Son Allegedly Kills and Beheads His Mother in South Dakota

A South Dakota man is facing first and second-degree murder charges after allegedly killing and beheading his mother, Marlene Fladland, in a gruesome act of violence. Bowen Fladland, 36, was arrested after authorities discovered his mother’s body in the front yard of their home in Clark, a small community in eastern South Dakota.

The shocking incident took place Saturday, with a family member reporting that they spoke with Marlene around 10 a.m. During the conversation, Marlene allegedly informed the family member that her son was attacking her. The police were called to the scene on Tuesday, where they found Marlene’s body at a residence on North Cloud Street, KELO reported.

According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, authorities later located Bowen Fladland in Watertown, about 30 miles east of his home. Fladland consented to questioning, during which he confessed to the horrific crime, providing details of the attack.

The affidavit revealed, “Fladland admitted to assaulting his mother, kneeling on her neck until she was apparently deceased and then using a tool to remove her head.” The motive for the brutal act remains unclear, as the affidavit did not indicate a reason for the killing. However, court records suggest that Fladland had previously shown violent behavior toward his mother.

A disturbing pattern of escalating violence emerged in previous years, including an incident in 2023 where Fladland assaulted his mother by strangling her and slamming her against furniture. In another episode, he threatened her life with two butter knives after an intense struggle.

Following the 2023 incidents, Fladland was convicted of aggravated assault and received a 10-year suspended sentence, allowing him to avoid prison time. Despite the violent nature of his past offenses, the court’s leniency did little to curb his violent tendencies.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley commented on the case, noting the common escalation of violent behavior in criminal cases. “It is fairly common for us to see in criminal activity when somebody begins a pathway of violence, how it escalates,” Jackley said.

“Which is why I feel it’s so important that these issues are addressed early on in a criminal history, that we need to make sure we do everything to keep the public safe.” Bowen Fladland now faces charges for the brutal murder of his mother, with the investigation ongoing as authorities try to uncover more about the underlying causes of the violence.