Indiana man arrested in connection with mother's disappearance after remains found in Fire Pit

On October 6, 2025, Indiana State Police released a statement to the public regarding the arrest of 20-year-old Indiana man Nicholas Yates.

On October 5, the suspect reported his mother, Cheryl Yates, missing to Vermillion County Sheriff’s office.

Yates, who lived with his mother on the 300 block of Davis Street in Clinton, Indiana, said he had not seen her for several days.

Sheriff Mike Holtcamp connected with the Indiana State Police (ISP) to investigate the disappearance and soon found evidence indicative of a murder.

WANE 15 reports, per court documents, that Yates told investigators that he had not seen his mother since October 3, and said some of her personal items and clothing, including identification and bank cards, were missing. Her purse, phone, and wallet, however, were found at the residence and her vehicle was still parked on the driveway.

Cheryl's pill planner showed that she had neglected to take her medication from October 3 onwards.

October 3 was also the last day Cherly was seen at her workplace. Her supervisor recounted a conversation the two had that day, wherein Cheryl said she was unhappy with Yates spending all of his money and not contributing to the bills.

He was “blowing all of his money” while she was paying the bills, she reportedly said.

She either wanted him to move out, or she would move out herself, reports state.

Channel 27 reported that friends of Cheryl said she was afraid of Yates, and was "afraid he was going to kill her." She had reportedly been granted legal guardianship over Yates in 2024, after a judge ruled him as an incapacitated adult.

When asked if the missing woman had any enemies, Yates said no, and that his mother “was the sweetest.”

When questioned as to why Yates had taken several days to contact police and report his mother missing, he said he had been trying to call her cell phone, hoping she would answer.  However, when police pointed out her cell phone was at the residence, Yates allegedly said she had bought a new one with the same number.

When asked to provide the old cell phone, Yates said he had sold it because he needed the money.

The more questions asked, the more the story began to fall apart.

Yates had reportedly moved two others into the home, who were staying in Cheryl’s bedroom.

When questioned, the stories provided by Yates and the two friends did not match up. Yates said the friends were with him when he sold Cheryl's cell phone, however they said they were not. They also told investigators that on October 3, Yate's spent the majority of the day in the attic as well as cleaning the home.

That weekend, the friends said the three of them went shopping and to restaurants, where Yate's footed the bill.

He purportedly told police that he moved in the two acquaintances because he was afraid to live alone.

 When investigators searched the backyard of the home, they found a pile of burned papers, which Yate's said he had been burning because they were private. When investigators looked closely, they noticed what appeared to be human bones, one of which appeared to be a spinal cord.

“The shape and appearance of the bones would lead one to believe that they perhaps were human bones. Particularly indicative of a human bone was one bone which appeared to be that of a human spinal cord.”

Yates was arrested on October 6 and taken in for questioning, where he allegedly admitted that he and his mother had gotten into a verbal argument over their living situation. Yates had purportedly hit Cheryl in the throat.

He alleged that after striking her, her face had turned a shade of blue, and she had stumbled backwards, hitting her head on the metal bedframe behind her. Yates then alleged that he had put her body in a wooden box and burned her the following day on October 4.

The fire was left burning throughout the day.

At the time of writing, the identity of the victim has not yet been officially released by police, however, media outlets report that the victim is believed to be Yate's missing mother.

The remains will be identified by Vermillion County Coroner’s Office, but could take several weeks.

Yates was arrested without incident under suspicion of being connected to the murder, and was taken to the Vermilion County Jail.

At his initial trial hearing, Yates pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 7, 2026.