A mum 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 2 January 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.
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Bodden’s boyfriend, Craig Allen Nichols Jr. has been arrested in relation to the killing, as reported by Need To Know.
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 1 January, 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 up at her apartment in Yankton, South Dakota, to check on her.
Security camera footage shows three men – one of them identified as Nichols by police – arriving at Bodden’s property at around 10pm on 31 December.
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 11pm that same day.
Nichols, who is from South Dakota, was seen leaving Bodden’s flat later on.
The suspect left and returned several times between the hours of 2.50am and 6.45am, and at one point was allegedly carrying two bin bags out of the building.
As well as the discovery of the victim’s severed body, police report they also found a bag of clothing covered in blood, labelled 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 8 January.
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”.
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