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Judge rules to unseal probable cause affidavits in Colorado funeral home case

By Abbey Soukup January 12, 2024 | updated 2 years ago

Fourth Judicial District Judge William Moller ruled Friday morning to unseal the probable-cause affidavits for both Jon and Cari Hallford, co-owners of Return to Nature Funeral Home. 

The Hallfords are facing over 200 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, four counts of theft and money laundering.

On Thursday, Cari Hallford appeared in court for her preliminary hearing, where prosecutors outlined the gruesome state of the couple’s Penrose location. Her husband, co-owner and operator Jon Hallford had his preliminary hearing delayed until early February. 

Carie Hallford waived her appearance in court Friday while defense attorney Michael Stuzynski discussed his motion filed to keep the affidavit sealed, stating the subject matter contained in the affidavit has the possibility of compromising Hallford’s right to a fair trial, citing photographs and “editorialized statements.” 

The prosecution followed by saying the team doesn’t believe there’s legal precedent to keep the affidavit sealed, adding that Thursday’s preliminary hearing provided more context into the case than the affidavit itself.

After listening to both the defense and prosecution, Moller ruled to unseal the affidavit, citing the public’s interest in the trial and his opinion that the unsealing of the document would not affect the prosecution’s continued investigation or either of the Hallfords’ right to trial. 

Moller also ordered that before the unsealing of the documents, the victim’s names and other identifying pieces of information would be removed to protect victims’ families and the integrity of the case.

Following Moller’s ruling, the probable-cause affidavits for Jon and Carie Hallford will be unsealed following Jon Hallford’s preliminary hearing, scheduled for Feb. 8. 

Carie Hallford’s preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue Jan. 17. 

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