WSIL-TV 3 ABC
Top Stories
Last updated 10:08 am CT February 09, 2010.
Willis Charged in Church Beating
A week after the assault, police say the person who seriously injured two women at the First Baptist Church in Anna is in custody.
Willis E. Bates is charged with four counts of attempted murder, one count of armed robbery and two counts of theft. Police identified the 45-year-old Union County man as a person of interest on Saturday.
Sunday afternoon they found him hiding at a motel on Main Street in Marion.
Watch News Conference on
Bates Arrest
"He came in and said he was hiding from his wife, which is kind of typical I guess, so I rented to him and a little while later the [officers] came in,” said Motel Marion clerk Paul Strand.
Strand says officers staked out Bates’ room in an unmarked vehicle. Less than 24 hours later, they took him into custody.
"[Monday] morning I was over here having coffee and the phone rang and I answered it and it was him. He was asking what time check-out was. He didn't sound distressed at all, but I knew they were watching him and I knew that he was going to get it," Strand said.
"These charges follow an extensive investigation by the Anna Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Union County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the Cobden Police Department. I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the efforts of these agencies," Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Edmonds said Monday night during a news conference.
Authorities released little information aside from the charges. Bates is in Tri-County Jail in Ullin on $1-million bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Union County.
As for the women police say Bates injured, sources tell News 3 Leona Mount and Mary Shepherd continue to recover.
By Dana Jay and Andy Waterman
djay@wsiltv.com; awaterman@wsiltv.com
Now: 1265732909
