As if all of above wasn't repulsive enough, the Colorado Judicial Branch's affidavit found evidence on site of slipshod "water cremation" along with a bone grinder and bags of concrete mixer in a room dubbed "Room A." Water cremation, the affidavit explains, is a liquid chemical process that dissolves a body in four to six hours and creates a "fatty waste product," but does not dissolve bones. While we mentioned bodies wrapped in bags, some bodies weren't covered at all and were just laying out in the open. And of course, we already mentioned the creepy saturated insect infestation on the premises.
The affidavit also contains a map of the building, complete with 10 rooms and connecting hallways. Authorities found bodies in every single room except for a "utility room." Personal items were scattered around, as well, likely given to Jon and Carie Hallford to be buried with loved ones. All in all, the decay and decomposition at the scene was so abhorrent and grotesque that it presented a "slip hazard" for those present. Extraction of the remains required special, protective suits for cleanup crew working in "unimaginable conditions" that will assumedly scar them for life. The Environmental Protection Agency scheduled the building for demolition on January 24, 2024, but as of February 27 the agency reported demolition was stalled due to "pending logistical issues regarding landfill access."
On November 8, 2023, the Hallfords were arrested in Oklahoma. In addition to their crimes against the dead, they were charged with theft, money laundering, and forgery. Investigations are ongoing, but they are currently facing over 250 felony charges.
