An Indiana man is in trouble with the law after police say he gave them false stories about his missing mom. Sadly, investigators then found what looked like human remains in a fire pit in the family’s backyard.
Police say Nicholas Yates has been arrested and is being charged with murder. The case started when his mother was reported missing.
Even though the police haven’t said for sure who the remains belong to, news outlets say they think it’s Yates’ mother, Cheryl Yates, who was reported missing.
The police are working to identify the remains found in the fire pit. They said they won’t release the victim’s name until they’re sure who it is, which could take a few weeks.
Reports say that police went to the Yates’ home after Nicholas reported his mother missing. During questioning, the 20-year-old supposedly gave different stories to the investigators.
Investigators said that when they asked Nicholas if he knew anyone who would want to hurt his mother, he said no, saying she was a very sweet person.
Nicholas told the police he last saw his mother a few days ago and had been trying to call her. However, he also said she had left her phone, purse, and wallet at home. Police found it suspicious that he would call a phone that was at the house and asked to see his mother’s phone. Nicholas then reportedly said he sold the phone because he needed the money.
Detectives found a pill container that showed Yates’ mother had been taking her medicine regularly until the night she disappeared. While searching the backyard, they found a pile of burning papers and what looked like human bones in the fire pit.
Later, Yates admitted that he had argued with his mother. He said he hit her in the throat, causing her to fall and hit her head. Then, he put her body in a wooden box, took it to the backyard, and burned it in the fire pit.
Yates has been to court and is expected to have a jury trial soon.
