Colorado Funeral Home Owners Plead Guilty After Nearly 200 Bodies Discovered in Decomposed State

But the image of respect and care was completely shattered last fall. Complaints about a lingering, putrid smell from their facilities prompted authorities to investigate—and what they discovered was horrifying. Nearly 200 bodies had been stored improperly, with some left neglected for up to four years.

“The pain for the families is beyond measure,” said El Paso District Attorney Michael Allen during a somber press briefing, emphasizing the deep emotional and moral breach caused by the Hallfords’ actions.