PENROSE — The site of Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose is an active scene today due to the investigation involving the FBI and multiple Colorado agencies. Authorities are looking into the alleged improper storage of more than 115 bodies at the facility. The bodies were discovered at Return to Nature following a complaint about a foul odor in the area last week
Officials said on Thursday it will be a long process to respectfully remove and identify all the remains discovered last week.
The owner, Jon Hallford, told the Colorado Program Director of the Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration Zen Mayhugh he practiced taxidermy at the property, according to state records.
The document also said Hallford "attempted to conceal the improper storage of human remains" at the funeral home.
There is now a form from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for anyone who may have information related the funeral home operations. (Link to the form)
Family members of decedents who utilized the Return to Nature Funeral Home can send an email to 23-1941@fremontso.com and are asked to leave their contact number.
If family members of decedents do not use email, they can contact the Fremont Emergency Management call line at (719)-276-7421. There will also be a victim's assistance personnel able to help at 1901 East Main in Canon City between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
INVESTIGATION DETAILS:
Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper said on Friday that his deputies were called to Return to Nature on Tuesday for a report of an "abhorrent smell emanating" from the property.
Investigators were able to get in contact with the business owner who admitted he had a "problem" at the location. Law enforcement entered the location on Wednesday and discovered more than 115 bodies inside the 2,500-square-foot building.
Rewatch the press conference from Friday on the Penrose funeral home investigation below:
The owner "failed to permit access to an investigator for inspection" during a search on Thursday, according to state documents.
The scene is considered hazardous, with medics on site to care for personnel having to enter the building. A deputy coroner had to be treated after experiencing a rash while in the building, according to officials.
No arrests have been made so far and there is no announcement of possible charges. Investigators are working with the 11th Judicial District on the case.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has verbally approved a disaster declaration for the incident, which frees up additional resources for the investigation and recovery effort.
Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller anticipates it could take months to complete the identification process and notify next of kin.
FBI Special Agent Mark Michalek said investigators do not yet know how long human remains may have been improperly stored at the facility. Resources are on the way from Quantico, Virginia to assist in the identification and recovery process.
Forensic investigators and local authorities will go through a process of conducting a survey of the facility to develop a plan for recovering remains while creating a plan to keep personnel safe as they process all of the evidence and human remains.
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
Neighbor George Harris says he and his family moved away from California to Penrose, looking for a quiet place to live.
“It’s not a bad area. It really ain’t," said Harris. “It’s kind of peaceful here, the neighbors are peaceful, and I like it here”.
Harris had seen the Return to Nature Funeral home near his house for months, thinking it was abandoned. Once he saw the large investigator's presence last week, he was shocked.
"kinda blows me away a little bit there," he continued.
"It's very important that when you're dealing with death, it's not just they've moved on. I mean these people need to know where their family is," said nearby resident Brooke Stuart.
Stuart has spent the last 13 years living just outside of Florence and says the community used to be a place where people left their doors unlocked.
"Out here in this small town, we all gather together, we all help each other," she said.
Stuart is appalled with the 115 bodies found decomposing, expressing concern for all of the families it affects.
“We’re praying for the families that they get closure too. Because death shouldn’t have to end like this and constantly wondering who’s in that urn," said Stuart.
She and her family want answers and say they don't mind the commotion in town from agencies like the FBI and the Air National Guard.
“That’s what I’m really hoping is that this gets out, this gets around, this doesn’t become a story that gets washed under”.
Harris sympathizes with the families who lost loved ones and can't imagine being put in a situation like that.
“Nah, I didn’t think anything like that would happen around here like that, that’s for sure. I’m just hoping for things to go back to normal," he said.
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