Lawsuit Filed Against Colorado Funeral Home Alleging Fake Ashes Scandal
Nov 02, 2023, 10:00 AM
A Colorado funeral home is facing a lawsuit after allegations surfaced that the owners allowed bodies to decompose while providing families with counterfeit ashes. The lawsuit, filed by Richard Law, claims that Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado, was involved in a disturbing scandal that affected numerous families.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently uncovered a shocking discovery at the funeral home, revealing at least 189 improperly stored bodies in a building owned by the establishment. Authorities have warned that this number could change as the investigation continues and the process of identifying the victims progresses.
"In death, these men and women deserved to be treated with respect and dignity," said plaintiff attorney Andrew Swan. "Instead, they were defiled."
Richard Law's involvement in the lawsuit stems from his experience entrusting his late father, Roger Law, to the care of the funeral home back in 2020. The funeral home was supposed to cremate Roger Law and provide his ashes to his son. However, recent revelations suggest that Roger's body was among the many found in the funeral home's building.
"Nearly three years after his death, Roger still has never been cremated. Instead, he was allowed to decompose in squalid conditions," the complaint stated. "Roger deserved better. So did the other 188 victims found at the Penrose property."
The shocking discovery came to light when locals in the area reported an abhorrent smell emanating from the property. Co-defendant Jon Hallford allegedly attempted to attribute the smell to his taxidermy hobby but was unsuccessful in doing so.
The lawsuit alleges that the funeral home owners not only allowed bodies to decompose improperly but also provided families with counterfeit ashes and falsified death certificates. Other families who have come forward with their concerns have noted that the material they received as ashes seemed similar to dry concrete.
A family member, Tanya Wilson, shared with KDRO her experience of conducting a side-by-side test. She mixed water separately with Quikrete and the purported ashes that were claimed to belong to her mother, Yong Anderson. Wilson reported, "The reaction, it looked very, very similar, the consistency and everything. Then, when it dried, it dried into little tiny rocks, very, very similar. It gave me confirmation that I believe it's concrete."
Colorado is unique in that it does not require professionals in the funeral home and crematory industry to be licensed. Return to Nature Funeral Home reportedly operated with an expired license, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.
Attorney Andrew Swan criticized the lax regulatory status quo in the state and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms and more rigorous inspections. While he expressed confidence in the ongoing criminal investigation, he emphasized the importance of a lawsuit like this in holding accountable those responsible for such misconduct.
Richard Law, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, has shown dedication to the case despite the emotional toll it has taken. "He takes a lot of satisfaction in standing up to this misconduct on behalf of other families," Swan said.
Efforts to reach Return to Nature Funeral Home for comment have been unsuccessful, with their website down and a linked phone number out of service. The FBI is also involved in the investigation, further underscoring the severity of the situation.
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The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently uncovered a shocking discovery at the funeral home, revealing at least 189 improperly stored bodies in a building owned by the establishment. Authorities have warned that this number could change as the investigation continues and the process of identifying the victims progresses.
"In death, these men and women deserved to be treated with respect and dignity," said plaintiff attorney Andrew Swan. "Instead, they were defiled."
Richard Law's involvement in the lawsuit stems from his experience entrusting his late father, Roger Law, to the care of the funeral home back in 2020. The funeral home was supposed to cremate Roger Law and provide his ashes to his son. However, recent revelations suggest that Roger's body was among the many found in the funeral home's building.
"Nearly three years after his death, Roger still has never been cremated. Instead, he was allowed to decompose in squalid conditions," the complaint stated. "Roger deserved better. So did the other 188 victims found at the Penrose property."
The shocking discovery came to light when locals in the area reported an abhorrent smell emanating from the property. Co-defendant Jon Hallford allegedly attempted to attribute the smell to his taxidermy hobby but was unsuccessful in doing so.
The lawsuit alleges that the funeral home owners not only allowed bodies to decompose improperly but also provided families with counterfeit ashes and falsified death certificates. Other families who have come forward with their concerns have noted that the material they received as ashes seemed similar to dry concrete.
A family member, Tanya Wilson, shared with KDRO her experience of conducting a side-by-side test. She mixed water separately with Quikrete and the purported ashes that were claimed to belong to her mother, Yong Anderson. Wilson reported, "The reaction, it looked very, very similar, the consistency and everything. Then, when it dried, it dried into little tiny rocks, very, very similar. It gave me confirmation that I believe it's concrete."
Colorado is unique in that it does not require professionals in the funeral home and crematory industry to be licensed. Return to Nature Funeral Home reportedly operated with an expired license, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.
Attorney Andrew Swan criticized the lax regulatory status quo in the state and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms and more rigorous inspections. While he expressed confidence in the ongoing criminal investigation, he emphasized the importance of a lawsuit like this in holding accountable those responsible for such misconduct.
Richard Law, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, has shown dedication to the case despite the emotional toll it has taken. "He takes a lot of satisfaction in standing up to this misconduct on behalf of other families," Swan said.
Efforts to reach Return to Nature Funeral Home for comment have been unsuccessful, with their website down and a linked phone number out of service. The FBI is also involved in the investigation, further underscoring the severity of the situation.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com