Details Emerge in Bradenton Triple Homicide

Andres “Andy” Avalos spent about 20 minutes chatting with James “Tripp” Battle’s wife, Joy, before he walked out of the office at Bayshore Baptist Church and shot the 31-year-old pastor dead in the courtyard.

During that conversation, Avalos “was rambling on about how the world was evil,” a probable cause affidavit issued for his arrest in the Bradenton triple homicide stated.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about that shooting at 1:19 p.m. Thursday. The call was placed by Joy Battle, who was inside the church’s business office as her husband 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,” the 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.

Andres Avalos was arrested Saturday following a two-day manhunt. He had his first appearance in court on Sunday was denied bond. The prosecutor says Avalos has given a full confession in the slayings.

See Also:

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