Texas Rangers Seeking Leads in Cold Case Murder Investigation

We've all heard the phrase "ripped from the headlines" used in reference to storylines which feel contemporary. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a whole division which resembles the CBS-TV series Cold Case...

Meet the Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Team. Like the TV show, they regularly reach out to the public for help each month in generating new leads in a cold case. (Too bad Kathryn Morris isn't on their squad. Hubba hubba!)

The Rangers seek the public’s help in solving the 1983 murder of Charles Alfred Bates, 51, in Balcones Heights, Texas, an enclave of San Antonio.

According to DPS, on May 22, 1983, Bates was found stabbed to death inside the Po Folks restaurant at 4250 Fredericksburg Road in Balcones Heights, where he was the general manager, and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen from the restaurant. Investigators believe Bates was murdered by someone he knew. At the time of his death, Bates had been in the restaurant business for many years and was engaged to be married.

Individuals can call in a tip through the Texas Rangers’ Cold Case website or contact the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3243.