KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The man accused of killing a mother of eight in 2022 has been bound over for trial in her death.
Heather Mae Kelley was last seen in December 2022 in Kalamazoo County. The last her family heard from her was when she reportedly told her children on the phone that she would be home soon. Her vehicle was recovered the next day, only a few miles from where she was last seen.
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Authorities said there was evidence that she could have been the victim of a violent crime and that they suspected foul play. Her vehicle reportedly had her blood on the front and back seats.
Authorities arrested Kelley's boyfriend, 38-year-old Carlos Watts, a year after she went missing. He was charged with her murder in January 2024. Authorities said Kelley had left home to pick Watts up and was never seen again.
Her body has never been found.
WOODTV in Grand Rapids reported Watts was ordered Thursday, Dec. 26, to stand trial on the open murder charge. Kelley's family -- including her mother and children -- reportedly testified during Watts' preliminary exam.
Cellphone data allegedly tracked Watts walking away from where Kelley's car was found and toward the halfway house in Kalamazoo where he was staying at the time. He reportedly arrived with visible scratches on his body that he allegedly said were from Kelley.
Watts was staying at the halfway house after he was sentenced for drug trafficking in 2013. He was transferred to the halfway house from federal prison shortly before Kelley went missing.
He allegedly used a pair of scissors to cut off his ankle monitor at the halfway house and ran off two days after Kelley disappeared. Police arrested him in Battle Creek shortly after. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison for escaping from the halfway house.
A trial date for Kelley's murder has not yet been set.