Woman Found Decapitated in South Dakota Apartment, Boyfriend Charged

A horrifying crime in Yankton, South Dakota, has left a community in shock. Craig Allen Nichols Jr., 32, is facing charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter after allegedly killing and decapitating his girlfriend, 41-year-old Heather Ann Bodden, inside her apartment on Jan. 2, 2025.

A Gruesome Discovery

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, police were alerted by three of Bodden’s friends who decided to check on her after she hadn’t been heard from in over 24 hours. The friends reported finding Bodden’s decapitated body in her apartment at East Meadows Apartments. Yankton police responded to the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m. and confirmed the grim discovery, stating they observed “what appeared to be a deceased headless person,” according to PEOPLE.

The friends told police that Bodden had texted one of them on Jan. 1, saying that Nichols had been threatening her with a weapon earlier that day.

Security Footage and Disturbing Details

Investigators obtained surveillance footage from the apartment complex, which showed Nichols arriving at Bodden’s apartment late Wednesday night with two other men. The men, identified only by their initials in court documents, said the group had used narcotics together and that Bodden was alive when they left around 11 p.m.

Footage later captured Nichols returning to the apartment multiple times throughout the night. Between 2:50 a.m. and 6:45 a.m., he was seen carrying two trash bags out of the building.

A subsequent search of Bodden’s apartment uncovered one of the trash bags containing her severed head, a bag of bloody clothing labeled with Nichols’ name, and three weapons wrapped in a floor mat. Police also found shoes with a “reddish brown substance on them” inside Nichols’ own apartment, as reported by PEOPLE.

Nichols was arrested but declined to provide blood and urine samples at the hospital, according to court documents.

Remembering Heather Ann Bodden

Bodden’s death has left her family and friends grieving the loss of a woman they described as full of life and humor. In a GoFundMe campaign launched to cover funeral expenses and provide for her daughter, Bodden’s sister-in-law wrote, “Heather Bodden was tragically and brutally taken from us by someone who claimed to care about her,” as reported by PEOPLE.

The campaign remembers Bodden as a “bright spark” who loved her daughter Lily deeply and had a close bond with her mother, Pat. Her stepfather, Sherman, and mother will now care for Lily. The family is seeking to raise $15,000 and had reached over $5,000, as of Jan. 5.

Charges and Next Steps

Nichols has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and two counts of contempt of court.

Bodden’s tragic death has left her loved ones mourning a life cut short in a brutal and senseless act of violence. As the investigation continues, the charges against Nichols mark the first step in seeking justice for a woman remembered for her humor, love for her daughter, and the bright light she brought to those around her, as described in the GoFundMe campaign.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit The Hotline.

References: A Woman Told Friends Her Boyfriend Was Threatening Her with a Weapon. A Day Later She Was Found Decapitated | Police find decapitated body in apartment, woman’s head in trash bag