By Austin Sack | Fox 21 News
Jon and Carie Hallford, the Return to Nature Funeral home owners, are scheduled to appear in person on Friday, Sept. 20 for a final arraignment hearing. They will either take a state plea deal or proceed to trial. This comes after the Hallfords accepted a federal plea deal on Thursday, Sept. 12.
The Hallfords were indicted in April on fraud charges, accused of misspending nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds on vacations, jewelry, and other personal expenses. The 15 charges brought by the federal grand jury are separate from the more than 200 criminal counts pending against them in state court for corpse abuse, money laundering, theft, and forgery.
Meanwhile, victims of the Return to Nature Funeral Home are still waiting to find out what happened to their loved ones.