Colorado
“What did you do with my son?” victims still have questions as owner of Colorado funeral home appears in court
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home where nearly 200 bodies were found could be tried together. Members of some of the impacted families appeared in court today and after Jon Hallford left the courtroom they were demanding answers.
But Jon Hallford remained silent, one victim who was there told us she’s still waiting on officials to say whether or not her son was among the bodies found.
“When he wasn’t answering, it just made me angry and angrier. I deserve an answer, and we all deserve answers,” Heather DeWolf who used Return to Nature for her son said.
Hallford bonded out of jail just over a week ago. During the hearing, a judge ruled that all 260 charges will stand against both Jon and Carrie Hallford.
The focus of the court appearance was the money laundering charges the Hallfords are facing about two SUVs the DA’s office says they bought and sold using money reportedly for return to nature.
DA Michael Allen says he anticipates the Halfords to enter a non-guilty plea. Allen also says nearly two dozen bodies from the investigation have yet to be identified.
“Some of the remains recovered at the location in Penrose have not been identified. A number of people continue to work diligently to identify the remains including Fremont County Coroner’s office to date 22 bodies remain unidentified,” Allen said.
Allen says he wants the two to be paired up so they can do a joint trial. At last check Carrie Hallford is still in the El Paso County Jail, she is also eligible for bond.
Both are expected to be back in court March 21.
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Damage assessments are still ongoing for homes and businesses affected by the Aspen Acres Fire in southern Colorado, but over 200 homes have been confirmed destroyed so far. The United Way of Southern Colorado is working to raise relief funds for those affected and says it’s making progress towards its fundraising goal.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said they’ve assessed approximately 67% of the properties affected in the county. Authorities have confirmed the loss of 192 homes and four commercial structures so far and are working to contact property owners as quickly as possible.
Lucero urged everyone affected by the fire to use the survivor portal for more information on assistance.
Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith says they’ve lost approximately 83 homes so far, almost 2% of the county’s homes. The worst hit area is along the Highway 165 corridor, Smith added. He said that authorities don’t expect any new evacuation areas, but are not yet ready to release the existing evacuation orders.
Smith said a hotline is available during business hours for affected Custer County Residents to ask questions. He urged residents to contact them at (719) 467-0271 and advised they may need to leave a voicemail if the line is busy due to the high number of calls.
A flash flood watch is in effect for areas near the burn scar, which could affect nearby homes.
The President of the United Way of Southern Colorado, Shanna Farmer, said the organization is working to raise wildfire relief funds for those affected. Over the last few days, they have reached just over $417,000 of their $10 million goal.
“It has been incredible, the number of individuals and companies who have come out to support, to provide matches, and to provide innovative ways to raise those funds,” said Farmer. “And so, I encourage anyone who is willing to work with us on a corporate, business, or individual level to please reach out because it is going to take all of us to help rebuild.”
Farmer said that the community not only needs help with their immediate needs but also long-term support. She urged anyone interested in donating to visit their website.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says anyone who has evacuated needs to contact the Disaster Assistance Center located at 29 Lehigh Ave. in Pueblo. The center is open between 9 a.m and 6 p.m. and provides multiple resources for those forced to evacuate.
Residents must also visit the center to obtain a re-entry pass, which will allow them to return home once evacuation orders have been lifted. A photo ID and proof of residency are required. Visitors can sign up online to reserve a place in line for faster service.
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Colorado
Julian Lewis Says Deion Sanders’ Colorado ‘Wasn’t Really Looking at Defenses Much’ Last Season
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis made a stunning admission that could explain the team’s 3-9 finish to the 2025 season.
While speaking to ESPNU at Big 12 media days, Lewis was asked what the biggest difference was between last year and this year, and he revealed that the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes typically didn’t watch film during his first season with the team.
“My play, I’m actually looking at the defenses now,” Lewis said. “Last year, we wasn’t really looking at defenses much, just kind of high school free-balling, just out there playing football. But it’s a lot bigger than that now, so it should be fun.”
Before taking a redshirt year, Lewis played in four games as a true freshman with two starts and threw for 589 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 55.3 percent of his passes. He should fare even better this season with the benefit of film study.
Lewis will enter the 2026 campaign as Colorado’s starting quarterback, so he will have the opportunity to show his improvements when the Buffaloes open the year against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
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