Leland Cole Bates                                   River Wade Bates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 28 Natasha Bates rushed her unresponsive Sons River and Leland to their grandfather's house in Cleveland, Tennessee because she did not have a phone. Police had responded to Bates' father's address after receiving reports of unresponsive children. River died at the hospital short time after his arrival while Leland died the following day. Natasha claimed she had left her sons outside to play on a Slip 'n Slide water toy,Through investigation and statements, investigators found reason to believe the boys died in a car as outside temperatures topped 105 degrees. An autopsy ruled the cause of death to be from hyperthermia. The Medical Examiner concluded the deaths were homicides as the boys had been otherwise health. These were normal, healthy children and there was nothing wrong with them except they came in unresponsive, and died shortly after,' he said. He added that he had been unable to conclude exactly how long the boys had been left confined in the hot conditions.

 

River was extremely hot to touch when he came through the door. Leland Bates' temperature could have been as high as his brother's, but paramedics had put him in ice before his temperature was taken. Even after his body was cooled with intravenous fluids and ice packs during the flight to hospital, his core temperature was still 103 degrees. The deaths of River and Leland came five years after their older brother, Travis Bates, who perished in a house fire when he was three.

 

Tasha Bates has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, child abuse and endangerment, as well as methamphetamine related offenses, which stem from a search investigators carried out on her home. Investigators had returned to her home on July 13 after receiving a tip about possible drug activity. A jury trial took place in which the Prosecution planned to prove that Natasha had left her children in a hot car and not on a Slip N Slide as she had said. It was said that Natasha was cooking as well as using Meth Amphetamine.

 

The deaths came five years after their older brother, Travis Bates, who perished in a house fire when he was three.

Tasha Bates has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, child abuse and endangerment, as well as methamphetamine-related offenses, which stem from a search investigators carried out on her home.Investigators had returned to her home on July 13 after receiving a tip about possible drug activity. A jury trial took place in which the Prosecution planned to prove that Natasha had left her children in a hot car and not on a Slip N Slide as she had said. It was said that Natasha was cooking as well as using Meth Amphetamine.

 

Bates changed her story several times, finally admitting that they were in the car when she found
them. She also said she fed them, but the autopsy revealed no food in their stomachs. The autopsy report also indicated drugs and narcotics in their system which were consistent with medical personnel attempting to save their lives. Bates changed her story several times, finally admitting that they were in the car when she found them. She also said she fed them, but the autopsy revealed no food in their stomachs. The autopsy report also indicated drugs and narcotics in their system which were consistent with medical personnel attempting to save their lives. Bates, was sentenced to two life terms in prison for the death of her sons

will also serve a 40 year prison sentence that will run concurrently with her life sentences. Life sentences in Tennessee call for at least 51 years behind bars.

 

March 6, 2007 - June 29, 2012