Death Penalty Possible in Bradenton Triple Homicide

A grand jury’s Tuesday decision to indict Andres Avalos Jr. on three counts of first-degree murder puts the death penalty on the table for the man accused of killing his wife and two others on Dec. 4.

While Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies charged Avalos with three counts of second-degree murder following the deaths that rocked Bradenton, the grand jury upped the stakes, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Prosecutors have 45 days from the arraignment to decide if they’ll seek the death penalty, the paper reported.

The events of Dec. 4 began to come to light around 1:19 p.m. when the sheriff’s office received a 911 call about a shooting at Bayshore Baptist Church. The call was placed by Joy Battle, who was inside the church’s business office as her husband, James, was shot multiple times.

As deputies investigated the shooting at the church, they received a call that Andres Avalos had told someone there were two bodies inside his home. After making the proclamation, Avalos hung up.

Deputies went to the home at 1208 67th St. N.W., where they discovered the bodies of Amber Avalos, 33, and Denise Potter, 46.

Potter was found in a hallway with multiple gunshot wounds. Amber Avalos was “located in the laundry room, suspended from a cord with severe trauma to the face and a gunshot wound to the chest,” a probable cause affidavit stated.

The couple’s 4-year-old son told deputies he was home when both women were killed. He told them Andres was the only other person there at the time.

Avalos was arrested following a two-day manhunt.

See Also:

• Details Emerge in Bradenton Triple Homicide
• Triple Homicide Suspect Confessed, Prosecutor Says
• Bradenton Triple Homicide Suspect’s Car Found
• $15,000 Reward Offered in Triple Homicide Case