Jonathan Bates, on the left, was apprehended in Georgia over a year later when he failed to attend a court hearing for the alleged murder of his wife, Cynde Bates, shown on the right, in 2017. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Bates – Dawson County Sheriff’s Office; Cynde Bates – Facebook)
Georgia police apprehended a man who evaded a court hearing and eluded charges for over a year after allegedly killing his wife in front of their young children in 2017.
The Dawson Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service, apprehended Jonathan Bates, a 44-year-old individual, as stated in a recent post on Facebook. Bates has been charged with several serious offenses, including felony murder, malice murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children.
Records show that Bates has had a bench warrant for his arrest since he failed to appear at a court hearing in October 2022.
According to court documents, Cynde Bates was ultimately declared brain-dead and passed away at a hospital.
Jonathan Bates reportedly admitted to a police officer that he pushed her away after she attempted to embrace him. Prior to this incident, she had accused him of domestic violence and confided in her family about her intentions to file for divorce.
In June 2017, a judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the murder charges against him. As a result, he was only charged with simple battery. This decision left Cynthia Bates’ family members deeply outraged.
Bates’ sister, Sandy Dement, expressed the profound impact of her absence on the family, stating, “Her kids are lost without her. Her family is lost without her. We don’t get to talk to her anymore.”
According to WSB, the judge had connections to Jonathan Bates’ family, prompting him to recuse himself from the case.
Jonathan Bates was later indicted by a grand jury, reinstating the murder charges against him. He was able to post a $16,500 bond, which resulted in him skipping the October 2022 court hearing. According to his lawyers, they argue that his wife’s death was an accident.
After apprehending him, the police took Bates to the Dawson County Jail, and he was subsequently extradited to the Paulding County Jail on Wednesday. He is currently being held without bond, and it is uncertain when his next court appearance will be.
