Heather Nicole Maples was only 22 when her life came to a tragic end. On August 7, 2015, she was found murdered in her Murfreesboro, Tennessee, apartment by a coworker who got worried when Heather didn’t show up for work.
She worked at The Cove apartment complex, the same place where she lived. Police later said she had been sexually assaulted and killed with blunt force trauma and asphyxiation listed as the causes of death.
Early Life and Background
Heather was born and raised in Mesquite, Texas. She moved to Murfreesboro on January 31, 2015, hoping for a fresh start. Her mom, Jennifer Hunter, said Heather packed her car full of clothes, grabbed her cat, Oliver and headed out to begin a new chapter.
She started working as a leasing agent at The Cove in April of that year.
Even though she wasn’t a student when she first moved, Heather got accepted to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) not long before her death. She planned to study psychology. Her mom described her as full of life, always talking, always smiling.
“Heather’s smile and laughter were contagious and her constant chatter filled the air, and now it’s gone and the silence is deafening at times,” her mother said in court.
Heather had only been in Murfreesboro for a few months but she had already started to build a life there. Friends and coworkers said she was outgoing, kind and excited for her future.
The Night Before the Murder
On the night of August 6, 2015, Heather went out with friends to a few local bars in Murfreesboro. Investigators later traced her movements. She started at Gentleman Jim’s Bar around 10 p.m. and stayed until midnight.
Then she went to The Handlebar on East Main Street until about 12:45 a.m. After that, she went back to Gentleman Jim’s for a short while before heading home.
Police believe she returned to her apartment around 2:15 a.m. on August 7. That was the last time she was seen alive.
According to CBS News, when Heather didn’t come to work the next day, her coworker grew worried and went to check on her. What they found was horrifying. Heather was lying face down on a mattress on the floor, partially clothed. The scene showed signs of a violent attack.
Murfreesboro Detective Tommy Massey later testified that Heather had bruising around her throat and cuts on her head. There was also massive hemorrhaging in her eyes, mouth and throat — signs that she had been strangled.
Her hands showed injuries too, including a torn fingernail which suggested she fought back. The medical examiner confirmed she died from blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.
There were also signs that she had been sexually assaulted. Investigators found dried semen on her body. They carefully collected DNA samples and began looking for a suspect.
The Break in the Case
A key clue in the case turned out to be a fingerprint. Detectives discovered a bloody print on the bedsheet near Heather’s body and that single piece of evidence would later tie everything together.
Forensic expert Dave Hooper said, “In this situation, the print was already visible…the only technique used was ultraviolet light to intensify shadows and highlight ridge contrast.”
When the fingerprint was analyzed, it matched a man named Brandon Richmond Bowling, a 25-year-old student at Middle Tennessee State University. DNA testing confirmed the same thing — Bowling’s DNA matched perfectly on all 16 points tested.
Police soon made another disturbing discovery. Videos found on Bowling’s phone showed him sexually assaulting Heather while she appeared semi-conscious. That evidence became a major part of the case and was mentioned in his later plea agreement.
The Arrest and Charges
Bowling was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated rape and several related offenses. His bond was set at $1 million.
Police said this wasn’t a random attack. They believed Heather and Bowling knew each other, though it wasn’t clear how close they were. Investigators found no sign that the two had been in contact during the three weeks before Heather’s death. They also didn’t appear to have been at the same bars that night.
As the investigation continued, more about Bowling’s life came to light. He had been adopted when he was 10 weeks old and had a pretty normal background.
In high school, he played football and was in the band. He’d worked at several places — Amazon, Best Buy, Kroger, Transamerica and Jimmy John’s. His mom described him as a good student and said he had been raised in a loving home. But the evidence told a very different story.
Court and Sentencing
The trial lasted for a couple of years as lawyers went over every detail. Then, on February 6, 2018, Brandon Bowling pleaded guilty to the rape and second-degree murder of Heather Maples. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped some of the original charges.
Bowling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder and 15 years for aggravated rape but the sentences were set to run at the same time, meaning he would serve a total of 40 years, The Daily News Journal Reports.
During sentencing, Heather’s mother spoke directly to the court. Her words were heartbreaking yet full of strength. She talked about the pain of losing her daughter and the effect it had on Heather’s younger brother, who has autism.
“I forgive Brandon Bowling for killing my daughter. I no longer carry that burden around with me,” Jennifer Hunter said. She even showed compassion for Bowling’s family, saying, “They are victims, too. They didn’t plan this, they had hopes for their child just like we had hopes for ours.”
The news of Heather’s death spread quickly in Murfreesboro and back in her hometown in Texas. People were saddened and angry. At her funeral in Texas, around 200 people came to say goodbye.
Her mom later said that the family was trying to focus on Heather’s memory and the good things she left behind.
