Indiana Man Confesses After ‘Human Spinal Cord’ Found in Backyard Burn Pit Believed to Be His Missing Mother, Police Say

VERMILLION COUNTY, INDIANA — A 20-year-old Indiana man has been charged with murder after investigators discovered what appeared to be a human spinal cord in a backyard burn pit — remains authorities believe belong to his missing mother.

According to the Indiana State Police, Nicholas Thomas Yates reported his mother missing, only for detectives to later uncover that he had allegedly beaten her to death, stuffed her body into a wooden box, and set it on fire behind their Vermillion County home.

The ‘Missing Person’ Call That Sparked Suspicion

On Sunday, October 5, Yates contacted the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office, claiming his mother had been missing for several days and that he couldn’t reach her.

The two lived together at a home in the 300 block of Davis Street — roughly 80 miles west of Indianapolis.

However, during questioning, investigators quickly became suspicious. Yates referred to his mother in the past tense, saying, “She was the sweetest person,” which officers noted in their report as a glaring red flag.

He also gave inconsistent statements, telling police that his mother’s phone and wallet were left at home but also claiming that he had been calling her repeatedly for days. When asked about this contradiction, Yates said she must have bought a new phone with the same number, then claimed to have sold her old phone when police requested it.

Discovery in the Backyard Burn Pit

Investigators eventually obtained a search warrant for the property and began searching the backyard, where they made a gruesome discovery.

“We discovered bones within the burn pit,” the police affidavit stated. “The shape and appearance of one bone — believed to be a human spinal cord — were particularly indicative of human remains.”

Upon confrontation, Yates confessed to killing his mother during an argument on October 3 about him moving out of the home.

He allegedly struck her in the throat, causing her to collapse and hit her head on a metal bed frame and wooden chest. After confirming she was dead, he placed her body into a wooden box and spent most of the following day burning her remains in the outdoor fire pit.

Strange Behavior After the Killing

Detectives said that in the days following the murder, Yates invited two other people to move into the home, claiming he “didn’t want to be alone.”

The pair told investigators that Yates had been cleaning obsessively, spending money at restaurants and stores, and behaving nervously — but they had no idea what had happened inside the home.

Yates reportedly told them his mother was out of town, even though the smell of burning had lingered for days.

Murder Charge and Ongoing Investigation

Yates was arrested without incident and booked into the Vermillion County Jail on a charge of murder.

The Vermillion County Coroner’s Office has not yet confirmed the identity of the remains, noting that the forensic identification process could take several weeks.

Yates has pleaded not guilty and is being represented by the West Central Indiana Public Defender’s Office. His pre-trial conference is scheduled for January 7, 2026.

This disturbing case has shocked the small Indiana community and highlighted the dark reality of domestic violence turning fatal. For continuing updates on national crime and justice news, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.