Left inset: Barbara Bates. Right inset: Neil Bates (Lee County Sheriff's Office). Background: The Florida home of Barbara Bates and Neil Bates, where they carried out an attempted suicide pact with their "disabled son," according to police (WFTX/YouTube).
A Florida woman "experiencing the stress of family difficulties" and "medical ailments of her son" with Asperger's syndrome decided the best thing to do would be carrying out a suicide pact with him and her husband, who tried telling police it was their "disabled son" who came up with the idea, according to cops. All three survived.
Barbara Bates, 59, allegedly admitted to detectives with the Lee County Sheriff's Office that she planned "the homicide of her family over a period of months and actively sought to acquire a firearm without success," according to a probable cause statement.
"Barbara obtained sleeping medication with the sole intent of distributing it to her family, and then utilized a bladed instrument to lacerate her husband's and son's throats with the intent of ending their life," the statement says, noting how Bates claimed her husband, Neil Bates, 64, was in agreement that they needed to die, along with their adult son.
"Neil refused to admit that the suicidal plan was his idea or Barbara's, claiming that [the son] was the one wishing to die and that they all eventually came to consensus to participate," police allege. "Neil claimed that [their son] was more intelligent than most people his age, but also did not feel that he would be able to live by himself without care, citing his bursts of irrationalness and decision making."
According to Barbara Bates, the family was about to be evicted and on the brink of being "homeless," so a plan was formulated to commit suicide together before the eviction was served. She purchased alcohol and sleeping pills to consume and even planned a last meal and movie they would watch together, police say.
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"On Nov. 3, Barbara commuted to the Homestead Road Publix to purchase the final family meal of steak," the probable cause statement alleges. "Barbara selected the horror movie, 'The Long Walk,' as a last family event."
Halfway through the movie, Neil Bates drank alcohol, while their son consumed a handful of sleeping pills "as provided by Barbara," according to police. After distributing the pills, Barbara Bates allegedly said she consumed the remainder and then moved the family to the master bedroom, where Neil pulled out a box cutter, after the movie ended.
"After the [son] and Neil were laying down next to each other, Neil utilized the blade to lacerate the right side of his neck," the probable cause statement says. "Barbara stated that she did not believe the cut was deep enough, so she retrieved the blade and cut the right side of Neil's throat. To speed the process, Barbara lifted Neil's right arm and cut two parallel lacerations to increase the flow to avoid clotting."
Barbara Bates allegedly moved to the opposite side of the bed and stabbed her son in the neck near his left ear, slicing his throat "downward to the larynx." She admitted to remaining in the room for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, monitoring "the blood flow," according to the probable cause statement.
"After losing patience, she sat next to her son and commenced lacerating her wrists," the statement says. "Barbara purposefully waited for over 40 minutes to guarantee that they would not be resuscitated by first responders."
After waiting, Barbara Bates allegedly called 911 and reported what happened. Deputies responded to the scene that Monday evening around 4:38 p.m. and found the family inside. Barbara was still conscious and told first responders that "she had cut the other occupants," according to police.
"Barbara voiced her displeasure that law enforcement responded so efficiently and did not allow a more significant time gap for the family to complete the process," the probable cause statement says.
The family was rushed to a local hospital, where the son — who is described as having "overt developmental disabilities" and Asperger's — allegedly spoke to detectives. He recounted lying down next to his father on the master bedroom bed and closing his eyes as Neil Bates began "cutting his wrist" while his mother was slicing his father's neck open with the box cutter.
"[The son] became nervous after feeling his father's blood saturate his right arm," the probable cause statement says. "His mother then cut his throat, making him panic and change his mind, and no longer want[ed] to participate."
Neil Bates, however, told police that it was their son who urged them to keep going through with the suicide pact after he "became impatient and wanted to die," according to the probable cause statement. Neil allegedly refused to admit to cutting the son, instead stating that he did not want to hurt him and "out of cowardice" proceeded to cut himself in the neck and arm with the box cutter.
"Neil later changed his story, stating that he knew he cut his neck, but did not remember cutting his arm," the probable cause statement says. "Neil claimed that they were all being irrational that night and no longer wished to kill himself. Neil stated that he regretted following through with the plan."
Neil Bates allegedly described his son as being officially diagnosed with Asperger's and that he also has "several physical limitations and conditions," which led to him not making it past the fifth grade due to "outbursts" he would have. Neil stated that he "informally homeschooled" the son without following an official education program, "only teaching him several subjects he should know," the probable cause statement says.
Barbara Bates said her son's condition was just one of several difficulties she and Neil Bates were facing at the time they planned the suicide pact.
"After experiencing the stress of family difficulties, medical ailments of her son and husband, the loss of jobs, and finally the eviction notice, Barbara concluded that she would no longer want to continue living," police allege. "Barbara informed her family of their predicament, with the possibility of being homeless, in which the victims also stated a lost desire to live."
Doctors treated all three individuals for their injuries and expect them to recover with no observable complications, according to cops. Barbara Bates allegedly told police in the hospital that "she still wished that the plan had succeeded" and she "did not demonstrate any remorse" for what happened.
Barbara Bates is charged with attempted murder and aggravated child abuse, while Neil Bates is facing charges of criminal attempt to commit a life felony and aggravated abuse of a disabled adult. Both are being held without bond.