Families of Return to Nature case demand action, yet another funeral home accused of misconduct
Marina Garcia
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – 13 Investigates has uncovered that the Pueblo County Coroner, Brian Cotter, is accused of hiding bodies in a secret room of his privately-owned funeral home, Davis Mortuary.
13 Investigates saw a similar, unrelated incident occur at Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose back in 2023. Owners Jon and Carie Hallford were accused of letting close to 200 bodies stack up and decompose at their funeral home. Our extensive reporting contributed to legislative change in Colorado.
You can read more on the Return to Nature case by clicking here.
This latest case is a painful reminder for families who were impacted by Return to Nature.
“It’s been a kind of trauma, you know, post-traumatic stress. It’s the kind of the kind of therapy I’ve had to go through is not anything I could have imagined. I wasn’t prepared,” said Lisa Ostly, who was personally impacted by the Return to Nature case.
In a press conference on Thursday, officials with the CBI said that some of the experts who worked the Return to Nature case are assisting with this investigation into Davis Mortuary. The CBI added that they are using some of the same “methods” to investigate this case.
But the families of the Return to Nature case know first-hand that there is a long road ahead for those seeking answers. Jon and Carie Hallford are still working their way through the court system. It’s unclear right now what the timeline will be for Brian Cotter; District Attorney Kala Beauvais said that, as of right now, no charges have been filed against Cotter.
To read our full coverage on the Brian Cotter/Davis Mortuary case, click here.