Charges were filed against Aaron James Beaulieu, 22, and Joshua Simon Boyd, 20, in Mille Lacs County District Court on July 27. The Onamia men are suspected of killing William Anthony Nickaboine, 19, also of Onamia.
According to the criminal complaints filed in Mille Lacs County District Court, a Mille Lacs Tribal Police deputy was contacted by Nickaboine’s mother on July 22. She told the deputy that Nickaboine had been missing since July 17. The complaint stated that law enforcement representatives had heard that Nickaboine was missing, but the mother’s missing person report was the first to be officially filed. A Tribal Police investigator went to a residence on Bugg Hill after several reports indicated that there may have been a fight between Boyd, Beaulieu and Nickaboine in the garage of the home on Gabeshi Lane. The investigator spoke to Nathan Rory Bugg, 18, in the garage at the residence. Bugg denied having any knowledge of the rumored altercation, but while he was speaking, the investigator noticed what appeared to be blood on the floor of the garage next to a Buick LeSabre. The scene was secured and a search warrant was drafted. On July 23, a Tribal Police officer spoke with Boyd. Boyd said he had gone to the house on Gabeshi Lane in the early morning hours of July 17, and that he had spoken to Nickaboine for a short time. He said that while they were talking, Amanda Drumbeater, Nickaboine’s girlfriend, came over from a neighboring home to get her cell phone from Nickaboine, and then left. Boyd told the investigator that he left the Gabeshi residence in his truck with the intention of going to his grandmother’s house, but his truck ran out of gas on Timber Trails Road and he had to walk. On the evening of July 23, a knife was found in a ditch by Timber Trails Road by a citizen search party. The Tribal Police were called, and an officer responded to the site 1/4 mile north of the Kathio Town Hall. The knife appeared to have blood on it. A short time later the police were called to a wooded area across from the wastewater treatment facility on Timber Trails Road where human remains had been located. The body was less than 1/2 mile from the knife. The area around the remains was sealed off, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime lab processed the scene. The body, which was partially burned, was identified as William Anthony Nickaboine on July 26. After the body was found, investigators re-interviewed Bugg. He admitted that he saw Beaulieu punch Nickaboine several times and knock him to the ground early in the morning of July 17. Bugg said Beaulieu dragged Nickaboine into the garage by his shirt. Bugg said he saw a knife matching the description of the one found in the ditch fall out of Nickaboine’s pants pocket. Once in the garage, Boyd kicked Nickaboine in the back and stomped on his head, according to Bugg. Bugg said Boyd then placed Nickaboine in the back of a silver Chevrolet Suburban and drove away. According to Bugg, Beaulieu did not accompany Boyd. Bugg gave Beaulieu a ride to a nearby residence in the LeSabre, and returned to the home on Gabeshi Lane. The silver Suburban was found abandoned in a ditch the next morning at 9:24 by a Tribal Police officer. There was blood in the vehicle along with court documents belonging to Nickaboine. Investigators spoke with Drumbeater, who said Boyd and Beaulieu were with Nickaboine early on July 17 when she went to get her phone back. Investigators spoke to three more witnesses. One witness allegedly saw Boyd and Beaulieu beat up Nickaboine in the garage. Another said she saw Boyd punch Nickaboine. A third said he saw Boyd walking out of the woods with blood on his white shirt.
Boyd and Beaulieu were each charged with one count of murder in the second degree — aid and abet, and one count of murder in the second degree — felony murder - assault in the first degree. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
Both men appeared in court Tuesday. Bail or bond was set at $800,000 unconditional or $500,000 conditional. They are scheduled to appear in court again on Monday, Aug. 2, at 1 p.m.
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