Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Son Charged w Murder After Killing & Slow Roasting Mom's Corpse in Fire Pit | Crime Alert 6AM 10.23.2025
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace

Episode Overview

This episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace focuses on shocking recent crimes, including a grisly matricide case in Indiana, the tragic death of a child in California’s floodwaters, and the loss—and life-saving legacy—of an Alabama teen. Nancy Grace and correspondent Jennifer Gould break down disturbing case details, reconstruct critical investigation moments, and share voices from witnesses and those affected. The tone is direct, urgent, and empathetic, with clear focus on justice for victims and families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indiana Matricide: Nicholas Yates Kills and Burns His Mother

[00:02–03:00]

• Nancy Grace introduces the case: Nicholas Yates initially reported his mother, Cheryl Yates, missing and described her as “the sweetest person ever.”
• Police charge Nicholas after finding human remains in a backyard burn pit—suspected to be his mother.

Details from Jennifer Gould:

• Yates is charged with murder after police say he "brutally killed his own mother, Cheryl Yates, then spent an entire day slow roasting her body to ash to cover the unthinkable crime." [00:36]
• Nicholas' 911 call raises suspicion: "The calculating son made a fatal verbal slip telling detectives, 'She was the sweetest person,'" (past tense), flagging him to police. [00:51]
• Nicholas lied about Cheryl's whereabouts and belongings; later admitted selling her phone and computer for cash.
• Motive discussion: Financial disputes. Cheryl reportedly planned to evict Nicholas due to money issues.
• Confession elements:
  • Yates struck Cheryl in the throat during an argument, causing her face to turn blue.
  • She fell backward, sustaining fatal injuries.
  • Yates hid the body in a wooden box overnight, then spent the next day burning her remains in the backyard fire pit.
  • He “brazenly moved new roommates into the victim's bedroom,” telling them his mom was moving out and feigning fear of being alone.
• Police discover a charred spinal column and other bones in the fire pit.
• Yates confesses after being confronted with evidence, is held without bond, pleads not guilty. Next court date is in January.

Notable Quotes:

• “She was the sweetest person.” — Nicholas Yates, flagged by police for using the past tense ([00:51])
• “Yates admitted to stuffing her body in a wooden box, leaving it overnight before spending the entirety of the next day burning her remains in that outdoor fire pit.” — Jennifer Gould ([01:46])
• “He brazenly moved new roommates into the victim's bedroom, telling them his mother was, quote, moving out and he was, quote, afraid to be alone, end quote.” — Jennifer Gould ([01:57])

2. California Flood Tragedy: Father Charged After Son’s Death

[04:11–06:00]

• Brandon Aguilera Padilla faces charges after his two-year-old autistic, nonverbal son Xavier dies in a flood-related incident in Barstow, California.
• The incident took place on September 18th: Aguilera Padilla allegedly ignored explicit flood warnings, driving into a flooded zone.
• After their vehicle was swept away, both exited the car but were separated by strong currents.

Witness Perspective:

• “The current kind of took his car into a ditch. When the car stopped, that's when he grabbed the baby and got out of the car and the current ripped the baby out of his hands along with his clothes, his underwear, his pants and took off.” — Eyewitness ([05:43])

• First responders found Aguilera Padilla stranded on a patch of land and rescued him; his son's body was found in a flood control channel the next day.

• Final charges: Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and felony child abuse endangerment.

• Aguilera Padilla pleads not guilty; held on $200,000 bond, next court date on October 27th.

3. Alabama Teen Cheerleader’s Life, Death & Organ Donation

[06:00–08:12]

• Kimber Mills, an 18-year-old cheerleader, was fatally shot at a bonfire party, suffering catastrophic injuries.
• Three others wounded; suspect Steven Tyler Whitehead (27) was arrested.
• After three days on life support, Kimber’s family chose organ donation, granting her a legacy of saving others.

Emotional Moments:

• “It was emotional. As soon as she turned that corner, the whole hallway crying. You can tell she was really loved by the whole community.” — Shane McKay, describing Kimber’s hospital ‘honor walk’ ([07:36])

• Kimber’s heart, lungs, and kidneys were donated, fulfilling her dream of helping others.

• Charges against Whitehead likely to be upgraded in light of her passing.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] — Introduction to Cheryl Yates case and Nicholas Yates’ arrest
• [00:36] — Case specifics: method and motive of the matricide, evidence trail
• [01:46] — Confession and crime scene details; covering up the crime
• [04:11] — California father’s charges after flood tragedy
• [05:43] — Eyewitness account of the flood incident
• [06:00] — Alabama cheerleader killed at party; community and family response
• [07:36] — Kimber Mills’ organ donation and lasting tribute

Memorable Quotes

• “She was the sweetest person.”
  — Nicholas Yates, flagged for suspicious use of past tense ([00:51])

• “Yates admitted to stuffing her body in a wooden box... burning her remains in that outdoor fire pit.”
  — Jennifer Gould ([01:46])

• “He brazenly moved new roommates into the victim's bedroom, telling them his mother was ‘moving out’ and he was ‘afraid to be alone.’”
  — Jennifer Gould ([01:57])

• “The current kind of took his car into a ditch... the current ripped the baby out of his hands.”
  — Eyewitness on Xavier’s death ([05:43])

• “You can tell she was really loved by the whole community.”
  — Shane McKay, on Kimber Mills’ honor walk ([07:36])

Tone & Style

Nancy Grace’s approach is no-nonsense, driven by a sense of urgency and deep empathy for victims. The episode delivers facts briskly, interwoven with emotional accounts and clear calls for justice, maintaining a somber and compelling narrative throughout.