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A MOM has been found decapitated just one day after sending an ominous message to a friend.
Heather Ann Bodden’s headless body was discovered in her apartment on January 2 by three of her friends.
The 41-year-old’s head had been stuffed into a bin bag, which police found after searching the home.
Bodden’s boyfriend, Craig Allen Nichols Jr. has been arrested over the killing, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Police arrested him after allegedly obtaining video proof of him entering and exiting the home with trash bags on the day of the murder.
The 32-year-old is facing charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and two counts of contempt of court.
One of Bodden’s friends told police that she had received a disturbing text message from the victim on January 1, according to court documents obtained by People.
Bodden had allegedly said that Nichols had threatened her with a weapon that same afternoon.
After not hearing from the victim for over 24 hours, the concerned trio of friends decided to meet at her apartment in Yankton, South Dakota, to check on her.
Security camera footage shows three men—one identified as Nichols by police — arriving at Bodden’s property at around 10 pm on December 31.
The two other men, who have only been referred to by their initials thus far – CE and CR – told police that the four of them had engaged in the use of narcotics.
They stated that Bodden was alive when they both left the home around 11 pm that same day.
Nichols, also from South Dakota, was seen leaving Bodden’s flat later.
The suspect left and returned several times between 2:50 am and 6:45 am and was allegedly carrying two bin bags out of the building at one point.
Bodden’s troubling final Facebook post, on Christmas Day 2024, expressed her wish to be “left alone” over the holidays.
HEATHER ANN BODDEN’S FINAL POST
IN her final Facebook post, made on Christmas Day 2024, Heather Ann Bodden begged to be “left alone”.
“Today to go right to f**king hell. F**k you, and f**k and f**k you too. Proceed with caution today. Christmas go right ahead and f**k off too, just f**king stupid day to force ppl to get together and to pretend to give a s**t. When in reality no one gives a f**k unless it benefits them. So don’t come at me with the Christmas and we miss you s**t because it’s a bunch of bulls**t lies. Cause if I really cared about you you’d be at my door already. Who’s there at my door, no one. You have to use caution around me. I will not be forcing myself to be around ppl today. I’m not going to pretend I’m ok today because I’m not and I don’t want to talk about it at all. All I want today is to be left alone don’t try and pry and force me to do anything I don’t want to do.”
As well as the discovery of the victim’s severed body, police report they also found a bag of clothing covered in blood, labeled as belonging to Nichols.
They also found three weapons wrapped in a floor mat.
After searching the suspect’s flat, police found shoes covered with a reddish-brown substance.
The Yankton Police Department and Yankton County Sheriff’s Office are still investigating the incident.
Nichols is next due in court on January 8.
Heather’s family has since opened up about her death, using a GoFundMe page to help raise money for her funeral expenses.
She is survived by her daughter, parents, seven siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and “Many more family and friends who loved her dearly.”
