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Final Autopsies On Bates Brothers Released

539 views · Published 25 October 2012 · 2:38 · Indexed 20 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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by John Madewel  New information has developed about the summertime heat-related deaths of two young Bradley County boys.     Four months after the deaths of 3-year-old River and 5-year-old Leland Bates, the final autopsies are complete.Shortly after the deaths of the two young boys, the cause of death for both was hyperthermia. This afternoon Dr. Jeffrey Miller, Bradley County's Medical Examiner, walked through both autopsies and explained them in layman's terms.Dr. Miller said he has never seen a hyperthermia case this severe. When paramedics rushed River Bates to Sky Ridge Medical Center, Dr. Miller felt his skin. It was very hot.  The little boy had a core body temperature of 109 degrees. And like his brother Leland, he lapsed into a coma. Dr. Miller explained how the boys died. "What happens as you increase your core temperature your body starts to lose its ability to regulate. The hypothalamus where it's controlled, it will shut down."Meanwhile, Leland's core body temperature measured 103 degrees. But that was after he had been iced down and flown to Children's Hospital.On that day in late June, the outside temperature soared to 103 degrees. Both boys had been playing outside, unattended by their mother Natasha Moses Bates for some time. They were found unconscious in the front yard.    Dr. Miller said the autopsies didn't determine how long they had been exposed, but one thing really struck him. "What stands out most is that these were normal healthy children. And there was nothing wrong with them except they came in unresponsive and died shortly thereafter," Miller said.The autopsies showed small bruises on each child, but Dr. Miller said those were common for young boys and didn't raise any suspicion.The final autopsies have gone out to the families. Meanwhile, these deaths gripped the Bradley County community.And the medical examiner said the deaths serve as a reminder for the next heat wave, especially for small children. "Kids produce more heat per body calorie count than adults do, so as they're active they're producing more heat."Bates remains in jail without bond. She's been charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse and five counts related to the making and selling of methamphetamine.She's scheduled for a preliminary hearing November 19th.

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