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Family Reacts To Mom

410 views · Published 24 July 2012 · 2:39 · Indexed 23 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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by Karen Zatkulak For the first time, we're hearing from the brother of two boys, who died from extreme heat inside a car in Bradley County.  Wednesday night, their mother, Tasha Bates, was arrested for murder.8-year-old Skyler Bates tells us, "They were my brothers and they just passed away recently and I really miss them a lot, they were the best brothers I ever had in my life."Skyler is honest and emotional about how he wishes his two young brothers were still with him,  "We would go down here and see who could throw rocks the farthest and stuff like that."Skyler has cerebral palsy and was proud of the big brother he'd become.  He admits he was devastated when he learned he wouldn't see 3-year-old River and 5-year-old Leland again.  "I tell him that they are with Jesus now and they will never have to hurt and Jesus will take care of them now and they are in the presence of God."Linda Bates has custody of Skyler, which is why he wasn't with the boys when they died on June 28th.  They were with their mother, Tasha, when authorities say they died of hyperthermia in a hot car.Then, we were there last Friday as her house was searched by the meth task force.  She was arrested for murder, aggravated child abuse, and meth charges Wednesday night.Bates says her son divorced Tasha several years ago, and she suspected that Tasha was using drugs.  Linda Bates says, "I did not know, I had an inkling, ten days before they died, I went down there to see her to make sure they were okay."And while she's not sure how the boys got into the car that day, or exactly what role Tasha played in the incident, she doesn't believe Tasha meant to kill her sons.  "I know she didn't purposely hurt them, whether she left them there on purpose, or forgot them I don't know."Regardless of the facts, the grieving family still mourns the little boys lives.  Skyler says, "I got one more thing to say I really loved them a lot."The indictment outlines all nine charges against Tasha Bates, but does not give a detialed summary of what authorities believe led to the boys deaths.Bates is due in court on August 13th.

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