Jury convicts wife of murdering her husband

ASHEBORO — A Randolph County jury convicted Heather Hicks Auman of first-degree murder on March 4 in the shooting death of her husband, a Randolph County firefighter.

On June 25, 2022, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call at the couple’s home on Ridge Road in Seagrove regarding what was initially reported as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Michael “MJ” Auman was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

MJ, 37, was employed full time by the City of Asheboro and had served as a longtime firefighter in Randolph County. He was an active volunteer with the Seagrove Fire Department at the time of his death.

As detectives investigated, evidence led them to conclude the wound had not been self-inflicted. On June 29, 2022, Heather Auman was arrested at her residence and charged with first-degree murder. Bond was denied.

In August 2022, a judge declined to try the case as a capital murder case, meaning Auman would not face the death penalty if convicted.

Proceedings began Feb. 23, 2026, in Randolph County Courthouse. A central issue at trial was whether MJ Auman’s death was a homicide or a suicide. Among the evidence presented to the jury were records of Heather Auman’s Google search history, a recorded call she made from the Randolph County Jail following her arrest, body camera footage from officers who responded to the scene, and a recorded interview between Auman and investigators. 

The state also called MJ Auman’s son, Owen Auman, as a witness, along with other members of MJ’s family. The defense called members of Heather Auman’s family, including her parents and a sibling, as well as its own expert witness.

The jury found her guilty of first-degree murder nearly four years after MJ Auman’s death. The sentence of life in prison without parole was mandatory under North Carolina law for a Class A felony conviction. 

Auman’s attorneys filed a notice of appeal to the appellate court the same day as the verdict.