ZIONSVILLE, Ind. — A homicide investigation is underway after a body was found in Zionsville Monday.
Prosecutors filed a formal charge of murder against Graham Bixler, 30, of Zionsville, in the death of his mother, Kristin Bixler, whose body was found behind a home.
During his initial hearing Friday morning, Bixler told the judge, "I did not do it."
When the judge asked Bixler if he had a mental illness, Bixler said he didn't know.
The judge granted a public defender to speak with Bixler ahead of his next pretrial hearing, which is scheduled for June 12, followed by another hearing Aug. 12.
Bixler entered a plea of not guilty.
He is facing 45-65 years if convicted. Bixler is also being held without bond, which Bixler said was "completely unfair."
Around 11:30 a.m. April 8, Zionsville Police Department officers were called to a home in the 5300 block of West Old 106th Street, near Zionsville Road, for a welfare check of Kristin Bixler.
After receiving no answer at the door, officers checked around the home and found bloody clothing. Officers then saw a pickup truck about 100 yards away in a wooded area. When they went to look around it, they saw a wheelbarrow and a woman's body next to it. There were also hand saws, a shovel and other items.
Police learned Graham had been picked up by Carmel police on April 7 as he had blood on him and was not dressed appropriately for the weather. He was taken to St. Vincent's Stress Center. That's where Zionsville officers found him. They claim among the items removed from Graham was Kristin's credit card.
The Boone County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy and determined the death was a homicide, the department said.
Graham was arrested and taken to the Boone County Jail.
Graham's father allegedly told police he warned Kristin that "she should be careful with Graham for her safety."
Police also spoke to a neighbor who spotted Graham, along with what he thought was a mannequin and took a photo of them. Police checked the photo and claim what the neighbor thought was a mannequin was the Kristin's dead body.
Family, friends and neighbors of Kristin told police they were worried about her safety and that they believed Graham was mentally ill and used psychedelic drugs, according to court documents. One neighbor claims Kristin told him that she believed "Graham was going to kill her."
An autopsy on Kristin's body showed crushing injuries to her head and puncture wounds to her body. A tattoo on her matched what Kristin was known to have, but due to the extent of injuries to the body, DNA will be used to positively identify it.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.