Arrest warrant issued for former funeral home owner in Colorado

Colorado police gave a warrant for Miles Harford, 33, at whose home they even discovered the body of a female.

Colorado authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a former funeral home owner after a disturbing discovery at a rented house where he had stored the bodies and cremated remains of multiple deceased individuals.

Grisly Discovery

The shocking revelation occurred on February 6 during the court-ordered eviction of a house rented by Miles Harford, the former owner of Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services in Littleton, Colorado. 

Police found the body of a deceased woman in a hearse parked outside the house, covered with blankets. Additionally, they discovered the cremated remains of at least 30 people inside the residence.

Financial Troubles and Mismanagement

Investigators believe that Harford, facing financial difficulties in his business, failed to complete cremations and provide remains to families for services. 

Instead, he may have provided family members with the ashes of other individuals or left them empty-handed.

Lack of Oversight

The discovery underscores the lack of oversight in Colorado’s funeral industry, which has faced similar cases of mishandled bodies in recent years due to weak regulatory measures. 

The state lacks routine inspections of funeral homes and qualifications for operators, leading to instances of abuse and fraud.

Legal Ramifications

Harford is expected to face charges including abuse of a corpse, forgery of death certificates, and theft of funds paid for cremations. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as more information comes to light.

Continued Concerns

The case adds to a series of disturbing incidents involving mishandled bodies by funeral home operators in Colorado, highlighting the need for stronger regulations and oversight in the industry to protect the dignity of the deceased and ensure accountability for those responsible.