May 28, 1983: Badly burned 1977 Honda Civic is found in a field. The body in the driver seat was so charred it was difficult to positively identify. The license plate and other items showed the vehicle belonged to 55-year-old Edward L. Cates - a former Mississippi Assistant Attorney General and Jackson City Commissioner. Cates wife, Dorothy, identified a partly burned shoe found on the left foot of the victim as belonging to Cates. Edward L. Cates was a veteran and received a full military funeral. A month after his funeral Cates was found living under an alias as a Retired Army General, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack investigate the case of the disgraced lawyer who pleaded guilty to reduced charges and is sentenced to 20-years in prison, without identifying the person found in his burning car who was buried in a grave with Ed Cates name on it.....40 years later, Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan is helping our friends at Othram raise the money needed to move forward with the investigation. Click the link below to find out more
https://dnasolves.com/articles/rankin-county-1983-homicide-victim/
Transcribe Highlights
.00 Introduction - Othram, DNA Solves
.40 1977 Honda Civic found fully engulfed, body charred beyond recognition
.50 Weeks after Cates burial, wife gets money orders from Georgia
.30 Body buried, not Cates. Cates faked his death, body not identified
.78 Accelerant used to burn car and body
.34 Person was alive when set on fire
.47 Fractures caused by "post-mortem" handling
.62 Injuries caused by being hit by car
.08 Massive injuries, but skull fractures not mentioned in reports
.88 Cates died in prison
.46 Body did not have teeth
.22 Conclusion
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