RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — Heather Hicks Auman, wife of longtime Seagrove firefighter 'MJ' Mishael James Auman, appeared in court Monday, where she was granted a $1 million bond. She is charged with first-degree murder in MJ's death.
The judge decided that as a term of her release, she must live with her parents in Davidson County and wear an electronic monitoring device. She must also surrender her passport.
Previously, Heather, 37, had been confined to the Randolph County jail with no bond allowed.
Family and friends were in court Monday in support of both Heather and MJ.
WFMY News 2's Amber Lake spoke to Heather's attorney, who said "they will be proving her innocence" when the case goes to trial. Heather will be pleading not guilty.
“It is our intention that we are going to prove her innocence. In this case, she is pleading, not guilty, but to this point, she did not have a bond set. The state last year decided that they were going to take this noncapital and since they were deciding that, we were at some point going to make a motion to set bond and that’s what happened here today,” Heather's attorney, Stephanie Goldsborough said.
Heather Hicks Auman has been in jail since June 29th, 2022.
Randolph County sheriff's deputies found MJ shot and unresponsive in the couple's home on Ridge Road on June 25. He was rushed to the hospital but didn't survive.
The state decided a few months ago that this is a non-capital case which means the death penalty is off the table.
In court, Heather's attorney explained that Heather Auman has been a lifelong resident of North Carolina. She was born in Thomasville and raised in Denton, North Carolina.
Heather worked as the Director of the water plant in Denton. The town manager of Denton, as well as the town attorney, were both present as well on her behalf.
Heather Auman has no criminal record. The town of Denton claims that she is an "incredible employee," according to her attorney. She has been working with the town since 2014.
Investigators said Heather made one of the 911 calls and told the operator that MJ shot himself. Detectives said they later determined Heather was the one who shot him. Four days later, she was arrested at her home and charged with first-degree murder.
The defense is arguing that MJ shot himself. However, the state said the gun was too far from MJ's body to be a suicide.
The Assistant DA says MJ was shot in the face. He also said findings show that there was no gun residue on MJ's body, which means the gun was not near the body when it went off.
The Assistant DA also said the gun used was Heather Auman's gun, which the state found strange, seeing that MJ Auman was found with his own gun - still on his waistband.
The state and the defense went back and forth about infidelity in the relationship as well as marital issues involving MJ's now 11-year-old son.
Heather’s attorney says that Heather Auman is not a flight risk and requested a low bond. The state disagreed saying not only is she a flight risk, but she is dangerous to the community.
The judge granted a 1 million dollar secured bond.
If she is convicted of the first-degree murder charge, she will face life in prison without parole.
MJ served the Seagrove community for more than 20 years. He leaves behind an 11-year-old son, whom he shared with his previous spouse.
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