CLINTON, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Clinton man who allegedly killed his mom and spent a day burning her body in the backyard appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday.
Nicholas Yates, 20, is charged with the murder of his mother Cheryl Yates.
According to court documents, Yates had initially filed a missing persons report on his mother. Yates claimed he has not heard from his mother since October 3.
Police then interviewed Yates on October 6. During that interview, Yates claimed that during an argument with his mother, he struck her in the throat before her face turned blue and she fell backward, striking her head on the metal bed frame and a nearby wooden chest
A search of Yates’ backyard also found human bones.
“We proceeded to the backyard, where we discovered bones within the burn pit. The shape and appearance of the bones would lead one to believe that they perhaps were human bones. Particularly indicative of a human bone was one bone which appeared to be that of a human spinal cord,” stated the probable cause affidavit.
Court documents state that Yates placed the body of his mother in a wooden box that he then moved to the fire pit outside and burned for a majority of the day on October 4.
Yates appeared in court for the first time since being taken into custody on October 8 for an initial hearing.
During that hearing, the court entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Yates, and no bond was set.
Yates will appear in court next on January 7, 2026, for a pretrial hearing. A jury trial date has been set for February 24, 2026.
*Footage above is from a previous newscast*
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