The 24-year old man charged with the murder of 22-year old Heather Maples was in a Rutherford County Courtroom.

Brandon Bowling appeared in court Friday (June 24th) and was supposed to enter a plea. However, the plea date was reset to October 21st. Assistant District Attorney J. Paul Newman made the request in order to allow more time for DNA testing.

Eight days after the lifeless body of Heather Maples was discovered in her apartment, Murfreesboro detectives obtained an arrest warrant and charged Bowling with first degree premeditated murder.

Maples' murder took place at The Cove at Center Point Apartments in Murfreesboro (apartment 222), just days before the Mesquite, Texas, native would have turned 23.

A Murfreesboro Police investigation revealed Maples was found, face down, on a mattress in bedroom at the apartment complex. It's believed she was choked to death. There were also signs of sexual assault.

Police reported Maples was a Gentleman Jim's Bar on Greenland Drive from around 10 until midnight on August 6th. She then left and went to the Handlebar on East Main until 12:45, only to return to Gentleman Jim's and staying until 2am. That's when she returned to her apartment. At some point after returning, she was murdered.

Again - murder suspect Brandon Bowling is expected back in court October 21st for a plea date.

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