Jonathan Bates, left, was arrested in Georgia over a year later after he missed a court hearing for allegedly murdering his wife Cynde Bates, right, in 2017. (Jonathan Bates: Dawson County Sheriff’s Office; Cynde Bates: Facebook)
Cops in Georgia arrested a man who missed a court hearing and evaded charges for over a year after he allegedly murdered his wife in front of their young children in 2017.
The Dawson Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service arrested 44-year-old Jonathan Bates, according to a Tuesday Facebook post. Bates is charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and cruelty to children.
A bench warrant has been out for Bates’ arrest ever since he failed to show up to a court hearing in October 2022, records show.
Bates is accused of killing his wife Cynde Bates, 28, at their home in Dallas, Georgia, in May 2017. According to his indictment, he allegedly pushed her causing her to fall and hit her head on a love seat. The incident allegedly happened in front of the couple’s children, ages 4 and 7.
Cynde Bates was later declared brain-dead and died at a hospital, court documents say.
Jonathan Bates allegedly told a police officer that he pushed her when she tried to hug him. She had previously accused him of domestic violence and told family members she was planning to file for divorce.
Cops arrested him, but in June 2017 a judge said there was not enough evidence for the case to move forward on the murder charges and only bound over the case for simple battery. The decision outraged Cynthia Bates’ family members.
“Her kids are lost without her,” Bates’ sister Sandy Dement told Atlanta’s WSB. “Her family is lost without her. We don’t get to talk to her anymore.”
WSB reported the judge had ties to Jonathan Bates’ family. He later recused himself.
A grand jury later indicted Jonathan Bates, reinstating the murder charges. He posted a $16,500 bond which led to him skipping the October 2022 court hearing. His lawyers claim his wife’s death was an accident.
After nabbing him, cops transported Bates to the Dawson County Jail and he was extradited to the Paulding County Jail on Wednesday. He has no bond. It’s unclear when he will next appear in court.