DAWSONVILLE, GA – A Georgia man, long sought by authorities for allegedly murdering his wife in the presence of their two children, has been captured after evading capture since 2017. The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, detained 44-year-old Jonathan Bates, as stated in a recent social media update from the law enforcement agencies.
Bates faces a slew of charges that include felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children. The arrest warrant issued for Bates stemmed from his absence at a court hearing in October 2022.
The tragedy unfolded in May 2017 in Dallas, Georgia, when Bates reportedly pushed his 28-year-old wife, Cynde Bates, causing her to fall and strike her head on furniture at their residence. The couple’s children, aged four and seven, are said to have witnessed the fatal altercation. Following the incident, she was declared brain-dead and subsequently died at a medical facility, as per court records.
Initial police statements have Bates admitting to pushing his wife during an attempted hug. Previous to the deadly occurrence, Cynde had expressed intentions to divorce and had accused Jonathan of domestic abuse. Despite the serious charges and an initial arrest, a judge in June 2017 determined there was insufficient evidence for murder charges, allowing the case to proceed solely on misdemeanor battery indications. Controversy erupted when it was revealed that the presiding judge had connections to Bates’ family, leading to his eventual recusal from the case.
A grand jury later indicted Bates with the murder charges reinstated. He gained temporary freedom by posting a $16,500 bond before foregoing the subsequent court appearance scheduled for October 2022. His defense maintains the incident was a tragic accident.
Upon his recent arrest, officials transferred Bates to the Dawson County Jail. He faced extradition to Paulding County Jail on Wednesday, with the court denying him bond. Details regarding his next court date remain unclear as the legal proceedings against Bates resume.
