COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Derrick Johnson buried his mother’s ashes beneath a golden dewdrop tree with purple blossoms at his home on Maui’s Haleakalā Volcano, fulfilling her wish for a resting place overlooking her grandchildren. Then he received an alarming call from the FBI on February 4, 2024, affecting him profoundly.
As he taught an eighth-grade gym class, Johnson's world turned upside down when an agent inquired about his mother, Ellen Lopes, and mentioned a shocking incident related to the funeral home, Return to Nature, where he had entrusted her remains.
His search on his cellphone revealed harrowing news reports: bodies piled on top of each other, neglected and allowed to decompose, with more grizzly details emerging about unsanitary conditions. Feeling nauseated, Johnson excused himself, while panic engulfed him as he learned his mother was one of the many victims of this appalling situation.
The Hallfords, owners of Return to Nature, were ultimately charged with abusing nearly 200 corpses and defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-era aid, all while living lavishly off clients' payments for supposed cremations. Their arrest in November 2023 and the ensuing investigation revealed the distressing reality: families had been misled about their loved ones’ remains.
For Johnson, the emotional turmoil became unbearable, worsened by panic attacks triggered by the FBI's revelations. He promised himself he'd attend the Hallfords' sentencing to advocate for the maximum penalty, envisioning how he could confront them about the betrayal and trauma caused to families, including his own.
In the wake of this scandal, the Colorado funeral industry faces significant reevaluation to prevent such tragedies from rec occurring. Johnson remains committed to promoting awareness, advocating for justice, while grappling with the psychological scars of the ordeal as he seeks holistic healing.
As he taught an eighth-grade gym class, Johnson's world turned upside down when an agent inquired about his mother, Ellen Lopes, and mentioned a shocking incident related to the funeral home, Return to Nature, where he had entrusted her remains.
His search on his cellphone revealed harrowing news reports: bodies piled on top of each other, neglected and allowed to decompose, with more grizzly details emerging about unsanitary conditions. Feeling nauseated, Johnson excused himself, while panic engulfed him as he learned his mother was one of the many victims of this appalling situation.
The Hallfords, owners of Return to Nature, were ultimately charged with abusing nearly 200 corpses and defrauding the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic-era aid, all while living lavishly off clients' payments for supposed cremations. Their arrest in November 2023 and the ensuing investigation revealed the distressing reality: families had been misled about their loved ones’ remains.
For Johnson, the emotional turmoil became unbearable, worsened by panic attacks triggered by the FBI's revelations. He promised himself he'd attend the Hallfords' sentencing to advocate for the maximum penalty, envisioning how he could confront them about the betrayal and trauma caused to families, including his own.
In the wake of this scandal, the Colorado funeral industry faces significant reevaluation to prevent such tragedies from rec occurring. Johnson remains committed to promoting awareness, advocating for justice, while grappling with the psychological scars of the ordeal as he seeks holistic healing.
