Overview

• Nicholas Yates made his initial appearance on Oct. 8, where a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf and no bond was set.
• A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026, with a jury trial set for Feb. 24, 2026, in Vermillion County.
• Indiana State Police announced Oct. 6 that Yates was arrested and charged with murder after investigators reported finding bones in a backyard fire pit.
• A probable-cause affidavit describes conflicting statements from Yates about his missing mother and alleges he later detailed striking her, placing the body in a wooden box, and burning it the next day.
• The Vermillion County Coroner’s Office has not yet confirmed the identity of the remains, a process officials say could take several weeks.