UNION CITY MAN FOUND GUILTY IN STABBING DEATH OF NEIGHBOR

Defendant repeatedly begged for money, then killed when he didn't get it

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the guilty verdict today of
55-year old David Bates for the murder of Thelma Jacobs Ransom. Bates was convicted of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Knife during the Commission of a Felony.

On August 21, 2006, Mrs. Ransom, 60, was found beaten and stabbed in her Union City duplex. Bates lived next door to the victim, a recent widow whose husband had sometimes let the defendant borrow money. Investigators say Bates had been harassing Mrs. Ransom for money for about a month---at times cutting her grass without permission and then demanding to be paid.

On the day of the crime, Bates argued with his girlfriend about never having money but later in the day returned home with a wad of cash believed to be stolen from the victim. Authorities also found evidence Bates had tried to scrub his apartment clean with bleach---an attempt, prosecutors argued, to clear traces of the victims' blood.

In 1991, Bates pled guilty to a similar crime against an elderly man and served 13-years in prison. He admitted doing yard work for the 78-year old man and then demanding money. When he confronted the victim in that case, Bates stabbed him repeatedly and locked him in a closet--- leaving him to die. The victim was found alive four days later.

Bates received two to life without parole sentences for Thelma Ransom's murder.

Superior Court Judge Thomas R. Campbell, Jr. presided over the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Chuck Boring and Gabe Banks. Detective Johanne Welch of the Union City Police Department was the lead detective. The case was investigated by James Higgins and Stephen Barresi of the Fulton County District Attorney's Investigations Unit.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov