Woman found decapitated just one day after sending concerning text message to her friend
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe/Yankton County Sheriff's Office
Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions which some readers may find distressing.
A South Dakota woman was found decapitated just one day after sending a worrying text message to her friend.
Craig Allen Nichols Jr., 32, has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter and murder offenses after three friends of Heather Bodden, 41, found her with her head cut off in her apartment on Thursday (January 2).
They immediately reported it to the police.
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According to court documents obtained by People, Yankton police responded to the call from the three women at around 3:30pm on Thursday after they 'made entrance to the apartment and observed what appeared to be a deceased headless person'.
One of the friends told authorities they received a text message from Heather on New Year's Day that said her boyfriend, Nichols Jr., had threatened her with a weapon, per the court documents.
The documents state the unidentified friend hadn't heard from Heather for 24 hours, which is why she decided to go over and check on her.
Subsequent CCTV footage obtained by police captures three men, one of them being Nichols Jr., arriving at Bodden's apartment at around 10pm on January 1.
Court documents state they left an hour later after participating 'in the use of narcotics', before Nichols Jr. was seen entering and reentering numerous times in the middle of the night.
When police searched the apartment after receiving a call from Bodden's pals, they found her head in a trash bag, clothing belonging to Nichols Jr. and three weapons.
Police said the color of the bag matched one of the trash bags Nichols Jr. was seen with close to Bodden's apartment.
The South Dakota man has since been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter offenses, as well as two counts of contempt of court.
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help 'Heather's family in their time of need'.
"Heather Bodden was tragically and brutally taken from us by someone who claimed to care about her," the fundraiser began.
"The family is understandably shocked by this loss and unfortunately not prepared for all that goes along with planning a funeral at this time.
"Heather did not have life insurance, so we are raising funds to help cover the cost of cremation and a memorial service. Any leftover funds will be used to help care for Heather's daughter, Lily."
The GoFundMe added: "Heather was a bright spark in this world. Her friends and family loved her quick wit as she was always ready with a joke or snappy comeback. She loved her daughter Lily to the ends of the earth and her mom, Pat, was her best friend in the world. Pat, and Heather's stepdad, Sherman, will be caring for Lily. Any amount you can donate will help ease the financial burden placed on Heather's family."
Yankton police said the investigation is ongoing.