Message from Widow Bates:
"I reported Ronnie Bates as a missing person on Jan 19, 1997 to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department who came out to take a report from me. I expressed my concern for my husband and his newly found friends. In late April 1997, I heard from Mike Castro shortly after the car was turned in. At that time I had placed an ad offering a reward for information leading to my husband. Mike Castro thought the reward offered was for the car, not for Ronnie and attempted to collect the reward. Afterward I sent him a photo of Ronnie and when I didn't hear from him, I called Mike Castro. Mike Castro said he didn't know the guy and hung up on me."