The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) has been involved in the ongoing investigation into the Return to Nature Funeral Home located in Penrose. The department is fully committed to working with all agencies involved in investigating this case and is grateful to the law enforcement community for taking the lead on this investigation. Like the other agencies involved, our priority is in helping with this investigation in the way that is most respectful to the victims.
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is the licensing authority for funeral homes and crematories in Colorado pursuant to the Mortuary Science Code. DORA’s regulatory authority is limited to the business. The department does not regulate individuals tied to funeral homes and crematories. The Hallfordhomes LLC, DBA Return To Nature Funeral Home, Inc, located in Penrose, Colo. was a registered funeral home from March 25, 2019 through November 30, 2022. This facility is currently unlicensed and the department did not receive any official complaints during the period when the facility was licensed. The department issued a Cease and Desist Order for this facility on October 5, 2023, due to evidence that the Return to Nature Funeral Home has acted without the required registration to practice and operate as a Funeral Home. This Cease and Desist order is publicly available here.
The facility in Penrose has a sister facility in Colorado Springs, also named Return to Nature Funeral Home, with the same responsible party. This facility was licensed from August 18, 2017 until the license was summarily suspended on October 5, 2023. The summary suspension is publicly available here.
We will continue to support law enforcement throughout this investigation. Out of respect for the families of the loved ones and because we cannot comment on an open investigation, we will not comment further at this time.