Investigation Launched into Colorado Funeral Home Offering ‘Eco-Friendly’ Burials After Incorrectly Stored Human Remains Discovered

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Local law enforcement agencies are probing the inappropriate storage of deceased individuals at a funeral home in southern Colorado known for offering “eco-friendly” burial services that avoid the use of chemical embalming and metal coffins. The inquiry is focused on a facility operated by Return to Nature Funeral Home, located in the outskirts of Colorado Springs in the diminutive community of Penrose.

On a recent Tuesday evening, deputies were summoned to the single-story structure in response to a report of suspicious activity. Following up with a search warrant the subsequent day, investigators from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office located the incorrectly stored human remains. Neither the quantity of the remains nor their specific condition has been disclosed.

The Sheriff’s Office announced its collaboration with both state and federal agencies for this investigation. Those who had availed themselves of the funeral home’s services were urged to reach out to law enforcement. A press conference has been scheduled for Friday morning, where further information is expected to be made public.

At the site, trash bags were visible near the facility’s entrance on Thursday, accompanied by two parked law enforcement vehicles. A perimeter had been established with yellow police tape, and a foul odor was discernible in the vicinity.

An overgrown parking lot at the rear of the premises held a hearse. The surrounding area consisted of a post office and a handful of residences, interspersed with parched grass and vacant lots containing parked semi-trucks.

Colorado statutes do permit green burials, but mandate that any body not interred within a 24-hour window must be adequately refrigerated.

Joyce Pavetti, a 73-year-old resident whose home overlooks the funeral home, mentioned detecting an unpleasant smell in recent weeks, initially dismissing it as originating from a deceased animal. Pavetti also reported observing intensified law enforcement activity around the facility on Wednesday night.

The structure has seen a variety of businesses operating from its location over time, according to Pavetti, who had previously attended yoga classes there. She remarked that the area has been relatively deserted recently, though she noticed the presence of a hearse only in the last few months.

Another neighbor, Ron Alexander, initially thought the offensive odor was emanating from a septic system and described the flurry of law enforcement lights on Wednesday night as resembling a Fourth of July celebration.

Paul Saito Kahler, a resident of Fountain, Colorado, whose 25-year-old son—a U.S. Navy serviceman who passed away last summer—had his body handled by Return to Nature between its arrival back in Colorado and a funeral service, stated he was awaiting further information before forming an opinion on the matter.

According to its online information, Return to Nature offers burials of bodies without embalming in biodegradable caskets or shrouds, or even “nothing at all.” It also offers cremation services that don’t employ chemicals or artificial materials, emphasizing a natural return to Earth. The funeral home was established in Colorado Springs six years ago and has not had any disciplinary actions recorded against it in state licensure databases.

The property on which the funeral home sits is registered under Hallfordhomes, LLC, a business that was recently marked as delinquent by the Colorado Secretary of State for failure to submit a routine report due at the end of July. According to Fremont County records, the LLC still has an outstanding property tax liability of approximately $5,000 for the year 2022.

Green burial differs from human composting, where the body is placed in a specific vessel and converted into soil.

The licensing status of the Penrose facility remains unclear, as inquiries to relevant authorities have yet to be answered.

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Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News writers Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Montana, Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, and news researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Investigation into Return to Nature Funeral Home

More about Investigation into Return to Nature Funeral Home

• Fremont County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Announcements
• Colorado State Laws on Green Burials
• Return to Nature Funeral Home Official Website
• Colorado Secretary of State Business Records
• U.S. Federal Guidelines on Funeral Services
• What is Green Burial? An Overview
• Human Composting: An Alternative to Traditional Burial and Cremation
• Press Conference Schedule and Details
• Property Tax Records for Hallfordhomes, LLC
• Colorado State License Database for Funeral Homes