Welcome to Arrest Stories. A twenty-year-old Indiana man who described his mother as "the sweetest person" now faces murder charges after investigators discovered her spinal cord in a backyard burn pit. Here's what may have happened.
On October third, Nicholas Thomas Yates allegedly struck his mother in the throat during an argument about him moving out of their Vermillion County home. According to official reports, his mother turned blue and fell backward, striking her head on both a metal bed frame and wooden chest. The impact proved fatal.
What happened next paints a disturbing picture of attempted cover-up. Investigators say Yates placed his mother's body into a wooden box, then spent the majority of October fourth burning her remains in an outdoor fire pit behind their family home. During this same period, Yates had reportedly moved two other individuals into his mother's bedroom.
The deception continued for days. On Sunday, Yates contacted police to report his mother missing, claiming she hadn't returned home in several days. He told authorities her clothes, identification, and banking cards were gone, but insisted her phone, purse, and wallet remained at the residence. When pressed about contradictions in his story, particularly his claim of calling her missing phone for days, Yates alleged she had purchased a new phone with the same number.
Meanwhile, evidence mounted against his fabricated timeline. His mother's pill organizer showed she had taken her medication through the night of October third. Investigators also discovered Yates had sold his mother's phone, claiming he needed money, and found smoldering papers in the burn pit.
When officers searched the property, they made the grisly discovery. "We proceeded to the backyard, where we discovered bones within the burn pit," officials stated. Among the remains was a human spinal column, confirming their worst suspicions.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Yates maintained his innocence, repeatedly telling investigators, "No, she was the sweetest person."
Yates was arrested on October sixth and is being held without bond. His pre-trial conference is scheduled for January seventh.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.