Disabled Son Survives Parents' Botched Suicide Pact Amid Eviction Threat

On November 3, 2025, police in Lehigh Acres, Florida responded to a 911 call and found three people who had sustained injuries from a suicide attempt. All three survived the incident.

The caller was identified as 59-year-old Barbara Bates, who police say first cut the other two family members as part of an apparent suicide attempt, then waited about 40 minutes before slashing herself and calling for help. Barbara was later arrested on several charges, including attempted murder.

Two days later, her husband Neil Bates was also arrested in connection with the incident. During the investigation, the couple's adult son, who has "overt developmental disabilities," told officers that his parents had said the alleged suicide pact was because the family was about to be evicted.

According to the reports, Barbara had picked a dystopian horror movie and a steak meal as part of their "last family activity" before the incident. As the movie played, Neil consumed alcohol and their son took sleep medication. The three then went to a bedroom together to fulfill their suicide pact.

However, the son alleged that in the bedroom, he lay next to Neil, who slashed his own wrist as Barbara slit Neil's throat. Barbara then allegedly cut the son's throat, which made him panic and change his mind about the pact. Barbara later admitted to hatching the plan, claiming the "group suicide" had been discussed for months.