Colorado Funeral Home Owner Sentenced to 18 Months for Abandoning Corpse in Hearse for Over a Year

DENVER — A Colorado funeral homeowner has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to serious misconduct involving deceased individuals. Miles Harford, 34, admitted to a felony charge of abusing a corpse and a misdemeanor charge of theft. Other charges, including forgery, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

This sentence represents the maximum penalty allowable under Colorado law for his offenses. Harford’s actions came to light when authorities discovered the body of 63-year-old Christina Rosales, who had died from Alzheimer’s disease, in the back of his hearse. Her remains had been left there for approximately 18 months, covered with blankets.

Investigations revealed that he provided Rosales’ family with the cremated remains of another person, misrepresenting them as belonging to her. Furthermore, police discovered the cremated remains of over 30 individuals improperly stored in boxes throughout Harford’s rental property. Denver District Attorney John Walsh expressed hope that the sentence would provide some sense of justice to the families affected by Harford’s actions.

He emphasized the deep violation of professional and moral obligations represented by Harford’s behavior, noting the pain caused to many families. This case is part of a troubling trend in Colorado, where several funeral homes have been implicated in similarly disturbing practices. One notable case involved the owners of a funeral home accused of storing nearly 200 bodies in poor conditions and providing families with counterfeit cremated remains.

As such incidents continue to emerge, the need for greater oversight in the funeral industry has become increasingly clear.