A South Dakota man has been charged with the brutal murder of his mother, Marlene Fladland, and then decapitating her, according to authorities. Bowen Fladland, 36, faces charges of first- and second-degree murder in connection with the crime.
The Murder and Discovery
The tragic incident occurred in the town of Clark, South Dakota, a small community of approximately 1,000 residents. Authorities responded to a home on North Cloud Street on Tuesday after finding Marlene Fladland’s lifeless body in the front yard.
Law enforcement was alerted by a relative who had spoken with Marlene earlier that Saturday. The relative reported that Marlene had mentioned Bowen assaulting her.
Detectives later tracked Bowen Fladland to Watertown, about 30 miles east of his home, on Tuesday. Upon being interviewed, Fladland admitted to assaulting his mother, explaining that he had kneeled on her neck until she appeared to be dead and then used a tool to decapitate her, according to the arrest affidavit.
Past History of Abuse
While the affidavit does not provide a clear motive for the murder, it does reveal a troubling history of violence between Bowen Fladland and his mother. Court records show that Bowen had previously assaulted Marlene on multiple occasions.
Two years prior to the murder, he was charged with assault after grabbing her by the throat and shoving her against a bed, causing her to feel light-headed. The following day, he reportedly assaulted her again, this time pushing her against a refrigerator, and threatened her life with two butter knives.
For these incidents, Bowen Fladland was convicted of aggravated battery and sentenced to a 10-year suspended jail term. He had violated his probation just two months prior to the murder, according to local reports.
Current Status
Bowen Fladland is currently being held at the Codington County Jail in Watertown, where he is facing a $500,000 cash bond. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder, but as of now, a clear motive for the decapitation remains unknown.
