February, 2022.
Following a brief recess, Judge Moller stated simply that he would be
binding over the four money laundering charges for trial, despite
objections from Jon Hallford’s attorney, Jonathon Stafford.
"I'm glad they're binding it over and not letting it go,” DeWolf said. “He
(Jon Hallford) owes us a lot of answers. He needs to tell me where my son
is. He's a coward, he's a coward."
“I’m extremely happy about how that went,” Miller said. “I’m happy that
he’s going to face trial.”
Jon Hallford's wife and Return to Nature co-owner, Carie Hallford,
completed her preliminary hearing at the end of January where Judge Moller
opted to bind over all 260 charges for trial.
Carie Hallford remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $100,000
bond at the time of writing.
"Orange is definitely her color, and I hope she stays there (in jail)
forever,” Page said regarding Carie Hallford.
At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing a brief press conference was
held at the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to give updates about
the case, as well as the body identification process.
Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen stated that 22 bodies
found at Return to Nature’s Penrose facility remain unidentified, and
urged any families who had done business with the funeral home in the past
to reach out to law enforcement.
“We’re hopeful,” Allen said when asked if he believed the remaining bodies
would be identified. “It’s going to take some very diligent work… from the
coroner’s office down in Fremont County. It’s going to take diligent
effort on the part of community members also to get them the information
they need.”
Jon and Carie Hallford will return to court on March 21 for an arraignment
hearing, where Allen stated he expects both Return to Nature owners to
enter not guilty pleas.
“That’s not even part of our calculus at this particular juncture,” Allen
said when asked about the possibility of a plea deal for either Return to
Nature owner.
Allen continued that he hopes to have Jon and Carie Hallford’s cases
joined in the future so they can be tried together, and that he’s
“hopeful” their trial will take place in 2024.
The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office asks any community members
who conducted business with Return to Nature Funeral Home after January,
2019, to reach out to law enforcement at Penrosefu...@fbi.gov or
719-472-3856.
https://gazette.com/news/courts/jon-hallford-pre-prelim/article_f325daec-
c6d1-11ee-95ac-976bc8f92ebe.html
news:u5lugc$fvpr$2...@dont-email.me:
> Cremate them with the corpses. Just roll them up and slide them in.
Jon Hallford, the Return to Nature Funeral Home co-owner facing hundreds
of felony charges after the discovery of 189 improperly stored bodies, is
headed to trial after the completion of his preliminary hearing Thursday.
Judge William Moller decided to bind over four counts of money laundering
charges for trial. Hallford did not face preliminary hearing on the
remaining 256 charges due to his out of custody status, and will face
trial on all charges. Hallford was not entitled to a preliminary hearing
on the remaining 256 charges due to Colorado law, which states that out of
custody defendants are not entitled to a preliminary hearing for charges
below a class-3 felony, which make up the bulk of charges against Jon
Hallford and Return to Nature co-owner, Carie Hallford.
The Hallfords are facing 260 felony charges stemming from the discovery of
189 improperly stored bodies at a building in Penrose connected to the
Return to Nature Funeral Home. The charges include 190 counts of abuse of
a corpse, 61 counts of forgery and four counts of both theft and money
laundering.
Following the conclusion of Jon Hallford’s preliminary hearing, media and
disgruntled victims swarmed the Return to Nature co-owner - who is
currently out of custody after posting a $100,000 surety bond last month -
demanding answers as Jon Hallford walked out of the courthouse with his
attorneys for several blocks before ducking into the public defender’s
office.
Heather DeWolf, whose son Zach DeWolf is among the remains that have yet
to be identified, was one of several victims who berated Jon Hallford as
he attempted to leave the crowd with his attorneys.
"Where is my son, look at my son. This is my son,” DeWolf yelled at
Hallford while waving her shirt with her son’s picture on it at Jon
Hallford. “What did you do with him? What did you do with my son!"
"Come on Jon, we're only four feet behind you, you can't answer our
questions?" Crystina Page, whose son David Page was one of the bodies
found at the Penrose Return to Nature facility, yelled at Jon Hallford.
Mark Miller, whose brother was one of the bodies found at the Return to
Nature Penrose facility, said he found it disturbing watching Jon Hallford
leave court after the hearing.
“I still get sick to my stomach,” Miller said of Jon Hallford being out on
bond. “I still am upset because I have to watch him walk out of here in a
three-piece suit, and go someplace. Hopefully we see him come back and
face justice.”
During Hallford’s preliminary hearing prosecutor Rachel Powell briefly
reviewed the evidence presented in significant detail at Carie Hallford’s
preliminary hearing last month.
During Carie Hallford's three-hour long hearing prosecutors reviewed
gruesome evidence photos of Return to Nature's Penrose location, showing
the haphazard way in which the Hallford family disposed of bodies in the
location, and the horrific conditions of the building itself.
"It looked like something you want to forget but can't," FBI Special Agent
Andrew Cohen remarked at one point during his testimony at Carie
Hallford's preliminary hearing.
Cohen testified again on Thursday at Jon Hallford’s preliminary hearing
and spoke primarily about Return to Nature’s business expenses,
highlighting that the Hallfords used money from the business for numerous
personal expenses. Cohen testified that the Hallfords bought two cars,
including a GMC Yukon that cost over $90,000, with money from the
business.
Cohen stated during his testimony that he estimated the money used by the
Hallfords to buy the two cars could have been used to cremate all 189
bodies found at the Return to Nature Penrose location twice, stating that
he estimated it would have cost the Halfords approximately $57,000 to
cremate all 189 bodies.
Additionally, Cohen testified that the Hallfords used business expenses
for various other personal purchases, such as: Traveling, entertainment,
bars, restaurants and crypto currency investments. Cohen specifically
highlighted how the Hallfords once used the funds from the Return to
Nature business to pay for a $1,500 dinner in Las Vegas in February, 2022.
Following a brief recess, Judge Moller stated simply that he would be
binding over the four money laundering charges for trial, despite
objections from Jon Hallford’s attorney, Jonathon Stafford.
"I'm glad they're binding it over and not letting it go,” DeWolf said. “He
(Jon Hallford) owes us a lot of answers. He needs to tell me where my son
is. He's a coward, he's a coward."
“I’m extremely happy about how that went,” Miller said. “I’m happy that
he’s going to face trial.”
Jon Hallford's wife and Return to Nature co-owner, Carie Hallford,
completed her preliminary hearing at the end of January where Judge Moller
opted to bind over all 260 charges for trial.
Carie Hallford remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $100,000
bond at the time of writing.
"Orange is definitely her color, and I hope she stays there (in jail)
forever,” Page said regarding Carie Hallford.
At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing a brief press conference was
held at the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to give updates about
the case, as well as the body identification process.
Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen stated that 22 bodies
found at Return to Nature’s Penrose facility remain unidentified, and
urged any families who had done business with the funeral home in the past
to reach out to law enforcement.
“We’re hopeful,” Allen said when asked if he believed the remaining bodies
would be identified. “It’s going to take some very diligent work… from the
coroner’s office down in Fremont County. It’s going to take diligent
effort on the part of community members also to get them the information
they need.”
Jon and Carie Hallford will return to court on March 21 for an arraignment
hearing, where Allen stated he expects both Return to Nature owners to
enter not guilty pleas.
“That’s not even part of our calculus at this particular juncture,” Allen
said when asked about the possibility of a plea deal for either Return to
Nature owner.
Allen continued that he hopes to have Jon and Carie Hallford’s cases
joined in the future so they can be tried together, and that he’s
“hopeful” their trial will take place in 2024.
The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office asks any community members
who conducted business with Return to Nature Funeral Home after January,
2019, to reach out to law enforcement at Penrosefu...@fbi.gov or
719-472-3856.
https://gazette.com/news/courts/jon-hallford-pre-prelim/article_f325daec-
c6d1-11ee-95ac-976bc8f92ebe.html
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