I quoted Widow Bates when I wrote this posting. She wanted the title of the posting to be the Murder of Ronnie Bates because she believes that he was murdered. She has extensive information about her husband's disappearance that she will not post here.
I believe that the Sheriff's Department was negligent in their investigation. They should have done a thorough search of the area especially when the car was located. However, they did not. That is why the Widow hired people with cadaver dogs to go looking. One of the people searching ended up suspiciously dead according to an insider at the coroner's office.
Mike Castro's not turning in the car interferred with the investigation and was negligent. The car was towed by Mike Castro's cousin who works for Murphy's Towing. Like I said, there are questions that need to be asked of Mike Castro under oath.
In addition, Mike Castro's prior violent crimes (including two attempted murders) contribute to a further suspicion concerning Mike Castro's actions especially about the car.