Man suspected of abductions texted from teen’s phone, documents say

After two Texas girls were found safe in southern Colorado on Wednesday night, more details have emerged on the events leading up to their abduction.

The girls’ mother, 44year-old Tonya Bates, had left work Dec. 29 around 7:15 p.m. in Round Rock, Texas, a town about 20 miles north of Austin, according to an arrest warrant for Terry Miles, 44, filed in U.S. District Court.

But Bates didn’t show up for work the next morning, which was out of character.

Police stopped by her house and found her dead from what looked like a blunt force trauma. Bates’ car and daughters were missing, as was her roommate, Miles, the warrant said.

Miles is not related to the girls, who are 14 and 7.

Shortly after midnight on Dec. 30, surveillance video at a Walmart in Round Rock showed Miles entering and buying camping-related items, including a 10-person tent, an adult sleeping bag, one child’s sleeping bag, various types of rope and two tarps, according to the court documents.

At around 1 a.m., Miles’ mother received a text from a cellphone belonging to Bates’ 14-year-old daughter, which FBI agents believe was sent by Miles.

The text read: “Mom I left with the kids and came home to something bad I think Tonyas boyfriend. I cant talk now Tonya was involved in some bad stuff I will talk to you later when im safe these guys are crazy Mexicans.”

Multiple media outlets have reported that Miles has an extensive criminal record in Louisiana and California.

Police received tips suggesting the three were in southern Colorado. Video surveillance showed Miles at a business in Trinidad on Saturday. Miles was arrested Wednesday night after Las Animas County Sheriff’s deputies spotted him after receiving a tip that originated from an Amber Alert issued for the girls earlier in the day.