Medical Examiner: USF Rapist Suspect Had ‘Bath Salts’ Chemical In System

By Matt Wiley

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner (HCME) office has confirmed that the man responsible for a rash of local home invasions and sexual batteries in September was, in fact, under the influence of drugs that could have contributed to his violent behavior.

According to the HCME autopsy and toxicology report, Charles Christopher (“Chris”) Bates, 24, had the chemical methylone in his system when he began his violent crime spree during the late evening hours of September 5 that ultimately led to his death the following day, after a manhunt in Tampa Palms and a fatal shootout with authorities in Temple Terrace. The autopsy report reveals that Bates was shot 27 times during the shootout with multiple law enforcement agencies (see below).

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), methylone is one of the active ingredients in the recently popular drug known as “bath salts,” or synthetic stimulants, which people ingest for their euphoric effects. The DEA reports that the effects sought are those similar to those felt after ingesting cocaine, LSD, MDMA (the primary drug in Ecstasy and “Molly”) and methamphetamine. However, the DEA reports that additional effects can sometimes include impaired perception, extreme paranoia and violent episodes.

As previously reported in the New Tampa Neighborhood News, on September 5, Bates entered an apartment inside the Cambridge Woods USF student rental apartment complex, located on N. 42nd St., armed with a gun. He bound four men with duct tape before sexually battering four women and fleeing on foot. Two of the women went to Florida Hospital Tampa on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., where hospital staffers alerted HCSO about the incident.

Bates then entered another nearby residence in the Eagles Point at Tampa Palms apartment complex, located on N. 46th St., but left without harming the woman inside.

After leaving that apartment, Bates then went to The Oaks apartment complex, also located on N. 42nd St., and entered a residence where another party was going on that involved about 25 people. Using his firearm, Bates forced everyone into a bedroom before fleeing again on foot. Bates also shot at a man in the parking lot, although that man was unharmed.

Deputies searched through the night and into the morning for Bates using helicopters, dogs and a heavy law enforcement presence throughout the morning, with authorities positioned at several intersections, under the bridge at Cypress Creek on BBD (south of Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms) and at nearby apartment complexes. However, Bates was able to get into the apartment of another woman, someone Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said that Bates might have known at one time, inside the Pointe at South Florida apartment complex (located on E. 138th Ave.), where the fugitive shaved his head and left in the woman’s car. Authorities were alerted that he had taken the vehicle and were able to locate Bates at around 1 p.m. on E. Fowler Ave. at Gillette Ave. in Temple Terrace.

HCSO deputies, Tampa Police officers, Florida Highway Patrol troopers and U.S. Marshalls chased Bates through Temple Terrace to Temple Terrace Hwy. and onto U.S. 301. Bates’ vehicle reached speeds up to 100 mph at some points, as he fired gunshots at his pursuers through the rear windshield of his vehicle and out the driver’s side window.

Shortly before 1 p.m., authorities caused Bates to lose control of his car just south of Sligh Ave., where he came to a stop on the westbound shoulder of U.S. 301, in front of a Waffle House restaurant. He continued to fire at authorities and was struck several times, before being taken into custody. Bates died at 1:21 p.m. on Sept. 6.

Although more than 100 total shots were fired, no law enforcement officials were hurt in the shootout.