By Kevin Jefferies/Brad Kellar
Quinlan – Three people have been arrested in connection with the death of a Quinlan-area man. Cory Joe Locke, Paul Russell Jr., and Dena Eve Waldon were all taken into custody over the weekend for the murder of Michael Patrick Bates. Bates died from a gunshot wound to the chest in his home last Thursday after a party at the residence the night before. Police also say Bates may have been the victim of several criminal acts prior to his death, and more suspects may be taken into custody in the case.
Evidence collected at the scene and a confession by one of the suspects led to the arrests.
At least two of the suspects are known to police. Paul Russell Jr. in January pleaded no contest to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a shooting in the Rolling Hills North Park addition and no contest to a charge of forgery by possession which involved possession of about a half-dozen fraudulent checks.
Cory Joe Locke was charged with misdemeanor counts of assault causing bodily injury-family violence and terroristic threats in an unrelated incident the day of Bates' murder.
Russell and Locke are being held in lieu of $1 million bond. Dena Waldon is being held on $500,000 bond.
Click here to listen to Brad Kellar's report on the story.