Otero County Landfill provides new details into accepting Penrose’s Return to Nature funeral home materials

PENROSE, Colo. (KKTV) – The southern Colorado funeral home at the center of a massive investigation is expected to be torn down Tuesday, just days after the owners face new federal charges.

In October of 2023, authorities found nearly 200 bodies improperly stored at the Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose. The building was expected to be torn down several times earlier this year, but was delayed until now.

The Otero County Landfill Inc. in La Junta is expected to take in the materials from Penrose. 11 News reached out to the landfill, who declined an interview, but did provide more details into how the process will work.

“This isn’t a unique material for a landfill,” said Danny Chavez of the Otero County Office of Emergency Management. “It is however a very unique and terrible situation.”

The City of Pueblo denied access to their landfill, who told 11 News they were concerned with the “potential adverse affects” the debris may have. However, The EPA and CDPHE previously told 11 News there is no health risk to the public. The Otero County Landfill could not speak on why Fremont County also won’t take in the debris.

The Otero County Landfill says disinfectant (a mixture of peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide with a possible vinegar odor) will be applied to the materials, which will then be loaded into double-lined end-dump trucks, and immediately covered with soil.

“The entire OCLI board was in agreement with the acceptance, it is the right thing to do. We felt the families have suffered enough and we were honored to help bring some closure to them after going through this horrible experience,” said Chavez.

The Otero County Landfill says it monitors groundwater and methane gas on a quarterly basis per regulations. The landfill also said putting the debris in the landfill is far less harmful to the environment than burning.

Earlier this week, the funeral home owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, were back behind bars facing new federal charges. According to federal court papers obtained by 11 News, the pair allegedly collected thousands of dollars from victims for funeral services that did not happen. They are also being accused of misusing over $880,000 in COVID-19 funds for things like vacations, a car, and jewelry.

A ceremony for the victims families is expected at 9 a.m. Tuesday. 11 News has received mixed feelings about the demolition of the building. However, CBI tells 11 News they are confident they have everything they need from the building in their investigation.

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