Mother makes first appearance in court for sons’ heat deaths

Tasha Bates, 26, accused of leaving her 3-year-old and 5-year-old sons in her car where they died of heat stroke, waits for an arraignment hearing while in Bradley County Criminal Court with Judge Carroll Ross early Monday morning.

Photo by Dan Henry /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

A Bradley County mother charged with felony murder in the heat-related deaths of her two young boys made her first appearance in court today.

Tasha Bates, 26, has been charged with felony murder, aggravated child abuse and endangerment as well as methamphetamine-related charges after police say her 5-year-old son Leland and his brother, 3-year-old River, died while inside her car.

Bates appeared in Bradley County Criminal Court before Judge Carroll Ross this morning, where her charges were read. Bates, who does not yet have an attorney, asked to be appointed a public defender.

Her next court date is set for Nov. 19.

For complete details, read Tuesday’s Times Free Press.