An arrest warrant has been issued for a former Colorado funeral owner who allegedly kept a woman's remains in a hearse for two years. The unsettling discovery was made during an eviction process at a rented home where authorities also found the cremated remains of potentially up to 30 individuals.
The incident took place on February 6th when law enforcement officials were carrying out an eviction at a Denver house rented by 33-year-old Miles Harford. Harford had previously owned Apollo Funeral and Cremation Service located in the Denver suburb of Littleton, but the business had been closed since September 2022.
According to Denver police, during their investigation, Harford admitted that he was unable to locate a crematory to process the body of a 63-year-old woman. As a result, he decided to store her remains in the hearse. Shockingly, the woman's family had been given what they believed to be her remains. The recovered remains have since been handed over to the Office of the Medical Examiner.
Furthermore, authorities discovered additional cremated remains on the property, which seemed to have been professionally cremated. To facilitate the return of these remains to their respective families, investigators are cross-referencing labels on the containers with state databases. Unfortunately, DNA testing cannot be utilized in this process.
It is important to note that this case is unrelated to a similar incident that occurred in Penrose, Colorado, last October. In that situation, nearly 200 decomposing bodies were discovered in a funeral home, and the owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, are currently facing numerous felony charges.
The prevalence of cases like these has brought attention to Colorado's inadequate regulations for funeral home operators. The state currently has some of the loosest rules in the country, lacking routine inspections or qualification requirements for those in the funeral industry. This lack of oversight raises concerns about the handling of human remains and the potential for exploitation within the profession.
As investigations progress, it is hoped that the remains found in the rented home will be properly identified and returned to their rightful families. This disturbing incident highlights the need for stronger regulations and oversight to ensure the dignity and respect given to those who have passed away, as well as to prevent such neglect from occurring in the future. Colorado lawmakers may find themselves revisiting the state's regulations in light of these recent events.
