PENROSE • A Colorado Springs-based funeral home in Penrose is under investigation after an investigation unveiled the improper storage of human remains on the property, according to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s office deputies received reports Tuesday of a “suspicious incident” at the Return to Nature Funeral Home off Werner Road in Penrose, 34 miles south of Colorado Springs, according to a Thursday afternoon announcement.

On Wednesday, investigators with the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant alongside the Fremont County Coroner’s Office and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies on the property and discovered human remains were improperly stored inside the business.

Several law enforcement agencies were on the scene Thursday as part of the investigation. The front door to the business and an air conditioning unit in the back of the building had been removed in an alleged forced entry by officials as part of the warrant execution.

A man who works on the property behind the funeral home, said the business appeared to be vacant until two vehicles showed up in the parking lot in June.

“This place hasn’t been a functioning business. The vehicles showed up a few months ago, and I’ve never seen anyone go in or out,” he said.

The man said he has smelled a foul odor behind the building for at least the past month.

“I’d randomly smell it, but I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was just roadkill or something like that,” he said.

“Every time you’d drive by here, you’d smell it.”

According to officials, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office are continuing the investigation in part with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, The Department of Regulatory Agencies, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the FBI.

The county health department was part of the initial investigation, but is no longer involved “due to the gravity of the situation,” a person with the health department said.

Sheriff’s officials are asking family of decedents who have used services from the Return to Nature Funeral Home to email 23-1941@fremontso.com detailing a contact number and time to call.

Additionally, individuals carrying potential information in reference to the investigation are being asked to email tips@fremontco.com.

The Return to Nature Funeral Home website was active Thursday morning, but the company’s Facebook and X social media accounts appeared to be locked. 

When the funeral home opened in 2017, The Gazette published an article about the new business. It has a location in Colorado Springs at 944 Elkton Drive, and had previous locations on East Platte Avenue and Las Animas Street.  

Officials said more information will be available following a conference scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m.